This scheme follows an agreement between the governments of New Zealand and Ireland to promote travel between both countries of citizens between the ages of 18 to 30 to work and travel for one year in either country.

Only applications received on the official application form (available on this website) will be accepted for processing.

Applicants applying for an Irish Working Holiday Authorisation must be resident in New Zealand during the application process, must have and provide evidence of access to a minimum of NZ$2,500 of available funds, must have an onward journey ticket, or extra funds in excess of NZ$200 with which to purchase an onwards travel ticket and hold a New Zealand passport which must be valid for a minimum of 15 months from the date of planned entry to Ireland.

The Authorisation must be activated within twelve months of issue or it will lapse. It is not possible to extend the period of validity of Working Holiday Authorisations, or to accept a second application from someone who has already been granted an Authorisation (whether or not they availed of it).

The current Working Holiday Authorisation is activated by arrival of the holder in Ireland. The holder is subject to normal border immigration controls upon arrival. The Authorisation is valid for a period not exceeding twelve months after the date of initial entry into Ireland.

Please note these conditions apply to Working Holiday Authorisations issued since April 2009. Participants no longer receive a visa-type sticker in their passport but are issued instead with a document which they must carry with them when they travel to Ireland and produce upon request.

If you hold an older type Authorisation it is still valid under the previously advised terms and conditions. The new conditions do not apply retrospectively.

There is an annual quota of Working Holiday Authorities which cannot be exceeded.

Authorities take approximately ten working days to process.

If you are interested in applying for a Working Holiday Authorisation, use our application form / guideline provided here in pdf format. (If you can't read pdf's click here for the free viewer from Adobe).

Visit the Big OE website for information on the Big OE evenings www.bigoe.co.nz

CONTACT US
E: consul@ireland.co.nz
P: +64 9 9772252

Introduction:
The Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006 allow for the establishment, for the first time in Ireland, of a Green Card Scheme for occupations where high level strategic skills shortages exist. This new Green Card Scheme replaces the Work Visa/Work Authorisation Scheme which has been discontinued.

What is a Green Card Permit?
The Green Card Permit is issued by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and is an employment permit issued to the employee and allows his or her employment in the State by the named employer in the occupation specified on the permit. It will be issued for an initial period of two years and will thereafter normally be renewed indefinitely.

The new arrangements allow the employee to apply for immediate family re-unification and will normally allow a pathway to permanent residency after two years.

No labour market needs test (e.g. newspaper and FAS/EURES advertising) is required to making an application.

View the website of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment by clicking here

Are you married to an Irish citizen and planning to live and work in Ireland?
Latest information available from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Click here.