Germany Working Holiday Visa for New Zealand: Full Guide for German Citizens

If you hold a German passport, you can apply for New Zealand’s Working Holiday Visa between ages 18 and 30. The scheme is not capped, so there is no rush to apply on a specific date — you can apply whenever you’re ready. This guide covers what’s specific to German applicants; for the shared rules every scheme follows, see the master WHV guide.

Who can apply

• Age: 18 to 30 at the time of application.
• Citizenship: you need a passport from the Federal Republic of Germany.
• One-time only: if you’ve been granted this visa before, you cannot apply again — even if you never used it.

How long you can stay

The visa runs for up to 12 months. If you work at least 3 months in agriculture or horticulture while you’re here, you can apply for a Working Holiday Extension Work Visa for an extra 3 months.

What you need: funds, insurance, medical

• Funds: at least NZD $4,200 to cover your living expenses, plus separate money for your ticket home.
• Insurance: full medical insurance for your entire stay is required. You need this arranged before your visa is granted, not after you land.
• Medical exam: not automatically required. Immigration New Zealand may ask for a chest X-ray, a medical exam, or both, depending on your health questionnaire answers. Evidence needs to be less than 3 months old when submitted.
• Fee: NZD $770.

For the general explanation of how these three requirements work across all schemes, see our funds, insurance, and medical guide.

Documents: translations matter

Your application is submitted online, in English. If your police certificate or medical certificate isn’t already in English, you need a certified English translation — not just a personal translation. Other supporting documents don’t strictly require translation, but doing it anyway helps avoid processing delays.

For the full application walkthrough — account setup, uploading documents, payment — see our step-by-step application guide.

What the visa doesn’t let you do

Like most WHV schemes, this one doesn’t allow permanent employment or owning a business while you’re in New Zealand. It’s built around temporary work and travel, not settling into a career.

FAQ

I’m 29 — how much time do I have to apply?

As long as you meet the age range (18–30) at the time you apply, you’re within the window. There’s no quota here, so there’s no urgency around a specific date — but keep in mind the visa itself must be used within 12 months of being granted, so don’t apply years before you plan to travel.

Do I really need insurance, or is it just recommended?

For the Germany scheme, it’s required — a visa condition, not a suggestion. You’ll need to show proof of cover for your full stay.

My police certificate is in German — is that a problem?

Not if you get it translated. Immigration New Zealand needs a certified English translation of any police or medical certificate that isn’t originally in English.

Can I use this visa a second time if I didn’t use it the first time?

No. The Germany scheme is one-time only, regardless of whether you actually travelled on the visa the first time you were granted it.

Where to go next

• Visa Eligibility Checker — confirm your current funds and fee figures
• How the NZ Working Holiday Visa works — the master guide
• WHV requirements: funds, insurance, medical — explained

This page is general information, not immigration advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed immigration adviser or Immigration New Zealand directly.