New Zealand Working Holiday Visa for Indians: Is It Open Yet?
Indians cannot get a New Zealand working holiday visa as at October 2026 because India is not on Immigration New Zealand's list of agreement countries. The NZ-India Free Trade Agreement, due in force on 20 October 2026, commits to up to 1,000 places a year, but INZ has published no opening date or criteria.
Key takeaways
- India is not on INZ's list of working holiday countries, and INZ cannot issue the visa to citizens of unlisted countries.
- The NZ-India FTA, signed in New Delhi on 27 April 2026, is due to enter into force on 20 October 2026.
- MFAT says New Zealand committed to a working holiday scheme of up to 1,000 Indians a year; INZ has not published how to apply.
- The FTA also covers the equivalent of 1,667 three-year temporary employment visas a year, through new India Skilled Work and India Iconic Work visas.
- Today, Indians who want to work in New Zealand use the AEWV (NZD 1,540), student, post-study or partner visas.
This answer draws on Immigration New Zealand (INZ), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and New Zealand legislation, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. INZ's website was returning errors in mid-October 2026, so its working holiday page was read from an archived copy of the official page captured on 4 October 2026. For visitor visas and fees, see our New Zealand visa hub for Indians.
Can Indians apply for a New Zealand working holiday visa today?
Not yet. INZ issues working holiday visas only to citizens of countries that have an agreement with New Zealand, normally for people aged 18 to 30 (18 to 35 for a few countries). INZ states it cannot give a working holiday visa to citizens of countries that are not on its list. India is not on that list.
This means there is no form to fill, no fee to pay and no queue to join. Any agent offering to "book" a New Zealand working holiday place for an Indian passport holder is not describing a process INZ has published.
What did the NZ-India Free Trade Agreement promise?
The agreement was signed in New Delhi on 27 April 2026 and is due to enter into force on 20 October 2026. MFAT lists these people-movement outcomes:
| Commitment | What MFAT says | Status at our check |
|---|---|---|
| Working holiday scheme | Up to 1,000 places a year for Indians | No opening date or criteria published by INZ |
| Temporary employment entry visas | Equivalent of 1,667 three-year visas a year, no more than 5,000 at any time | Application details not published |
| Skilled Green List occupations | 1,467 of those places, for 13 occupations | Through the new India Skilled Work visa |
| Iconic Indian occupations | 200 places, for roles such as yoga, music, chefs and ayurvedic practitioners | Through the new India Iconic Work visa |
One legal step is already fixed. Regulations in force from 20 October 2026 exempt the India Iconic Work visa and the India Skilled Work visa from the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
Who will be eligible when it opens?
That is not known yet. INZ has not published age limits, education requirements, funds or health rules for an India scheme. The general working holiday age band of 18 to 30 is a pattern across existing agreements, not a confirmed rule for India.
One detail from INZ's current rules is worth knowing early. INZ lists working holiday visas among the visas that cannot support a partner's work visa. If you plan to travel as a couple, each of you would need your own visa.
How will you know when applications open?
- Watch INZ's Who can apply for a working holiday visa page. India will appear on it when a scheme is open.
- Follow MFAT's NZ-India FTA key outcomes page for updates on implementation.
- Expect to apply online. From 1 October 2026, visitor and selected transit visas must already be lodged through INZ's Immigration Online system.
Until INZ publishes a page for India, treat dates you see on social media as unconfirmed.
Which New Zealand visas let Indians work today?
If you want to work in New Zealand now, these are the routes INZ already runs. Fees are INZ's published figures; for partner and seasonal visas they are INZ's 'from' cost.
| Visa | Fee | Key requirement | INZ timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) | NZD 1,540 | Job offer of 30+ hours a week at the market rate from an accredited employer | 80% within 5.5 weeks |
| Fee Paying Student Visa | NZD 850 | Offer of place; NZD 20,000 living funds per year for study of a year or more; work up to 25 hours a week during study | 80% within 8 weeks |
| Post-Study Work Visa | NZD 1,670 | Eligible New Zealand qualification and NZD 5,000 for living costs | 80% within 5.5 weeks |
| Partner of a Worker / Partner of a Student Work Visa | NZD 1,630 | Partner holds an eligible work or student visa | 80% within 6 weeks / 5 weeks |
| Global Workforce Seasonal / Peak Seasonal Visa | NZD 1,540 | Job on INZ's seasonal list and previous seasons in a similar job | Not listed in our record |
A Visitor Visa (NZD 441) is for visiting, not for taking up employment. If a working holiday is the experience you want right now, Australia runs a ballot-based Work and Holiday visa for Indian passport holders; see our Australia visa guide.
Scams to watch for while you wait
- INZ warns that job offer scams are common in India and South Asia.
- Employers or agents cannot charge you for a job or recruitment costs, and INZ declines AEWV applications where money was offered for a job offer.
- No pre-registration or quota booking for an India working holiday scheme has been announced by INZ.
Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). If you are planning a New Zealand visit while the scheme is pending, WhatsApp us on +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
When does the India-New Zealand FTA come into force?
MFAT gives 20 October 2026 as the entry-into-force date. The agreement was signed in New Delhi on 27 April 2026.
How many Indians will get a New Zealand working holiday visa?
MFAT says New Zealand committed to a working holiday scheme of up to 1,000 Indians a year. INZ had not published how the places will be allocated.
Is the India Skilled Work visa the same as a working holiday visa?
No. The India Skilled Work and India Iconic Work visas are temporary employment visas under the FTA, linked to skilled Green List and iconic Indian occupations. The working holiday scheme is a separate commitment of up to 1,000 places a year.
Drafted with AI assistance from Yatra For Fun's India visa dataset, which is compiled from official embassy, VFS Global and government sources (see Sources). Fees and rules change — confirm on the official site before you apply.
About Tarka Raj Jaisi
Travel Writer, Yatra For Fun
Tarka Raj Jaisi writes visa process and document guides for Yatra For Fun, covering tourist, transit, invitation, dependent and student visas for Nepali passport holders. Template-built guides are credited to the Yatra For Fun Editorial Team, not to individual writers.
Full profile →Sources
- Immigration New Zealand - Who can apply for a working holiday visa — Immigration New Zealand
- MFAT - NZ-India FTA key outcomes (temporary employment entry visas, working holiday scheme) — New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)
- NZ Legislation - Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2026 — New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office
Related guides
Other Yatra For Fun visa guides you may need.
Where Is the Serbia VFS Center in Nepal?
For a Serbia visa from Nepal (Type C — Tourist e-Visa), prepare a valid passport, application, photos, proof of funds, and proof of onward travel and accommodation. Processing
Read guide
Switzerland Visa Bank Balance Requirement for Indians (2026)
The Swiss Embassy's checklist sets no fixed bank balance for Indians. Here is what it does ask for, by profile, how statements must look and what your funds should cover.
Read guide
Which Singapore Consulate Covers Your State? India Jurisdiction
State-by-state list of which Singapore mission in India handles your visa, where its Authorised Visa Agents are, what each charges, and what to do if your state or UT is not listed.
Read guide
United Kingdom Multiple-Entry Visa Nepali 2026: Eligibility & Validity
Complete 2026 guide to the United Kingdom multiple entry visa for Nepali passport holders — documents, fees, processing time, embassy contact in Kathmandu.
Read guide
Mozambique Visa Bank Statement & Financial Proof Nepali 2026
Complete 2026 guide to the Mozambique bank statement proof visa for Nepali passport holders — documents, fees, processing time, embassy contact in Kathmandu.
Read guide
Australia Work Visa Salary Threshold 2026: What Indians Must Be Paid
The Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423 and the Specialist threshold AUD 146,576 for nominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. How the market-rate test works for Indian workers.
Read guide