WHV Requirements: Funds, Insurance, and Medical Checks — Explained

Three requirements catch people out more than any others on a Working Holiday Visa application: how much money you need to show, whether insurance is compulsory, and whether you need a medical exam. All three depend on which country’s scheme you’re applying under — there’s no single answer that applies to everyone.

Proof of funds

You need to show you can support yourself without relying on welfare. The amount depends on your scheme:

• NZD $2,250 — the lowest tier, used by a few shorter (6-month) schemes and some others
• NZD $4,200 — the most common requirement, used by the majority of 12-month schemes
• NZD $7,000 — the higher tier, used by a small number of schemes
• The UK scheme is the exception: instead of a lump sum, it requires NZD $350 for every month of your visa

You’ll typically prove this with a recent bank statement. It doesn’t need to sit in a NZ account — it’s about showing you have access to it.

Insurance

Most schemes make full medical insurance for the length of your stay a visa condition — meaning you need to arrange it before you’re granted the visa, not after you land. This applies to the large majority of NZ’s WHV schemes.

Two notable exceptions found in our research: the UK scheme does not state an insurance requirement, and Malaysia’s scheme lists insurance as recommended rather than mandatory. Even where it isn’t compulsory, one hospital visit or accident without cover can cost far more than a year of insurance — see our guide to travel insurance for a NZ working holiday and the travel insurance comparison before you decide to skip it.

Medical examinations

This is the requirement people most often misunderstand. For almost every scheme, a medical exam or chest X-ray is not automatically required — it’s conditional, triggered by how you answer health questions on your application (a past or current health condition, for example). Immigration New Zealand may then ask for a medical exam, a chest X-ray, or both, as follow-up.

There are a few situations where it becomes a standard, upfront requirement rather than a conditional one — for example, some longer-duration visa options (beyond the standard 12 months) and specific country conditions. Check the requirements listed for your specific country before assuming either way.

The practical takeaway

Don’t copy another traveller’s checklist — it may be for a different country’s scheme. Look up your own nationality in the Visa Eligibility Checker and treat that page’s funds, insurance, and fee figures as the ones that apply to you.

This page is general information, not immigration advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed immigration adviser or Immigration New Zealand directly.