New Zealand Lists 45 Countries for Working Holiday Visas

New Zealand Immigration has released a list of 45 countries whose citizens are eligible to apply for a Working Holiday visa in 2026. This visa allows young individuals, generally aged 18 to 30 (with some exceptions up to 35), to live, work, and study in New Zealand for up to 12 months.

The eligibility is based on bilateral agreements between New Zealand and the respective countries, which outline specific conditions such as age range, length of stay, financial requirements, and additional criteria. The countries included in the list are Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, United States of America, and Vietnam.

Importantly, no African country currently has a working holiday agreement with New Zealand, meaning Nigerian and other African citizens are not eligible for this visa scheme.