The New Zealand government wants to boost "New Zealand’s attractiveness as a destination for Chinese tourists by improving visa settings and processes".
On 15 June, 2025, the government announced a series of changes, including a new visa waiver trial and improved visa processing support for Chinese visitors.
It said China is one of New Zealand’s most important markets, providing opportunities for tourism sector, boosting trade and business relationships, and connecting friends and family.
From November 2025, Chinese nationals travelling from Australia with a valid Australian visitor, work, student or family visa will be able to enter New Zealand for up to three months using a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) instead of applying for a full visitor visa. The 12-month trial is intended to make travel “easier, cheaper and faster,” Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said.
“This will make it easier, cheaper and faster for them to cross the Tasman and visit our shores,” Stanford said. “Our immigration settings play an important role in brightening our country’s economic future. More than 240,000 Chinese visitor visas were granted in 2024, and we want those numbers to grow.”
The trial excludes passengers transiting through Australia and applicants must still meet standard NZeTA criteria.
The Government will also introduce several support measures to streamline the visa application process for Chinese travellers and travel agencies.
Other changes include:
- Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is establishing a dedicated contact centre number and support in China for Chinese ‘Approved Destination Status’ travel agents.
- New Simplified Chinese web content on the INZ website
- Visitor Visa applicants will no longer need to have their document translations certified. This will remove additional translation fees for all Visitor Visa applicants who need to provide translated documents, not only those from China.
The Government highlighted that visa processing times for Chinese nationals have already improved. As of June 2025, the average processing time for visitor visas is just five days, and authorities are working to further reduce delays.
New changes focused on Chinese tourists
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Louise Upston said China remains a crucial market for New Zealand’s tourism economy.
“China is one of New Zealand’s most important tourism markets, and more international visitors means more bookings in our restaurants, more people visiting our regions and attractions, more jobs being created across the country, and an overall stronger economy,” Upston said.
“In the year ended March 2025, visitors from China contributed $1.24 billion to New Zealand’s economy, but there’s still more work to do to grow these numbers and drive further economic growth throughout the country.”
Most Chinese tourists currently receive a five-year multiple-entry visitor visa, which the Government said reflects the value of the New Zealand–China relationship.
The new visa settings and support measures are designed to complement existing offerings and encourage repeat visits, while building stronger trade, business, and tourism ties.
‘Parent Boost’ Visa announced last week
Last week New Zealand Government announced a new long-term visitor visa – the 'Parent Boost' Visa – aimed at reuniting families and increasing the country’s appeal to highly skilled migrants.
Starting from September, this multiple-entry visa will allow parents of New Zealand citizens or residents to stay in the country for up to five years. Applicants may apply a second visa, allowing a total stay of up to ten years, provided applicants continue to meet all eligibility requirements. However, the Parent Boost Visa is not a pathway to residence.
Applications for the Parent Boost Visa will open on 29 September 2025, with further details to be released closer to the date.
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