[Personal Experience] A Summary of Preparations Made Before My New Zealand Working Holiday

I know! There are countless reference sites out there. Sites put together by working holiday agencies are very easy to understand and clear!

Even so, those who are anxious will likely look at multiple sites. I was one of them (lol).

So, I have summarized everything I did before going to New Zealand for my first working holiday below.

I hope this will be helpful for those who are trying to go on a working holiday on their own.

Writing it all out like this again, there really is a lot to do! 😂

♦️Things I did 1 year to 6 months before

Unlocking my smartphone

If your smartphone is not SIM-free, you won't be able to use it even if you buy a SIM card locally.

I had been under contract with au for a long time, but I bought a SIM-free smartphone and took this opportunity to switch my network to ahamo as well.

By the way, I bought a "Google Pixel" because it has excellent camera performance, anticipating that I would take a lot of photos.
I don't usually take photos at all, but I took tons of them while I was there, so I was really glad I replaced it.

Also, while I was paying over 5,000 yen per month with au for almost the same contract terms, I was able to keep it under 3,500 yen after switching to ahamo.

Devices from October 2021 onwards are generally SIM-free so you might not need to replace yours, but it's a good idea to check just in case.

Creating a credit card

In New Zealand and Australia, "JCB" cannot be used.
It is standard to pay with a "VISA" or "Mastercard".

I was using a Rakuten card with "JCB," so I created a second Rakuten card with "VISA."

Creating a My Number Card

In Australia and New Zealand, the My Number card number was required as personal ID for things like online working holiday visa applications, opening local bank accounts, and issuing criminal record certificates (NATIONAL POLICE CHECK).

When I submitted my overseas moving notification at the city office, the My Number card itself was deactivated, but I was glad I brought it because I was asked to enter my My Number card's personal number for various online applications while I was there.

Obtaining a passport

It seems you can get one in about two weeks by applying online now, but that wasn't possible yet when I did it, so I went to a nearby passport center, filled out the application form, and was able to get it in about two weeks.

♦️Things I did 3–6 months before

Issuing a bank balance certificate (500,000 yen or more)

This is required for the Working Holiday visa application.

I went to the bank counter and had them issue a balance certificate in English. Since the bank I use couldn't issue it on the same day, I went back to pick it up later.

(By the way, even if you don't have enough balance, there is a way to have someone temporarily transfer money to you and then return it after the certificate is issued (lol).)

Working Holiday visa application

I went to New Zealand first, and in the case of New Zealand, my visa was approved about two days after I applied online. (For Australia, it was approved in a few minutes.)

As of 2022 when I applied, the New Zealand visa cost about 3,000 yen to apply for, but it seems it costs about 9,000 yen now (*as of May 2026)😅

♦️Things I did 1–2 months before

Booking flight tickets

Finally, booking the flight tickets.

I was planning for late September to early October 2023, and I had been checking the price trends of flight tickets little by little from about three months prior. Perhaps because it's the beginning of spring in New Zealand and the weather gets warmer, the prices from October onwards were going up day by day, so I searched for the cheapest day in late September and booked my flight.

There were cheaper options with Chinese airlines, but the layover times were long and I was a bit worried, so I chose Jetstar.

When I returned from New Zealand, I used a Chinese airline (because it was much cheaper than Jetstar), but since it wasn't a budget airline, they provided proper meals and drinks, and I wasn't charged extra for two 30kg checked bags, so it wasn't bad. (If I had to say anything, it was just a little cramped, but I could drink wine and watch movies without extra charges!)

As an aside, when transferring via China, the airport Wi-Fi doesn't work, so I downloaded books and Netflix content in advance to kill time.

Joining overseas insurance

There was low-cost health insurance available locally, but since it was my first time abroad and I was anxious about the language, I decided to be safe and signed up for Tokio Marine & Nichido's overseas travel insurance, even though I didn't have any savings.

It was valid for one year from the departure date, and the cost was as high as 210,000 yen🥲

It included Japanese interpretation services, and in the event of illness or injury, they would even arrange hospital visits just by making a phone call; it also covered lost luggage and personal belongings.

As luck would have it, I caught COVID for the first time while I was there, and when I had a high fever of nearly 40 degrees, it was extremely helpful to have everything handled with just one phone call.

Because of COVID, I was told that an interpreter could not be present in person, so I connected via phone during the examination to have the interpreter assist me. I had to pay for the consultation and medication out of pocket initially, but I was glad that the money was reimbursed about two days after I filed the claim.

Besides that, about a month after arriving, I had a mysterious fever that wouldn't go down for about a week, and I used this insurance then as well.

I went to the hospital twice for the mysterious fever and COVID, costing about 100,000 yen. So, while it might be a strange way to put it to say I didn't 'break even,' the costs for just those colds were so high that it surely would have been even more expensive for other illnesses or injuries. Since I had no idea about the hospital system or anything else, I felt it was worth it in the end.

By the way, in Australia, I enrolled in a local insurance plan called BUPA.

Driver's License Renewal

My driver's license renewal period overlapped with my stay in New Zealand, and since my license would have expired after I arrived there, I renewed it in advance.

If you put it off and your license expires, it is very troublesome to get a new one, so check your expiration date and don't forget if it applies to you!

Going to the Dentist

Dental treatment is not covered by overseas insurance, so if you find a cavity while abroad, you have to pay out of pocket. A friend of mine found a cavity while in New Zealand, and it cost 900 NZD (90,000 yen) to fix one spot.

In my case, I didn't have any cavities, so I only needed a cleaning, but treatment takes time, so it might be better to give yourself more leeway.

Tax Return

Usually, you can apply between February and March at the end of the fiscal year, but those going on a working holiday can apply in advance.

The items and how to fill out the forms were difficult and I didn't really understand them, so I went directly to the tax office and managed to get it done while being taught how to write it. Various documents such as a withholding tax slip and income tax deduction documents are required, so I called ahead to ask what was needed and gathered them before going to apply.

I don't remember the exact amount, but I got several tens of thousands of yen back in taxes.

To avoid losing out, make sure to check if you are eligible and don't forget to do it.

iDeCo Cancellation

In my case, I didn't have much money to spare, so I wanted to reduce the things being deducted during my working holiday and went through the cancellation process for iDeCo.

The process of requesting application documents and other correspondence takes quite a long time. Honestly, in my case, I had a mistake in my entry, so I didn't make it in time. Even after leaving the country, I had to have my family submit the documents on my behalf before the application was finally approved.

This is, of course, a procedure you don't have to do, but if you are thinking about cancellation procedures, I recommend doing them with about three months to spare.

Opening a Wise Account

This is an absolute must!
It is necessary when transferring money from a Japanese bank account to a local bank account.

The fees are much cheaper than bank transfers! (In my case, compared to my own bank, I saved over 1,000 yen per transfer ☺️)

If you are going to do it,I recommend opening the account before leaving the country.

I had a friend who didn't make it in time to open a Wise account in Japan and tried to do it locally, ending up in an argument with their parents over the phone. (They asked their parents to help with various procedures, but the parents didn't understand what was being asked, and it seemed to turn into a fight 🥲)
You don't want to cause trouble for your parents even after you've gone abroad 😅

This person's article is very easy to understand, so if you want to know more, please read it here.

Also, I didn't create a debit card, but it seems it can be quite advantageous, so please consider it. For more details,Wise Official Website

♦️Things done 2 to 1 week before

Public Procedures (City Hall)

I went to the city hall and performed the following procedures.
I needed my passport, personal seal (hanko), and airline ticket (proof of travel), etc.
I think it varies depending on the city or town you live in, so to avoid having to go multiple times, call ahead to confirm what you need before you go.

① Application for Overseas Moving-out Notification (removing your resident record)

Since your resident record is removed, your health insurance card will no longer be usable. I went to do the procedure two days before leaving the country, and I was told it would be usable until the day before departure.
Also, in my case, my My Number card was automatically suspended at the same time as this application, but since 2024, it seems you can choose to 'continue' or 'suspend' it (Official Website), so you might not have to go do the procedure at the last minute before leaving like I did.

② Suspension of National Pension Payments

This was optional, but since I didn't have much savings, I did it to reduce my monthly expenses.
However, since the amount of pension you receive in the future will decrease by the amount you stop paying (though I don't even know how much I'll get in the future anyway~), it is a personal judgment.

Obtaining an International Driving Permit

I obtained this because I thought there was a possibility I would drive a car locally. This is valid for one year from the date of issue, so I went to get it made at the last minute, three days before leaving the country.

I didn't have time and didn't want to go multiple times, so I called ahead to confirm what was needed before going.
The things I needed were my driver's license, passport, proof of address (resident record), and a passport-sized photo (3.5x4.5, taken within the last 6 months).
The requirements might differ depending on the location, so I recommend confirming in advance.

Change of Address

Since I would no longer have a Japanese address, I changed my address for my bank, credit card, post office, insurance (health insurance, car insurance), and mobile phone to ensure documents would be delivered to my parents' home.

Mail Forwarding Service (e-Tenkyo)

I submitted a forwarding request so that my mail would be delivered to my parents' home.

Switching to eSIM for Smartphone (to maintain phone number)

Even though I planned to buy a local SIM card, I wanted to keep my own phone number (dual SIM), so I switched from a physical SIM to an eSIM.

After researching extensively on how to keep my phone number at a low cost, I found that Povo allows you to maintain a Japanese phone number with no management fees (subject to conditions), so I switched to Povo and signed up for an eSIM.

Creating Resume and Cover Letter

Knowing my personality, I knew I would be overwhelmed once I arrived, so I prepared my resume (one for restaurants and one for farms) and a cover letter in advance for job hunting. I printed about 10 copies of my resume to take with me, but I ended up making small edits after arriving, so they turned out to be a waste 😂

Mailing Back Health Insurance Card

When I went to the city office to handle procedures like the overseas moving-out notification, I asked the staff and received a return envelope. Since the health insurance card (National Health Insurance) can be used until the day before departure, I dropped it in a mailbox on the evening of the day before I left.

Canceling Subscriptions

I canceled services I was using via subscription, such as Netflix and online English conversation lessons.

Summary

There is so much to do that you might feel exhausted before you even leave, but let's get all the procedures finished perfectly so you can focus entirely on your life abroad!

For those wondering what to do about their first place to stay, I recommend Workaway.

I have summarized that in the following article, so if you are interested, please read it.