Working Holiday Visa (Philippines Scheme) – Residence Outcomes and Quota Administration
Brooke H made this Official Information request to Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
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From: Brooke H
Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,
I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act 1982.
This request relates to individuals whose country of citizenship is the Philippines and who were granted a Working Holiday Visa under the Philippines scheme.
No personal identifying information is requested.
1. Working Holiday Visa Applications and Decisions (Per Opening Date)
For each of the following Working Holiday Visa (Philippines scheme) opening events:
5 February 2014
5 February 2015
5 February 2016
8 February 2017
8 February 2018
7 February 2019
11 February 2020
31 March 2022
1 November 2022
16 March 2023
12 March 2024
12 March 2025
Please provide:
a) The total number of applications submitted in that opening round.
b) Of those applications, the number:
Granted
Declined
Withdrawn
1B. Special Direction – 13 March 2022
Please provide:
a) The number of Working Holiday Visas granted under the Special Direction batch on 13 March 2022 for applicants whose country of citizenship is the Philippines.
1C. Annual Grant Totals
For each calendar year from 2014 to 2025, please provide the total number of Working Holiday Visas granted under the Philippines scheme.
2. Transition from Working Holiday Visa to Residence (Cohort-Based)
For each cohort of individuals granted a Working Holiday Visa under the Philippines scheme in each calendar year from 2014 to 2025 (as identified in Section 1), please provide the following:
A. Preferred Breakdown – By WHV Grant Cohort Year
For each year’s WHV grantee cohort, the number of individuals who were subsequently granted a Resident Visa, including breakdown by residence category:
Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)
Skilled Migrant Category (2023)
Other Skilled Residence
Straight to Residence (STR)
Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) Residence
Talent (Accredited Employer) Residence
Other Residence from Work
Tier 2 Green List Residence
2021 Resident Visa
Partnership Residence
Any other residence category (please specify category name)
For each residence category above, please indicate:
Number granted as principal applicant
Number granted as secondary applicant
B. If Cohort-Year Breakdown Is Not Readily Available
If breakdown by WHV grant cohort year is not readily available, please provide:
The total number of Philippines Working Holiday Visa grantees (2014–2025 combined) who were subsequently granted residence; and
Breakdown by residence category and applicant status (principal vs secondary), if available.
3. Quota Administration and Allocation Mechanism
For the Working Holiday Visa (Philippines scheme):
a) Please confirm whether the annual quota (e.g., 100 places) represents:
A cap on the number of applications that may be successfully submitted at lodgement;
A cap on the number of visas that may ultimately be granted; or
A cap on the number of approved applicants once all decisions are finalised.
b) Please explain how the quota is operationalised in practice, including:
Whether more than the stated quota of applications may be accepted at lodgement;
Whether additional applications may be accepted after the initial opening date if places become available due to declines or withdrawals; and
Whether Immigration New Zealand grants additional visas beyond the stated quota in order to account for declines or withdrawals.
c) Please explain why previously published financial year data for the Philippines scheme may show grant totals exceeding the stated annual quota.
d) Please confirm whether any Working Holiday Visas under the Philippines scheme were granted as Exceptions to Instructions (ETI), and if so, whether such grants are counted within or outside the annual quota.
If any requested breakdown is not available in the exact form specified, please provide the closest available aggregated dataset held by Immigration New Zealand systems and briefly outline any limitations.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,
Brooke H
From: Ministerials
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Kia ora Brooke H,
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 3/03/2026 requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982, the following:
I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act
1982.
This request relates to individuals whose country of citizenship is the
Philippines and who were granted a Working Holiday Visa under the
Philippines scheme.
No personal identifying information is requested.
1. Working Holiday Visa Applications and Decisions (Per Opening Date)
For each of the following Working Holiday Visa (Philippines scheme)
opening events:
5 February 2014
5 February 2015
5 February 2016
8 February 2017
8 February 2018
7 February 2019
11 February 2020
31 March 2022
1 November 2022
16 March 2023
12 March 2024
12 March 2025
Please provide:
a) The total number of applications submitted in that opening round.
b) Of those applications, the number:
Granted
Declined
Withdrawn
1B. Special Direction – 13 March 2022
Please provide:
a) The number of Working Holiday Visas granted under the Special Direction
batch on 13 March 2022 for applicants whose country of citizenship is the
Philippines.
1C. Annual Grant Totals
For each calendar year from 2014 to 2025, please provide the total number
of Working Holiday Visas granted under the Philippines scheme.
2. Transition from Working Holiday Visa to Residence (Cohort-Based)
For each cohort of individuals granted a Working Holiday Visa under the
Philippines scheme in each calendar year from 2014 to 2025 (as identified
in Section 1), please provide the following:
A. Preferred Breakdown – By WHV Grant Cohort Year
For each year’s WHV grantee cohort, the number of individuals who were
subsequently granted a Resident Visa, including breakdown by residence
category:
Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)
Skilled Migrant Category (2023)
Other Skilled Residence
Straight to Residence (STR)
Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) Residence
Talent (Accredited Employer) Residence
Other Residence from Work
Tier 2 Green List Residence
2021 Resident Visa
Partnership Residence
Any other residence category (please specify category name)
For each residence category above, please indicate:
Number granted as principal applicant
Number granted as secondary applicant
B. If Cohort-Year Breakdown Is Not Readily Available
If breakdown by WHV grant cohort year is not readily available, please
provide:
The total number of Philippines Working Holiday Visa grantees (2014–2025
combined) who were subsequently granted residence; and
Breakdown by residence category and applicant status (principal vs
secondary), if available.
3. Quota Administration and Allocation Mechanism
For the Working Holiday Visa (Philippines scheme):
a) Please confirm whether the annual quota (e.g., 100 places) represents:
A cap on the number of applications that may be successfully submitted at
lodgement;
A cap on the number of visas that may ultimately be granted; or
A cap on the number of approved applicants once all decisions are
finalised.
b) Please explain how the quota is operationalised in practice, including:
Whether more than the stated quota of applications may be accepted at
lodgement;
Whether additional applications may be accepted after the initial opening
date if places become available due to declines or withdrawals; and
Whether Immigration New Zealand grants additional visas beyond the stated
quota in order to account for declines or withdrawals.
c) Please explain why previously published financial year data for the
Philippines scheme may show grant totals exceeding the stated annual
quota.
d) Please confirm whether any Working Holiday Visas under the Philippines
scheme were granted as Exceptions to Instructions (ETI), and if so,
whether such grants are counted within or outside the annual quota.
If any requested breakdown is not available in the exact form specified,
please provide the closest available aggregated dataset held by
Immigration New Zealand systems and briefly outline any limitations.
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 31/03/2026, being 20 working days after the day your request
was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe. If you have any enquiries
regarding your request feel free to contact us via email to
[1][MBIE request email].
Nāku noa, nā
Ministerial Services
Strategy and Assurance
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140
References
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From: Ministerials
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
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Kia ora Brooke,
Please see attached our response to your request for information under the
Official Information Act 1982.
Ngā mihi nui,
Miny
Ministerial Services
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140
From: INZ OIAs
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Kia ora Brooke, please see attached letter concerning your request.
Ethan
MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Immigration New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473 Wellington 6140
NZBN 9429000106078
------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: [1][FOI #33932 email];
Received: Tue Mar 03 2026 03:10:39 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
To: OIA <[2][MBIE request email]>;
Subject: Official Information request - Working Holiday Visa (Philippines
Scheme) – Residence Outcomes and Quota Administration
[Some people who received this message don't often get email from
[3][FOI #33932 email]. Learn why this is
important at [4]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,
I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act
1982.
This request relates to individuals whose country of citizenship is the
Philippines and who were granted a Working Holiday Visa under the
Philippines scheme.
No personal identifying information is requested.
1. Working Holiday Visa Applications and Decisions (Per Opening Date)
For each of the following Working Holiday Visa (Philippines scheme)
opening events:
5 February 2014
5 February 2015
5 February 2016
8 February 2017
8 February 2018
7 February 2019
11 February 2020
31 March 2022
1 November 2022
16 March 2023
12 March 2024
12 March 2025
Please provide:
a) The total number of applications submitted in that opening round.
b) Of those applications, the number:
Granted
Declined
Withdrawn
1B. Special Direction – 13 March 2022
Please provide:
a) The number of Working Holiday Visas granted under the Special Direction
batch on 13 March 2022 for applicants whose country of citizenship is the
Philippines.
1C. Annual Grant Totals
For each calendar year from 2014 to 2025, please provide the total number
of Working Holiday Visas granted under the Philippines scheme.
2. Transition from Working Holiday Visa to Residence (Cohort-Based)
For each cohort of individuals granted a Working Holiday Visa under the
Philippines scheme in each calendar year from 2014 to 2025 (as identified
in Section 1), please provide the following:
A. Preferred Breakdown – By WHV Grant Cohort Year
For each year’s WHV grantee cohort, the number of individuals who were
subsequently granted a Resident Visa, including breakdown by residence
category:
Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)
Skilled Migrant Category (2023)
Other Skilled Residence
Straight to Residence (STR)
Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) Residence
Talent (Accredited Employer) Residence
Other Residence from Work
Tier 2 Green List Residence
2021 Resident Visa
Partnership Residence
Any other residence category (please specify category name)
For each residence category above, please indicate:
Number granted as principal applicant
Number granted as secondary applicant
B. If Cohort-Year Breakdown Is Not Readily Available
If breakdown by WHV grant cohort year is not readily available, please
provide:
The total number of Philippines Working Holiday Visa grantees (2014–2025
combined) who were subsequently granted residence; and
Breakdown by residence category and applicant status (principal vs
secondary), if available.
3. Quota Administration and Allocation Mechanism
For the Working Holiday Visa (Philippines scheme):
a) Please confirm whether the annual quota (e.g., 100 places) represents:
A cap on the number of applications that may be successfully submitted at
lodgement;
A cap on the number of visas that may ultimately be granted; or
A cap on the number of approved applicants once all decisions are
finalised.
b) Please explain how the quota is operationalised in practice, including:
Whether more than the stated quota of applications may be accepted at
lodgement;
Whether additional applications may be accepted after the initial opening
date if places become available due to declines or withdrawals; and
Whether Immigration New Zealand grants additional visas beyond the stated
quota in order to account for declines or withdrawals.
c) Please explain why previously published financial year data for the
Philippines scheme may show grant totals exceeding the stated annual
quota.
d) Please confirm whether any Working Holiday Visas under the Philippines
scheme were granted as Exceptions to Instructions (ETI), and if so,
whether such grants are counted within or outside the annual quota.
If any requested breakdown is not available in the exact form specified,
please provide the closest available aggregated dataset held by
Immigration New Zealand systems and briefly outline any limitations.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,
Brooke H
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2. mailto:[MBIE request email]
3. mailto:[FOI #33932 email]
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From: INZ OIAs
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Kia ora Brooke, please see attached the response to your request.
Ethan
MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Immigration New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473 Wellington 6140
NZBN 9429000106078
From: INZ OIAs
Sent: Friday, 29 May 2026 4:57 pm
To: [FOI #33932 email]
Cc: Ministerials <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Working Holiday Visa
(Philippines Scheme) – Residence Outcomes and Quota Administration
CRM:0892029
Kia ora Brooke, please see attached letter concerning your request.
Ethan
MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Immigration New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473 Wellington 6140
NZBN 9429000106078
------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: [1][FOI #33932 email];
Received: Tue Mar 03 2026 03:10:39 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
To: OIA <[2][MBIE request email]>;
Subject: Official Information request - Working Holiday Visa (Philippines
Scheme) – Residence Outcomes and Quota Administration
[Some people who received this message don't often get email from
[3][FOI #33932 email]. Learn why this is
important at [4]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,
I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act
1982.
This request relates to individuals whose country of citizenship is the
Philippines and who were granted a Working Holiday Visa under the
Philippines scheme.
No personal identifying information is requested.
1. Working Holiday Visa Applications and Decisions (Per Opening Date)
For each of the following Working Holiday Visa (Philippines scheme)
opening events:
5 February 2014
5 February 2015
5 February 2016
8 February 2017
8 February 2018
7 February 2019
11 February 2020
31 March 2022
1 November 2022
16 March 2023
12 March 2024
12 March 2025
Please provide:
a) The total number of applications submitted in that opening round.
b) Of those applications, the number:
Granted
Declined
Withdrawn
1B. Special Direction – 13 March 2022
Please provide:
a) The number of Working Holiday Visas granted under the Special Direction
batch on 13 March 2022 for applicants whose country of citizenship is the
Philippines.
1C. Annual Grant Totals
For each calendar year from 2014 to 2025, please provide the total number
of Working Holiday Visas granted under the Philippines scheme.
2. Transition from Working Holiday Visa to Residence (Cohort-Based)
For each cohort of individuals granted a Working Holiday Visa under the
Philippines scheme in each calendar year from 2014 to 2025 (as identified
in Section 1), please provide the following:
A. Preferred Breakdown – By WHV Grant Cohort Year
For each year’s WHV grantee cohort, the number of individuals who were
subsequently granted a Resident Visa, including breakdown by residence
category:
Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)
Skilled Migrant Category (2023)
Other Skilled Residence
Straight to Residence (STR)
Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) Residence
Talent (Accredited Employer) Residence
Other Residence from Work
Tier 2 Green List Residence
2021 Resident Visa
Partnership Residence
Any other residence category (please specify category name)
For each residence category above, please indicate:
Number granted as principal applicant
Number granted as secondary applicant
B. If Cohort-Year Breakdown Is Not Readily Available
If breakdown by WHV grant cohort year is not readily available, please
provide:
The total number of Philippines Working Holiday Visa grantees (2014–2025
combined) who were subsequently granted residence; and
Breakdown by residence category and applicant status (principal vs
secondary), if available.
3. Quota Administration and Allocation Mechanism
For the Working Holiday Visa (Philippines scheme):
a) Please confirm whether the annual quota (e.g., 100 places) represents:
A cap on the number of applications that may be successfully submitted at
lodgement;
A cap on the number of visas that may ultimately be granted; or
A cap on the number of approved applicants once all decisions are
finalised.
b) Please explain how the quota is operationalised in practice, including:
Whether more than the stated quota of applications may be accepted at
lodgement;
Whether additional applications may be accepted after the initial opening
date if places become available due to declines or withdrawals; and
Whether Immigration New Zealand grants additional visas beyond the stated
quota in order to account for declines or withdrawals.
c) Please explain why previously published financial year data for the
Philippines scheme may show grant totals exceeding the stated annual
quota.
d) Please confirm whether any Working Holiday Visas under the Philippines
scheme were granted as Exceptions to Instructions (ETI), and if so,
whether such grants are counted within or outside the annual quota.
If any requested breakdown is not available in the exact form specified,
please provide the closest available aggregated dataset held by
Immigration New Zealand systems and briefly outline any limitations.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,
Brooke H
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[5][FOI #33932 email]
Is [6][MBIE request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment? If so, please
contact us using this form:
[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[8]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #33932 email]
2. mailto:[MBIE request email]
3. mailto:[FOI #33932 email]
4. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
5. mailto:[FOI #33932 email]
6. mailto:[MBIE request email]
7. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
8. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
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