New travel pathway for Chinese tourists to boost visitor numbers

China is one of New Zealand’s key markets, offering valuable opportunities for the tourism industry, strengthening trade and business ties, and supporting personal connections between families and communities. In a move designed to strengthen tourism and mutual benefits, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced new travel arrangements to make it easier for Chinese tourists to visit the country. The initiative highlights China’s significance as a tourism and trade partner and aims to stimulate visitor numbers while maintaining border integrity. 

Under the newly announced measures, starting November 2025, Chinese passport holders with a valid Australian visitor, work, student, or family visa will be allowed to enter New Zealand from Australia for up to three months using a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), without needing to apply for a visitor visa. 

The 12-month trial is specifically targeted at tourists and will not apply to travellers transiting through Australia. All travellers will still need to meet standard NZeTA eligibility criteria, including health and character requirements. 

Affordable and flexible travel options 

An NZeTA only costs NZ$17 using the mobile app or NZ$23 through the Immigration New Zealand website. It is valid for two years and can be used for multiple journeys. Travellers should allow at least 72 hours for their NZeTA to be processed. 

Chinese nationals transiting through New Zealand before the new arrangements take effect in November will still require a Transit Visa. However, Transit Visas that have already been approved will remain valid until they expire, even after the waiver comes into force. 

Existing visa settings remain favourable 

New Zealand already offers one of the most favourable visitor visa settings for Chinese nationals, with most eligible applicants receiving a five-year multiple-entry visa. This longstanding arrangement supports repeat visits and underpins strong tourism, cultural, and family ties between the two countries. 

Enhanced support for Chinese travellers 

To further ease the visitor journey for Chinese tourists, the Government is also rolling out additional support measures: 

• Dedicated contact points for the Chinese travel industry, with staff based in China. 

• A support hotline available from 07:00 to 18:00 NZT (02:00 to 13:00 CST), Monday to Friday. 

• Simplified Chinese web content to improve access to visa and travel information. 

These efforts are designed to complement broader visa processing improvements. As of June 2025, visitor visa applications for Chinese nationals are being processed in just five days on average, with continued efforts underway to reduce wait times even further. Additional fact sheet information here. 

For tailored visa assistance, contact Absolute Immigration NZ at aisupport@absoluteimmigration.co

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