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THE United Kingdom Citizens' working holiday scheme allows 8000 young citizens of the United Kingdom annually to be issued with work visas authorising employment for a maximum of 12 months, while the Irish scheme has places for 1000 people.
To be eligible for a work visa under this scheme, applicants must:
* be British citizens resident in the United Kingdom or Irish citizens resident in Eire at the time of applying, and
* aged between 18 and 30 years, and
* not accompanied by any children on your visit.
To apply for one of the working holiday scheme places you must provide the following information:
* a British or Irish passport (which must be valid at least three months beyond your proposed departure date from New Zealand).
* a completed working holiday scheme application form.
* the correct application fee.
* satisfy the NZIS branch in London that your main intention for travelling to New Zealand is to holiday, and that employment is an incidental reason for the visit.
* have a minimum of NZ$4200 available funds for maintenance.
* evidence of your return or onward tickets, or sufficient funds to purchase an outward ticket (approx NZ$2000.00).
* provide a stamped self addressed envelope for the return of your passport.
You should send your application to the New Zealand Immigration Service at: NZ House; 80 Haymarket; London; SW1Y 4TE. Office hours are 10am-3:45pm Monday to Friday. Phone: 09069 100 100 in UK or +44 13 44 71 61 99 for International. Fax: (207) 973 0370.
A 24 hour telephone information service is available 7 days per week. Information Calls centres - UK: 0991 100100 calls are charged at premium rates. Requests for application packs are to be made using the above telephone numbers.
You do not need an offer of employment to apply for a working holiday scheme visa and you must arrive in New Zealand within 12 months from the date of issue of the visa.
You are able to enter and exit freely during your 12 month period. However, your permit is valid for 12 months from the initial date of entry, for multiple journeys. The 12 month period is not accumulative.
You may not undertake permanent employment in New Zealand and you will not be eligible to return to New Zealand for a further working holiday under the scheme.
You MUST have your return ticket, or sufficient funds to purchase one, and your travelling expenses. You CANNOT be sponsored by a New Zealand citizen or resident instead.
You must allow at least three weeks for your application to be processed and you should not make any travel bookings until you have received your passport back with your working holiday visa.
Your partner can apply. You must both make separate applications which will be considered individually.
If your application is received after the 8000 available places have been filled it will be returned to you and your fee refunded.
Once in New Zealand holders of such permits may be able to, at any time during the currency of that permit, apply to change their status to that of:
* a long-term temporary worker, or
* a student, or
* a resident, and will be considered under those immigration policies relevant to the type of permit applied for.
The other countries:
Various other working holiday schemes apply to the citizens of: Canada; France; Germany; Hong Kong; Italy; Japan; Korea; Malaysia; The Netherlands; Singapore and Sweden.
All schemes are based on the above conditions.