New Zealand: Travel to be Eased for Chinese Tourists

Starting in November 2025, Chinese nationals who are traveling from Australia to New Zealand and who hold a valid Australian visitor, work, student, or family visa will be able to enter New Zealand for up to three months by obtaining a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) online. All applicants must still meet the eligibility criteria for an NZeTA. Currently, they are required to apply for a separate visitor visa. This initiative is aimed at increasing tourist numbers and will be trialed for 12 months.

Additionally, Chinese nationals will be able to transit through Auckland International Airport using a NZeTA, eliminating the need for a separate Transit Visa.

The government is also introducing efforts to further streamline the current Visitor Visa application process for Chinese nationals. This includes the establishment of dedicated contact points within the Chinese travel industry, staffed by personnel based in China, along with a phone line offering direct assistance.

Furthermore, relevant information is now available online in simplified Chinese, including a detailed Visitor Visa application guide specifically designed for Chinese citizens.

Lastly, Visitor Visa applications for Chinese nationals are now being processed in an average of just five days, with continued work underway to reduce this timeframe even further.