New Zealand to trial visa waivers for Chinese visitors arriving from Australia
Harjinder Singh Basiala
Wellington (New Zealand), June 15, 2025: New Zealand will introduce a 12-month trial of visa waivers for Chinese nationals arriving from Australia, beginning this November, the Government has announced.
Under the new policy, Chinese passport holders with a valid Australian visitor, work, student, or family visa will be able to enter New Zealand without applying for a separate visitor visa — provided their stay does not exceed three months.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said the trial is aimed at boosting New Zealand’s appeal as a destination for Chinese tourists.
“More than 240,000 Chinese visitor visas were granted in 2024, and we want those numbers to grow,” Stanford said. “This will make it easier, cheaper, and faster for them to cross the Tasman and visit our shores.”
The initiative forms part of a broader effort to simplify immigration processes and reduce barriers for travelers. Immigration New Zealand will launch a dedicated contact line and support service in China for "Approved Destination Status" travel agents. Additionally, new Simplified Chinese content will be made available on the agency’s website.
In another move to ease the application process, document translations will no longer need to be certified, removing translation costs for all applicants.
These steps follow previous initiatives, including the five-year multiple-entry visitor visa and an average visa processing time of just five working days for Chinese applicants.Tourism Minister Louise Upston emphasized the economic significance of the Chinese market.
“In the year ended March 2025, visitors from China contributed $1.24 billion to New Zealand’s economy,” Upston said. “But there’s still more work to do to grow these numbers and drive further economic growth throughout the country.”
The trial will be closely monitored, with potential for extension or expansion based on its success