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New Zealand work and holiday visa for Spaniards: Complete guide
Experience the New Zealand work and holiday visa for Spaniards and discover life and work in one of the safest, greenest countries.
If you’ve ever imagined living in a country surrounded by glaciers, fjords, and movie-like beaches, this is your chance to do it and work temporarily with the New Zealand work and holiday visa for Spaniards. It’s an opportunity to expand your professional journey in one of the most green, safe, and peaceful places on the planet.
Located over 19,000 kilometers from Spain, in the southwest of the Pacific Ocean, this country is a popular destination for many young Spaniards who decide to cross the world to work legally in a country with great job opportunities. In this article, we’ll help you achieve this by explaining what this visa is about, who it’s aimed at, the requirements you need to meet, the documentation, as well as the necessary steps to apply and its cost.
We will also discuss how you can stay connected to the internet from the moment you land in New Zealand. So, don’t miss the information we have for you, as it will be a life-changing experience, both personally and professionally. If you’re between 18 and 30 years old, this could be the adventure of your life. Keep reading!
What work and holiday visas does New Zealand offer for Spaniards?
The government of New Zealand has designed several visa programs so foreign talent can come and work. Traditional work visas require a prior job offer in order to obtain this permit. But what about people who travel to explore the country and then want to work temporarily for a local company? This aspect was previously overlooked, so the Working Holiday visa was created for young Spaniards between 18 and 30 years old, with a quota of 2,000 visas per year.
Working Holiday Visa New Zealand
With the Working Holiday visa for New Zealand, you can stay in the country for up to 12 months and work temporarily to fund your stay. You can also take advantage of the trip to study and take any course with a maximum duration of six months, perfect for taking an English course and improving your skills while living here. These are the main benefits compared to any other type of visa:
- You can stay longer than with a tourist visa.
- You don’t need a job offer beforehand.
- As soon as you land in the country, you can start looking for a job.
- You are allowed to leave and return to New Zealand as many times as you want during the visa’s duration.
Who is this visa for?
The beneficiaries of the Working Holiday visa for New Zealand are exclusively young Spaniards between 18 and 30 years old who have a special motivation to live in this country and experience its culture. The main reason you need to apply for this visa is to come on holiday, which is important when selecting beneficiaries. That is, looking for work or studying should be a secondary option, and remember, it’s for temporary work.
If you are a recent graduate, freelancer, digital nomad, or simply need a change of scenery, we recommend considering moving for a year to a country with one of the highest quality of life rankings. With this visa, you’ll be able to experience life in New Zealand, a safe destination with a stable economy, high salaries, a prestigious education system, and a picturesque natural environment.
Requirements and documentation
In this section, we’ll go over the requirements and necessary documents to apply for the Working Holiday visa for New Zealand as a Spanish citizen. Take note of the following list to check if you’re eligible:
- Age: You must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application.
- Spanish passport: It must be valid for at least 15 months from the estimated date of entry.
- Financial solvency: You need to demonstrate that you have at least 4,200 NZD (€2,350 ($2,500)) to support yourself until you find a job, and you can show this with a bank statement.
- Return ticket: Or provide proof of sufficient funds to purchase a return flight to Spain.
- Not having received this visa before: If you’ve already been granted this visa, you cannot apply again.
- Good health: In addition to having health insurance that covers emergencies, hospitalisation, and repatriation. You may be asked for X-rays or a medical exam if deemed necessary.
- Not travelling with dependents: You cannot travel with children or people under your care.
- Criminal record certificate: You must prove that you haven’t committed any crimes. For this, you can request a certificate online from the Ministry of Justice. The certificate must be no older than six months.
- Good character: Be a non-conflictive person who respects the culture of the country.
- Commitment to temporary work: You must be willing to work only for a limited period and have a plan to leave New Zealand once the visa expires.
Steps to Obtain the Working Holiday Visa for Spaniards
Once you’ve verified that you meet each of the requirements outlined earlier to obtain the Working Holiday visa for New Zealand, let’s go through the steps you need to follow to apply for it. It’s a straightforward process if you’ve already gathered the necessary documentation. Your dream of living in New Zealand is closer than ever!
1. Translate your documents
The first thing you need to do is translate all your documents into English. The translations must be certified by private or official translation companies with copies of the originals. They do not accept self-made translations, nor those done by friends or family. So, make sure each translated document has the official letterhead, signature, or seal of the translator.
2. Create an account
Next, you need to open a new account on the official Immigration Online website of the New Zealand government. We recommend having it set up before the application window opens, as demand is high, and the system may crash. The application window typically opens between April and June, and as of July 2025, the process is still open, so don’t delay in doing it.
3. Enter your details and upload your documents in PDF
Once your account is registered, the portal will ask you to upload the mandatory documents one by one. It’s important that each document is in PDF format, for example, if your health insurance consists of four pages, you must combine them into a single PDF file. Only your personal photo should be in JPEG format.
4. Submit the application and pay the fee
Now, simply submit the application online in English and pay the corresponding fee of 770 NZD (€395 ($450)) in 2025. Check the official website each year, as the fee may change. You can make the payment via bank card, and remember to keep a copy of the payment receipt.
5. Wait for the decision
The good news is that the waiting time is short, around two and a half weeks. During this period, you must keep an eye on your email, as they may request additional documentation such as a medical exam. This will depend on the answers you provided in the form. If you’re one of the selected candidates for the Working Holiday visa for New Zealand, you will receive a notification with all the necessary instructions to enjoy your trip, which you must take within 12 months.
Internet While Working, Resting, or Studying in New Zealand
Another important thing you should arrange before your trip is to secure a connection to the internet that will allow you to connect from the moment you land at the airport. The Holafly eSIM for New Zealand gives you a stable, secure, and fast connection that you can activate only for the days you need. This option is recommended if you’re looking for a quick solution for your first days in the country.
However, if you prefer a long-term option, Holafly’s monthly plans provide 5G coverage every month with no disconnections — perfect for never running out of data and cancelable anytime you want. Additionally, you can travel to other destinations as it is a global eSIM valid in over 170 locations. With the unlimited plan, you can connect up to two devices simultaneously for $67.90 (€64.90) per month.
Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 160 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍
Price and Expenses to Obtain the Working Holiday Visa for Spaniards
You may be wondering, how much will this project of travelling to New Zealand with the Working Holiday visa cost you? We’ve already seen the price you need to pay for the visa, but there are other expenses that you should know about to plan your experience. Here are the most important ones:
| Category | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Medical Exam or X-rays | From €100 ($605) |
| Medical insurance | From €75 per month ($82) |
| Return flight | From €800 ($605) |
| Criminal record certificate | €3.86 ($4.48) |
| Document translation | From €20,00 ($22,50) each |
| Proof of financial solvency | €2,350 ($4.48) |
Approximate costs for the Working Holiday visa in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Working Holiday Visa for Spaniards
Each year, a quota of 2,000 spots is opened for Spanish citizens. You need to stay alert on the official website for the application window and be one of the first to apply.
No, once your 12-month stay ends, you must return to Spain or apply for another type of study or work visa.
No minimum level of English is required, but having knowledge of the language will help you find a better job in the country and integrate with the local population.
Yes, the Working Holiday visa for New Zealand allows you to study courses of up to six months.
You can work for any employer temporarily. Common jobs are in tourism, hospitality, cleaning, customer service, language teaching, or agriculture. It’s not designed for long-term skilled work.
