New Zealand Working Holiday Visa: Vietnam and Uruguay Openings in November
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Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has two remaining 2026 opening dates for capped working holiday schemes: Viet Nam on 3 November, with 200 places, and Uruguay on 17 November, also with 200 places. Each route is tied to citizenship: applicants must qualify under the scheme for their own passport country.
INZ says each application window stays open only until its places are filled, then closes until 2027. Its announcement gives the opening dates but no time of day. Treat the date as the earliest time to apply, not a guaranteed deadline or reserved place. INZ also says applications submitted before a scheme opens are automatically deleted.
At a glance: Vietnam and Uruguay
| Scheme | Opens | Places | Age | Extra scheme requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viet Nam | 3 November 2026 | 200 | 18–30 | Three-year full-time university qualification; accepted English test result |
| Uruguay | 17 November 2026 | 200 | 18–35 | No tertiary qualification or English test is listed in the scheme-specific instructions |
Both routes require at least NZD $4,200 for maintenance, medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance, and the general working holiday conditions. The Uruguay age range includes applicants aged 35; the Vietnam scheme is limited to applicants aged 18 to 30.
Who can apply?
Viet Nam: 3 November 2026
The scheme is for citizens of Viet Nam aged 18 to 30. Applicants must have a tertiary qualification based on at least three years of full-time university study and show functional English through an accepted test. INZ lists minimum results of IELTS 4.5 overall, TOEFL iBT 32, PTE Academic 30, Cambridge B2 First 147, or OET grade C in all four skills. The test must be taken in person at a test centre and be no more than two years old when the application is lodged; remote or at-home tests do not count.
Applicants also need at least NZD $4,200 in available funds and must agree to maintain medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance for the stay. The visa can allow work and multiple entries for 12 months from first arrival. A participant must not work for the same employer for more than three months.
Uruguay: 17 November 2026
The Uruguay scheme is for citizens of Uruguay aged 18 to 35, with 200 places annually. Its scheme-specific instructions require at least NZD $4,200 for maintenance, medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance, and compliance with INZ’s general working holiday conditions. Unlike the Vietnam instructions, the Uruguay scheme page does not list a tertiary qualification or English test as a special requirement. The visa can allow work and multiple entries for 12 months from first arrival.
What a working holiday visa allows
These visas are designed for a holiday as the main purpose, with work and study secondary. INZ’s general instructions say applicants must hold a valid passport from the scheme country, meet health and character requirements, satisfy onward travel requirements, and not have previously received a working holiday visa unless that scheme allows another application. Applicants do not need a job offer. Study is limited to a total of six months, and the visa does not permit permanent employment or running a business as an owner.
Budget for more than the NZD $4,200 maintenance threshold: that is evidence of funds, not the application charge or a promise that the funds will cover the whole trip. INZ’s May 2026 fees guide gives a total of NZD $770 for applicants outside New Zealand from the rest-of-world fee band, but fees depend on where you apply and your citizenship. Check the official fee calculator and the final amount in the online application before paying.
How to apply: practical steps
- Confirm that your passport matches the scheme. Read INZ’s Vietnam scheme requirements or Uruguay scheme requirements. These two openings are not open to other nationalities. If you hold another passport, use INZ’s country list and requirements to find the route for your citizenship.
- Prepare evidence before the opening day. For Viet Nam, have the qualifying degree and eligible English result ready. For either scheme, prepare proof of funds, arrange the required insurance, check the passport and onward-travel requirements, and review health and character rules.
- Use INZ’s official Online Services application portal. Create or access an account, then select the Working Holiday Visa application when it is available. Applications are online and in English. The portal is the action page; the scheme instructions explain the eligibility rules.
- Apply only when your scheme opens. The scheduled dates are 3 November for Viet Nam and 17 November for Uruguay. INZ does not publish a specific opening time on its schedule. Check the scheme page and portal on the day, and submit promptly if places remain. Applications made too early are automatically deleted.
- Check the amount and conditions shown before submitting. The quota can fill and close the scheme for the rest of 2026. Meeting the criteria does not guarantee approval; read the decision and visa conditions before booking travel or accepting work.
Successful applicants outside New Zealand must make their first entry within 12 months of visa grant; the 12-month stay begins on first arrival. A working holiday visa is a temporary travel-and-work route, not a path to a permanent job. If you are not a citizen of Viet Nam or Uruguay, see INZ’s country-specific page for the working holiday scheme linked to your passport instead.
For another New Zealand work route, see our guide to which work visa holders can run a business in New Zealand.
Official sources
- INZ: 2026 opening dates and caps
- INZ instructions: Vietnam Working Holiday Scheme
- INZ instructions: Uruguay Working Holiday Scheme
- INZ general working holiday requirements
- INZ English test requirements
- INZ fee calculator and decision times
- INZ fees guide (May 2026 PDF)