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- New Zealand Announces 2026 Working Holiday Scheme Opening Dates
Immigration News Alert
New Zealand Announces 2026 Working Holiday Scheme Opening Dates
Key Point
- New Zealand confirmed the 2026 opening dates and annual caps for all capped Working Holiday Schemes, with applications opening on a rolling basis beginning in February 2026.
Working Holiday Schemes 2026
New Zealand has confirmed the 2026 opening dates and annual caps for all capped Working Holiday Schemes. Applications open on a rolling basis beginning February–March 2026 and remain open until each country’s quota is filled.
Key Countries and 2026 Opening Details
| Country | Opening Date (2026) | Quota / Places Available |
| United Kingdom | 20 March | 15,000 places |
| China | 18 March | 1,000 places |
| Korea | 6 March | 3,000 places |
| Japan | 13 March | 2,500 places |
| Malaysia | 11 February | 1,150 places |
| Hong Kong | 19 March | 400 places |
| Chile | 16 March | 940 places |
| Mexico | 26 February | 200 places |
| Portugal | 19 February | 50 places |
| Estonia | 4 March | 100 places |
Schemes with remaining places from 2025 will stay open until their quotas are filled, with caps resetting on each scheme’s 2026 opening date.
For a complete list of all Working Holiday Scheme countries, including opening dates and quotas, visit Immigration New Zealand’s official announcement.
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