Hi there, it’s Ash, aka the Still Life Nomad! I am here today to teach you the basics of moving to New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). I am doing this route to move to Queenstown, New Zealand on the 1 of April 2025. The process is incredibly simple so let’s get into it!

Visa Application

First things first–the visa. While this may sound insanely intimidating, it’s actually rather straightforward! There are a few basic requirements for US citizens:

• Be between the ages of 18-30
• Have a minimum of $2,500 USD saved
• Have a return flight or the means to purchase one
• Have “Comprehensive Health Insurance” for the duration of your stay, which is like travel insurance
• Good character and good health
• Have a valid passport

This process takes up to 20 business days once submitted, and the fee is less than $300 USD. I have met some travelers who got approved within 2 days! Once approved, you have up to 1 year to enter the country when you are ready. As soon as you land, your visa activates, and you can stay for up to 1 year.

Accomodation

Next step, how do you find affordable accommodation? If you read my intro post, you know I am all about traveling on a low budget. There is one very clear option for living abroad–HOSTELS.

What is a hostel? A hostel is a dorm situation with usually 6-12 bunks (give or take) of either separated gender or mixed gender rooms. These bunks can be pods built into the wall, as often seen in South Korea or Japan, or actual bunk beds. You’re usually given a locker to hold your belongings and anything that doesn’t fit goes under or beside the bed. This is absolutely perfect if you are traveling light with a carry-on and/or backpack!

I will have a whole entire post dedicated to which hostel to select in Queenstown, NZ but for now let’s focus on pricing. How much is it? The average hostel in Queenstown–A popular tourist/expat town in which I’ll be staying–is $25 a night. The most expensive I’ve seen was $40 a night. But for $25 you get storage, a bed, sheets and blankets, washer and dryer access, and direct access to the heart of downtown. It’s also a great way to meet and make friends!

Now, not everyone is comfortable spending their entire year in an unfamiliar country in a hostel. If this is you, book a hostel for the first month or two, then once you have a steady job look at getting flat mates (roommates). This is how most citizens and permanent residents live in NZ. Keep in mind rent is paid weekly and averages $300 a week in Queenstown. Auckland, the largest city in NZ, is more expensive.

Cities in New Zealand

Auckland –

• Climate: Warm, temperate, mild winters
• Type: Big city, competitive to find work, and expensive
• LGBTQIA+: Very large and friendly

Wellington –

• Marintime, temperate climate, very windy
• Type: Smaller and cheaper than Auckland, jobs in hospitality
• LGBTQIA+: Progressive

Christchurch –

• Climate: Mild summers, cool winters

• Type: More affordable, agriculture and hospitality jobs

• LGBTQIA+: Growing

Queenstown –

• Climate: Mountain climate, cold winters, warm summers
• Type: Tourist/expat town with endless temp job opportunities
• LGBTQIA+: Welcoming and diverse. Also is home to the Winter Pride festival

Finding a Job

Finding a job in New Zealand–particularly Queenstown–can be as simple as printing off your resume, walking into an establishment, handing them your resume, sometimes doing a quick informal interview, and getting offered a job. I will have a specific blog post on how to write a NZ specific resume next.

What kind of work can you do on a WHV? Anything temporary! For instance, you can work at a cafe, bar, restaurant, hotel, hostel, extreme sports venue, office, and more. How much is the pay? The minimum wage in NZ is $23.15, so you will make at least that much.

My Next Steps

I have taken big steps to get ready for my move! I have 38 days until I apply for the visa and 119 days until I leave. So what have I done?

I have mock packed to ensure everything I am bringing fits, made copies of all my important documents, filled out the visa application (not submitted yet), compiled 300+ pages of my research, and donated tons of garbage bags of clothes.

What’s next? The biggest focus right now is saving money. I plan to leave with over $10,000-$12,000 USD, but you can make do with $2,500 that’s the minimum requirement. I also want to continue to improve my health, sell and donate everything in my house, visit and say goodbye to family and friends, get comprehensive health insurance, give my car to a friend or relative, get 3 months supply of medications, book my flights and hostel stay, and get a NZ SIM card to name a few.

Closing

I believe in you. If you are within the age limit, have some cash stowed away or the ability to get it, and want to travel, this opportunity is incredible. You can only do it once, so take advantage of it while you can! After NZ, you can do other countries like South Korea, Canada, Ireland, Portugal, Australia, and Singapore too. More on that later.

And as always: seek discomfort.

Love,

Ash