Wondering how to get a New Zealand working holiday visa from Singapore?
I had the same thought when I came across working holidayers from around the world and Singapore while I was on my five-week road trip to New Zealand in 2018.
It wasn’t until I looked into it that I realised it was pretty easy to work and travel around New Zealand.
Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links and I may get a small commission if you purchase through my links below, at no additional cost to you.
The visa you’ll need is the Singapore work exchange programme visa and which allows Singaporeans from 18 to 30 years old to work and holiday in New Zealand for up to 12 months.
You’ll also see me refer to the New Zealand working holiday visa for Singapore as the working holiday visa (WHV).
As of May 2023, the intake for Singaporeans is still wide open even though there are only 300 spots, so if you’ve been thinking about applying for the visa then there really isn’t a better time than now!
I’ll share some quick tips from my application process, what you’ll need to do after you get approved, and other questions you might have on the NZ working holiday.
Before Applying For The New Zealand Working Holiday Visa Singapore
Before you apply you’ll need to ensure you fulfil the following criteria:
- You must hold Singaporean citizenship. If you do not, you might need to apply under another country’s working holiday scheme.
- You need to be 18 to 30 years old. (If you turn 30 on the year of application but your birthdate has passed, that’s fine – I applied for mine 5 months after my 30th birthday.)
- You must have proof of tertiary education. (While the Immigration NZ site states you need to have a university qualification, you can try if you have a diploma. I’ve heard instances of people with diplomas who have succeeded in getting a WHV New Zealand visa.)
- You need to show proof that you have enough funds to live while you’re in NZ or show a ticket leaving NZ. Presently it is set at NZ$2,250 and you can show this through bank statements.
- Passport validity of at least 9 months from the time you plan to enter NZ.
Once you’re sure you’ve met all the above criteria and have the necessary supporting documents, you can apply via the Immigration NZ website.
One of the first things I did was to set up my Wise multi-currency account so that it was easier for me to bring NZD across. The second was to get my working holiday insurance from OrbitProtect in case of any changes to my working holiday plans!
The New Zealand Working Holiday Visa Singapore Application Process
In the past, Singaporeans would have to camp for the application window to open, but since NZ has expanded its New Zealand working holiday Singapore scheme to increase the number of slots, it seems like there isn’t a need to do this anymore.
Applying for a holiday visa for New Zealand is pretty straightforward:
- Create an account on Immigration NZ
- Prepare your documents
- Pay the NZ$455 fee via credit card (This isn’t a small sum, so make sure you really want to go before you hit that apply button!)
- If you get a follow-up email from Immigration NZ, get a chest x-ray done and submit it to prove your health.
After The New Zealand Working Holiday Visa Singapore Application
After you’ve applied, there isn’t much else to do but wait as the processing time takes anywhere from 3 to 47 days.
So definitely plan ahead if you have a certain date you want to get to NZ by.
Once your application is approved, you have 12 months from the start date of your working holiday visa to get yourself to New Zealand.
This means that, for example, if you receive approval in February 2023, you’ll have till February 2024 to get there. The 12-month timeline on the visa itself starts from the day you land on NZ soil.
Plenty of time to start planning your New Zealand working holiday in Singapore!
What To Prepare After Your New Zealand Working Holiday Singapore Visa Is Approved?
Moving to a new country can be scary and you might want to have everything well-prepared before you jet off to the land of the long white cloud.
For starters, you can settle these items (or at least the first few steps of it) in Singapore:
- IRD number – This is a tax number with NZ’s Inland Revenue Department. You can choose to apply for it after you’ve entered NZ (which I understand is a lot quicker) or do an off-shore application from Singapore.
The only obstacle is that you’ll need to provide proof of a fully functioning NZ bank account, which you may not be able to set up till you get to NZ. - Bank Account – You can apply for one online before you get to NZ. However, if you aren’t in NZ yet, the bank can issue you an account number, but you may not be able to do anything with the account apart from depositing money into it. I set mine up with ANZ though I’ve heard Kiwisaver and ASB are quicker when it comes to setting up a bank account.
- Multi-Currency Credit Card – I used a combination of Wise and YouTrip to bring my SGD over and only brought NZ$200 in cash. In general, even without an NZ bank account set up, you can use cash or pay wave, though there might be surcharges.
- Travel Insurance – It is compulsory to have full medical insurance including hospitalisation coverage for the whole length of your working holiday. You might be asked to provide proof of this when you arrive in NZ. I got mine from OrbitProtect at NZ$393.30 for a year, and have managed to claim online quite easily.
FAQs On The New Zealand Working Holiday Visa Singapore
Can Singaporeans Apply For The Working Holiday Visa?
Yes! Singaporeans can apply for the Working Holiday Visa to New Zealand as long as the quota hasn’t been reached. You just need to be below thirty, have proof of tertiary education, passport validity, and have enough cash to pay for the application fee of NZ$455.
As of publication time (March 2023), any Singaporeans meeting the above criteria can still apply.
Can Singaporeans Work In New Zealand?
Absolutely, Singaporeans can work in New Zealand.
There are many visa options to work in New Zealand, and the ones I’ve seen most commonly among Singaporeans here in New Zealand are the:
- Singapore Work Exchange Programme Visa
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
- Straight to Residence Visa
Can You Apply For A Working Holiday Visa Extension In NZ?
You can apply for a working holiday visa extension in NZ only if you’ve worked for three months in horticulture or viticulture work which translates into 12 weeks of payslips.
You can only apply for it once and it will allow you to stay in NZ for another 3 months.
Most people I know apply for this right after completing 12 weeks of horticulture or viticulture work. You do not need to work for the same employer for the full 12 weeks.
How Long Can A Singaporean Stay In New Zealand?
90 days is how long a Singaporean can stay in NZ under the NZ Electronic Travel Authority. That means that if you do not have a valid work visa of any form, you can travel in the country legally for up to 90 days.
Lots of time to hop around the North and South islands!
Are Working Holiday Visas Hard To Get?
The question of whether are working holiday visas hard to get is extremely subjective but I’d say no it’s really not that hard, especially as a Singaporean that fulfils the criteria I’ve mentioned above.
There’s a severe labour shortage in NZ now and they are giving WHVs quite readily as long as you meet the criteria.
You don’t even need an employment offer. You just need to meet the age limit, have the right citizenship and qualifications and be able to pay the application fee.
I’d know. I was almost past the age limit when I made the cut!
Where Can Singaporeans Go For A Working Holiday?
There are only two countries where Singaporeans can go for a working holiday, namely New Zealand, as I’ve highlighted in this entry and Australia.
But it doesn’t mean you can’t travel to other countries to work and travel, especially if you’re keen on a university gap year or a career break. There’s Work and Travel USA and the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) programme, just to list a few.
As someone who’s done the New Zealand working holiday visa from Singapore, I daresay this is one of the best travel decisions I’ve made.
How often do you get to visit such a gorgeous country for an extended period of time, and also get to work in picturesque places, allowing you to top up your travel funds as you make your way around the country?
I’ve since concluded my working holiday (having spent 7.5 months in NZ) as I write this and I’m still recounting all my experiences, so I look forward to sharing more work and travel tips as time goes by.
If you’re on the fence about applying for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, I’d say wholeheartedly, go for it! Even if you stay just for three months or six months (as I know some people have) it’ll be a holiday like no other!
Now, go apply before all 300 places are snapped up!
Any questions, just let me know on Instagram!
Related Posts:
