New Zealand is a natural next step after Australia, and plenty of Italians do both.
Last updated: July 2026
At a glance
Visa
New Zealand Working Holiday Visa (Italy)
Age range
18–30
Application fee
NZD 770 (~€270)
Visa length
12 months
Processing time
usually within a few weeks
Second year
No
Reciprocal healthcare
No
Why Italians have it easier than most
New Zealand is a natural next step after Australia, and plenty of Italians do both. The visa is straightforward: online, 12 months, age 18 to 30. Three things to plan for. First, Italy's New Zealand scheme is capped, so places can run out — apply promptly once the annual allocation opens rather than leaving it late. Second, there's no full second year, only a possible three-month extension for seasonal horticulture or viticulture work. Third, New Zealand's reciprocal healthcare agreements cover only the UK and Australia, not Italy, so you land with no public cover and comprehensive insurance is an actual condition of the visa. Sort the timing and the insurance, budget for a pricier-than-expected country, and you've got a clean run.
Staying longer — second & third years
Italian citizens get a 12-month visa, extendable by 3 months if you complete at least 3 months of seasonal horticulture or viticulture work — not a full second year, but a useful top-up.
Visa specifics
The visa application charge is NZD 770 (about €270 at current rates) — as of 2026; always check the current fee before you apply.
What you'll need
- An Italian passport valid for at least 3 months after your visa expires
- Proof of funds: around NZD 4,200 to support yourself
- Full medical insurance for the whole stay — a visa condition on the Italian scheme
- Onward ticket or funds to buy one, on top of your living costs
- Applied online via Immigration New Zealand
How and where to apply
You apply entirely online through Immigration New Zealand — no paper forms and no embassy visit. Have your passport, proof of funds and a payment card ready before you start.
Flights and typical cost
From New Zealand, the usual run is: Rome (FCO) or Milan → Dubai / Singapore → Auckland. Expect roughly €1100–€1700 return depending on the season and how far ahead you book. It's a long haul with at least one stop, so book early for the November–February peak. A one-way fare usually costs more than half a return, and both airlines and immigration like to see onward funds, so a lot of people book a flexible return or an onward leg rather than a bare one-way.
Sorting the rest of the trip? Our flights guide covers routes, timing and cutting the cost.
Money and banking on arrival
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Sort three things early: a local bank account for your pay, a tax number (a TFN in Australia, an IRD number in New Zealand — without one you're taxed at the top rate), and a cheap way to move money from home. Most of us used a Wise account to hold our home currency, get paid locally, and dodge the ugly exchange rates the high-street banks quietly charge. New Zealand has no superannuation reclaim for working holidaymakers, but if you've overpaid tax you can claim a refund at the end of the tax year — worth doing before you fly home.
Insurance
Heymondo
For New Zealand this isn't optional for Italians — insurance is written into the visa, and with no reciprocal cover you're fully exposed without it. Heymondo is our pick: European, euro-billed, with Italian-language support, a high medical limit and an adventure add-on that matters in a country where skiing, bungy, diving and hiking are half the reason you came. Check the adventure-sport terms before you book the activity, not after. Buy it before you apply, because you may need to show proof of cover.
Get a Heymondo quote →Not sure what cover you need? Our full insurance guide compares every provider side by side.
Where Italians hang out online
Italians are well-represented on the New Zealand backpacker and campervan circuit. The 'Italiani in Nuova Zelanda' and 'Backpacker Jobs New Zealand' Facebook groups are the main hubs for seasonal work, camper sales and South Island route tips.
Italiani in Nuova Zelanda
Backpacker Jobs New Zealand
FAQs
Is the New Zealand working holiday scheme capped for Italians?
Yes. Italy's New Zealand working holiday scheme has a limited number of places allocated each year, so apply promptly once it opens rather than leaving it late.
Do Italian citizens need insurance for a New Zealand working holiday?
Yes — it's a condition of the visa. Italy has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with New Zealand (only the UK and Australia do), so you have no public cover on arrival and immigration can ask to see proof of comprehensive medical and travel insurance.
What's the age limit for Italian citizens on the New Zealand working holiday visa?
18 to 30 inclusive at the time of application.
How much does the New Zealand working holiday visa cost for Italian citizens?
From NZD 770.
How much money do I need for the New Zealand working holiday visa?
Around NZD 4,200 to support yourself, plus an onward ticket or the funds to buy one.
When's the best time to arrive in New Zealand?
Arrive in spring or early summer (roughly October–December) for the easiest run at seasonal and hospitality work, or line up with the winter ski season if Queenstown and the snow are the plan.