All about the working holiday in Mexico!
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalisation, repatriation…).
The information on this page applies to only to applicants from New Zealand. Readers of other nationalities should check the requirements with Mexican authorities for their jurisdiction.
Between 18 and 30 years old
A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday
Recent pay stubs or credit card statement
This must be your first participation
Comprehensive health insurance
Apply before the annual quota is reached
01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?
WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.
02. Which nationalities are eligible?
Young adults from the following countries can apply for the working holiday in Mexico:
Chile, Colombia, France*, New Zealand, Peru.
*French applicants should consult this page for more information.
03. What documents are required for the application?
Standard items include:
- Passport
- ID photo
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of sufficient funds
04. How long is the visa good for?
The WHV allows holders to stay up to one year in Mexico.
05. Are there any other requirements I should be aware of?
Once the applicant arrives in Mexico, it is mandatory to present the Working Holiday Visa at the INM (National Institute of Migration) within the first 30 days of arrival, in order to request a Temporary Resident Card, valid for 1 year (source).
06. Are there any work or study restrictions?
Participants may not work for the same employer for a period longer than 3 months. They may participate in one training or study course of up to 3 months’ length during the period of visit to Mexico.
07. Do I need to buy health insurance?
Yes. You must provide quote of medical insurance policy, including comprehensive allowance, valid for at least one year from the intended date of entry.
08. Can I bring my children?
According to the Embassy of Mexico in New Zealand, participants must not be accompanied by dependents.
09. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?
We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday in Mexico and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.
We don’t ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.
10. Where can I apply?
All documents should be emailed to [email protected] in pdf format. See Mexico’s official WHV page for more information.
The documents will be reviewed and the authorities will contact you to schedule an appointment if everything is correct. Once the appointment date has been set, you will need to bring all your original documents on the day of the appointment
Appointments and interviews can only be in person at the Embassy of Mexico in Wellington. Videocalls (Zoom, Skype, etc) are not an option.
As mentioned earlier, all working holiday makers must have comprehensive health insurance for the duration of their WHV. For peace of mind, consider choosing one that covers at least medical care, hospitalisation, and repatriation.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
- Chapter 5: Getting WHV health insurance
- What to know about travel insurance for your working holiday abroad
- What to have in your Working Holiday adventure first-aid kit
Mexico’s currency is the peso (MXN, $). If you want to have a peso debit card in hand before even arriving in Mexico, you may want to consider an online neo-bank like Wise. Wise is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs and make payments in Mexico. You can top up your card using one of the supported currencies and it will auto-convert into pesos when making purchases in Mexico. This way you can avoid the foreign transaction fees that many international travellers incur when using their home cards abroad.
You can register from your home country or once you arrive in Mexico. Learn more about Wise.
Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Mexico before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.
For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnb or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.
- Chapter 6: Booking housing for your arrival
- 7 Tips for finding housing during your working holiday abroad
- Couchsurfing abroad: a way to meet friendly locals and save money
After you get your visa, you will have plenty of things to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, starting with the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot, but don’t worry, one step at a time!
As you prepare for your working holiday in Turkey, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.
This is also the perfect chance to learn or brush up on your Spanish. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our other deals for working holiday makers.
All applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive, i.e. until the day before their 31st birthday).
You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday.
New Zealander applicants must provide either a
– Bank statements or payslips from the last 3 months, with a monthly income of NZ$1500, or a
– Credit Card statement showing a credit limit of NZ$2000.
Source
This must be your first participation. If you have already been granted a Mexico WHV before, then you cannot apply again.
Applicants must prove they have medical and comprehensive health insurance for duration of stay. We recommend choosing one that covers at least medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.
Apply before the annual quota is reached. There are 200 spots per year for New Zealanders.