The New Zealand Working Holiday is still open for Spanish passport holders. Argentina’s 2026 quota has closed, and Chile’s opens on 15 October 2026. Your next move depends on your passport, your age and whether any places remain when you apply.
Each country gets one opening date and a limited quota each year. You can only receive the visa once, so timing matters. These are the 2026 dates, the rules shared by all 3 countries and the details that change with each passport.
2026 opening dates and quotas
Immigration New Zealand publishes the capped Working Holiday calendar each year. On 28 September 2026, the position was:
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Spain: opened on 9 April 2026 with 2,000 places. The quota is still open.
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Argentina: opened on 24 September 2026 with 1,000 places. It was shown as closed only 4 days later.
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Chile: opens on 15 October 2026 at 10:00 am New Zealand time, with 940 places.
Applications stay open until the quota is full. Once the places are gone, there isn’t a second round. You have to wait for the following year’s calendar. Applying before the opening time doesn’t help either; early applications aren’t accepted.
Your passport decides which calendar you follow, not the country where you live. If you have a Chilean passport and live in Spain, Chile’s date and quota apply to you.
The status can change quickly. Check the official Working Holiday opening calendar and your country’s visa page before making a plan.
The requirements all 3 countries share
Whether your passport is Spanish, Argentine or Chilean, you’ll need to:
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Hold a passport valid for at least 3 months after the visa expires.
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Show at least 4,200 NZD for living costs.
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Have a ticket out of New Zealand, or enough extra money to buy one.
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Take out full medical insurance for the entire stay.
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Meet the health and character requirements.
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Have a genuine reason for travelling to New Zealand.
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Never have held a New Zealand Working Holiday visa before.
The 4,200 NZD isn’t a fee. It remains your money, but it needs to be available and you must be able to prove that. The return ticket sits on top of this amount; you can’t count the same money twice.
The application asks about your health and character. Depending on your answers, Immigration New Zealand may request a chest X-ray, medical examination or police certificates.
Think carefully about timing. Once the visa is granted, you have 12 months to enter New Zealand. If you don’t travel within that window, the visa expires and still counts as your one Working Holiday. You can’t apply for another one later.
After entering, you can stay for up to 12 months and travel in and out while the visa remains valid. You can study for a total of 6 months and take temporary work. You can’t accept a permanent position or run your own business, and you don’t need a job offer before applying.
The visa covers one person. A partner or children must qualify and apply separately.
The application costs 770 NZD for all 3 passports:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application charge | 215 NZD |
| Immigration levy | 455 NZD |
| Tourism levy | 100 NZD |
| Total | 770 NZD |
You pay the full amount when the application is submitted. It isn’t refunded if the visa is refused. Medical insurance, flights and your first costs after arrival are separate.
There’s also a possible 3-month extension if you complete at least 3 months of seasonal work in horticulture or viticulture.
What changes with each passport
Age is the biggest difference. The rules about working for one employer also change.
Spain
Spanish passport holders can apply from age 18 to 30. The 2026 quota has 2,000 places and has remained open since 9 April. The visa lets you work for any employer during the 12-month stay.
If you’re eligible, the practical next step is to apply while places remain. Decide roughly when you want to travel first, because the 12-month entry window begins as soon as the visa is granted. Once you’re over 30, this route is no longer available.
Argentina
Argentine passport holders can apply from age 18 to 35. The 2026 quota had 1,000 places. It opened on 24 September and is already shown as closed for the year. The visa allows work under an employment or services contract.
Immigration New Zealand says applications will open again next year. As of 28 September 2026, no 2027 date had been published. The 2026 calendar was announced on 15 January, so the next step is to watch for the new calendar.
If waiting until 2027 doesn’t work for you, compare the alternatives rather than forcing the plan. Studying in Australia on a Student Visa (subclass 500) is one option. It lets you study and work part-time, but it isn’t a Working Holiday. The costs, requirements and work conditions are different.
Chile
Chilean passport holders can apply from age 18 to 35. The quota opens on 15 October 2026 at 10:00 am New Zealand time and has 940 places.
By our calculation, that’s 6:00 pm on 14 October in mainland Chile. Time zones can catch people out, so check the time in your own city before opening day.
Chile also has a different employer condition: you can work for the same employer for no more than 6 months. With only 940 places, this isn’t an application to start preparing at the opening time. Have the documents ready beforehand.
What to prepare now
If your quota hasn’t opened yet, use the time to remove anything that could slow you down. For a Chilean passport, aim to have these ready before 15 October:
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An account in Immigration New Zealand’s online system.
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A passport that covers the whole stay plus 3 months.
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Bank statements showing the required funds.
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Medical insurance for the full stay.
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A ticket out of New Zealand, or extra funds to buy one.
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Clear answers about health and police history.
Insurance and proof of funds are often left until last. They’re also the things most likely to be delayed by a bank or insurer.
Meeting every requirement doesn’t hold a place for you. If the quota fills before you submit the application, you’ll have to wait for the 2027 calendar.
For Argentine passport holders, the job now is different:
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Check the official site regularly from the start of 2027.
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Prepare the funds and documents before the new date is announced.
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Make sure you’ll still fall within the age limit at the next opening.
If you’re unsure about a document, we can look at it with you before the quota opens.
How Australian Way helps
We start with the basics that decide whether the route is open to you: passport, age, travel dates and the funds you can show. That gives you a real answer before you spend time on the application.
We then build the document list with you and stay close while you prepare. If your country’s quota has already closed, we’ll compare other options, including study in Australia, without pretending they’re the same visa.
Our guidance is free from the first conversation to the end of the process.
Frequently asked questions
When does the New Zealand Working Holiday open for Chile?
The 2026 quota opens on 15 October at 10:00 am New Zealand time. There are 940 places , and the quota closes when they’re filled.
Can I still apply with an Argentine passport in 2026?
No. Argentina’s quota of 1,000 places opened on 24 September 2026 and is already shown as closed. You’ll need to wait for the 2027 calendar, which doesn’t yet have a published opening date.
How much money do I need?
You must show at least 4,200 NZD for living costs. You’ll also need a ticket out of New Zealand or enough extra money to buy one.
How much does the visa cost?
The application costs 770 NZD. That includes the application charge, immigration levy and tourism levy. The money isn’t refunded if the visa is refused.
Can I apply at 32?
It depends on your passport. The age limit for Spain is 30, so a Spanish passport holder can’t apply at 32. Argentina and Chile allow applications up to age 35.
Can I extend the visa?
You may be able to extend it by 3 months after at least 3 months of horticulture or viticulture work. The extension costs from 800 NZD.
Send us your passport country, age and rough travel date. We’ll tell you which routes are still open, what to prepare and when it makes more sense to wait. We don’t charge for the review.
