Young Taiwanese will be able to apply for working holiday visas in New Zealand in a reciprocal deal between the two countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday.
The New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei (NZCIO) and its Taiwanese counterpart in New Zealand have approved the scheme, which starts June 1.
Taiwan is the 18th country to reach such an arrangement with New Zealand. But the pact is also the first of its kind for Taiwan, according to the ministry. Taiwan has no official diplomatic ties with New Zealand.
"Under this scheme, up to 400 Taiwanese passport holders between the ages of 18 and 30 will be able to travel to New Zealand for a working-holiday stay of up to 12 months," NZCIO Director Charles Finny said.
Up to 400 New Zealanders will also be eligible for working holiday visas in Taiwan, which will allow them to holiday and work for up to a year.
The arrangement with New Zealand, which has proved popular with other countries, will help "deepen people-to-people exchanges and increase understanding of Taiwan in New Zealand and of New Zealand in Taiwan," Finny said.
Joseph Shih (石定), representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New Zealand, said Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, which was filmed in New Zealand, had set the country's tourism industry abuzz.
"I hope Taiwan's young people can broaden their international perspective through holidaying and working in New Zealand," Shih said.
The UK, Ireland, Germany and Canada are among the countries that have also signed the arrangement with New Zealand, Shih said.
The NZCIO will issue a multiple-entry work visa valid for 12 months from the date of issue to Taiwanese applicants who satisfy certain requirements.
Applicants must also hold Taiwanese passports, valid for more than 12 months upon arrival in New Zealand, and provide evidence of household registration in Taiwan.
Applicants must also satisfy the visa office that their primary intention is to holiday in New Zealand, with employment being a secondary reason for the visit, and that they will depart New Zealand at the end of the visit.
Applicants will not be permitted to bring children and must hold return tickets and sufficient funds to purchase tickets.
Applicants will also need to have comprehensive insurance throughout their stay. They must also not have been previous recipients of a working-holiday visa in New Zealand.
"Participants in the scheme are not permitted to engage in permanent employment during their visit and should not work for the same employer for more than three months during their visit," the text of the arrangement said.
But participants may enroll in one training or study course of up to three months' duration, according to the arrangement.
"If we find the scheme very popular and more than 400 people are applying, we will look immediately at that figure and consider whether we need to increase it," Finny saids.
Further details of the scheme will be posted on the Web site www.nzcio.com shortly.
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