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Celerity

(43,545 posts)
Mon Oct 12, 2020, 08:14 AM Oct 2020

One Of The World's Most Breathtaking Countries Is a Cinch for Americans Under 30 to Move To (New Zd)

How to spend a year at the edge of the world.

https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/moving-to-new-zealand-working-holiday-visa



Oftentimes, your expectations of a faraway land don't align with the reality. New Zealand is not one of those places. Six-thousand miles from San Diego and 9,000 from New York, there are few places more distant from the US. But take the trip and you'll find exactly what you expect, only cranked up to the stratosphere: Impossibly lush landscapes and rolling hills; towering mountains and deep canyons; high adventure and laid-back people. New Zealand is a country where the mythical is all around you, a place where the word “epic” is both overused and insufficient. These distant islands aren’t just a scenic, Middle Earth vacation paradise. As a place to move, they offer a quality of life that expats say can’t be topped. People there don’t fret too much with the stress of the world (it seems far away, after all).

Instead, they focus on recreation, enjoying the unparalleled natural beauty that only comes with living life at the edge of the earth. For an American, there are scads of opportunities to spend a year living and working in New Zealand. And it turns out, making that a reality is easier to achieve than you'd expect thanks to the Working Holiday Visa. I was lucky enough to do the Working Holiday Visa for a full year, spending six months working in Wellington before visiting Taupo, Rotorua, Hamilton, Auckland, and taking an unforgettable road trip around the South Island before returning to the US. in March 2020, just as the country closed its borders and halted flights. While all visas and applications have been suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the below information should help you pounce once the country reopens.

Are you an American under 30? You can probably move to New Zealand for a year

New Zealand’s Working Holiday Visa allows Americans between the ages of 18 and 30 to work in the country for up to 12 months, as well as study or train for up to six months, as long as you fill out an application online and pay a fee of 35 NZD ($23 USD). Once it’s approved, you’ll have 12 months to enter the country. Your visa clock starts when you arrive in New Zealand, so remember to note the date you must leave and set alerts in your calendar to avoid overstaying. Naturally, there are a few catches: You won’t be able to accept any permanent work—this is strictly for casual, temporary, and part-time gigs.

If you have a partner, they’ll have to apply separately, and if you have kids you can’t bring them along. Your passport must be valid for at least 15 months beyond the date you get to New Zealand, so make sure it’s renewed before you start your application if it’s getting close. You’ll also need to have at least $4,200 NZD (about $2,783 USD) in your bank account. While the minimum wage in New Zealand was recently raised to $18.90 NZD ($12.43 USD), you’ll still have to pay for accommodation, transportation, food, and other activities while you’re there, and will need some money to hold you over in case it takes a while to find work.

What types of jobs can you do? ...............

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One Of The World's Most Breathtaking Countries Is a Cinch for Americans Under 30 to Move To (New Zd) (Original Post) Celerity Oct 2020 OP
I have Two friends samplegirl Oct 2020 #1
I wonder if it can be turned into permanent citizenship? Ferrets are Cool Oct 2020 #2

samplegirl

(11,502 posts)
1. I have Two friends
Mon Oct 12, 2020, 08:49 AM
Oct 2020

who were born and live there. It’s a beautiful place and so far advanced. I wish I could visit.

Ferrets are Cool

(21,110 posts)
2. I wonder if it can be turned into permanent citizenship?
Mon Oct 12, 2020, 08:49 AM
Oct 2020

I'm too old, but damn, that would be sweet if you fit the criteria.

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