Apply for this visa if you want to work and study in New Zealand. You must be between 18 to 30 years old and a citizen of the People's Republic of China.
12 months
18-30 years
1000
Provide your country to make the experience more relevant to you.
Check if you are eligible to apply for this visa and what supporting documents and information you need to provide.
When you apply online, you must provide your passport details.
Enter your identity details carefully, ensuring information is exactly as recorded on your passport.
You must have a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after your visa expires.
Your passport must be valid for at least 15 months after you first arrive in New Zealand.
Also provide your:
If you are a citizen of China and you submit a paper application form in China, you must also complete a supplementary form.
Supplementary form for Chinese citizens (INZ 1027) PDF 338KB
You may need to have a chest x-ray and a medical examination as proof of your good health.
If you need to have an x-ray or medical examination after you apply online, we’ll send you an email explaining what to do.
You must provide a chest x-ray completed in the last 3 months, even if you've provided one to us previously, if:
When you apply online, you must answer questions about your character. After you apply online, we may ask you to provide Police Certificates as proof of your good character.
When we decide if your intentions are genuine, we consider all the information:
We will use your passport details to confirm your age.
After you apply online, we’ll ask you to send us your valid People’s Republic of China passport.
Evidence can include:
We may ask to see your evidence when you arrive in New Zealand
After you apply online, we may ask for evidence you have at least NZ $4,200 to live on. Evidence may include:
We’ll check our records for any previous New Zealand Working Holiday Visa approvals you may have had.
You can’t apply for this visa, if we’ve already approved an earlier application for you to have a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa. This applies even if you didn’t use that visa.
It’s OK to apply for this visa, if you’ve had approvals for working holidays in countries other than New Zealand.
After you apply online, we’ll ask you to provide a copy of your qualification, which must have involved at least 3 years’ full-time study.
Your qualification must be verified by the Center for Student Services and Development, Ministry of Education, P.R. China.
After you apply online, we will ask you to provide an acceptable English language test result.
English language test results for a China Working Holiday Visa
English language test results must be no more than 2 years old.
After you apply online, we may ask you to provide documents that prove your usual place of permanent residence. Examples include:
After you apply online, we may ask for documents that prove where you are living now. Examples include:
You must be able to provide proof that you are fully insured, including cover for hospitalisation. Evidence may include:
We may ask to see your evidence when you arrive in New Zealand
The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.
You must apply online and in English.
Application cost – This is the charge for Immigration New Zealand to process your application. We do not refund application costs if we decline your application. A non-refundable immigration levy is charged and is included in the cost. You can pay for your application online by Visa or Mastercard. An International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of NZD$100 is charged and is included in the cost.
If you need to provide any evidence, we send you an email explaining what you need to do.
If you are concerned about receiving emails, It is a good idea to check your junk mail settings.
If your visa application is approved, we will contact you by email advising that the status of your application has changed. You can then log in to Online Services to check the status of your application. If approved, you will be granted an Glossary for eVisa.
If there is anything else you need to do, we will be in touch.
If you are in New Zealand, and your current temporary visa expires before your new visa is granted, we will normally issue you an interim visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.
80% of applications are currently completed within this time.
Payment methods and receiving centre details if applicable.
Payment methods
Credit Card
You can pay by Visa, MasterCard or UnionPay credit card.
Debit Card
You can pay by Visa, MasterCard or UnionPay debit card.
Hours
Phone enquiries
Monday to Friday
06:00 to 22:00
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Telephone
These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.
You must come to New Zealand within 12 months of the date your visa is granted.
After you arrive in New Zealand, you can come and go from New Zealand as many times as you like before your visa expires.
You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing a New Zealand traveller declaration (NZTD).
New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.
You can be refused entry permission if:
You must have either:
We may ask to see evidence of your onward travel arrangements when you arrive in New Zealand.
You must have at least NZ $4,200 to live on while you’re in New Zealand.
We may ask to see evidence of your funds when you arrive in New Zealand.
You must maintain your medical insurance while in New Zealand.
We may ask to see evidence you’re insured when you arrive in New Zealand.
You can work in any employment you like, as long as:
You don’t need a job offer.
Everyone who has a job in New Zealand pays tax on what they earn. You’ll need a New Zealand bank account and IRD number to pay tax. You can apply for an IRD number online through Glossary for Inland Revenue.
You can do some study or training, as long as it’s not for more than 6 months of your stay.
You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.