Since 2023, the Chinese government has put in place several measures that help streamline the visa application process and facilitate entry to China, with a view to offering more efficient and simpler-to-navigate services for New Zealand and other international visitors. Currently, cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen have direct flights to and from Auckland, enabling smoother travel between China and New Zealand. We have herein highlighted some of the policies that New Zealanders may find helpful and convenient if they intend to travel to China.
1. Before traveling to China, if New Zealanders need a visa at the Chinese Consulate General in Auckland:
(a) No appointment is needed. After online application passes preliminary assessment, applicants can visit our Visa Office during working hours to submit their passports without making an appointment.
(b) Visa fees have been significantly reduced. It will cost less for New Zealand citizens to obtain the visa to China.
(c) The online application form has been improved. With fewer questions to be answered, it takes less time for visa applicants to complete the form.
(d) Fingerprinting is waived for some visa categories. Qualified visa applicants will spend no more than 3 minutes finishing the passport submission procedure.
2. Upon entry to China, New Zealanders (with no valid visa) are eligible for :
(a) Visa-Free Transit
Those holding interline flight tickets with confirmed seats and transiting to a third country or region via Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, or Shenzhen do not have to apply for a visa if their stay in China is within 24 hours. If they hold interline tickets and wish to stay for no more than 144 hours in those cities, they can fill out a temporary-entry form at the entry/exit border inspection and, upon confirmation, will be granted visa-free transit.
When transiting through Beijing, passengers can stay in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei for up to 144 hours.
When transiting through Shanghai or Hangzhou, passengers can stay in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang for up to 144 hours.
When transiting through Guangzhou or Shenzhen, passengers can stay in Guangdong for up to 144 hours.
(b) Regional Visa-Free Entry
Tourist groups, organised by HK and Macau travel agencies and intending to visit the 9 cities of the Greater Bay Area and Shantou, can stay up to 144 hours without visas. They can travel to the following cities: Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Shantou, Shenzhen, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai..
Tourist groups, organised and received by travel agencies in Chinese mainland, can enter China via the Shanghai cruise port without obtaining a visa. They are allowed to spend a maximum of 15 days cumulatively in the cities where coastal cruise ports are located, the adjoining cities (within the same provincial-level administrative region), and Beijing.
New Zealand citizens can enter China in a visa-free manner through any open port in Hainan as a tourist group member, at the invitation of an inviting entity in China, or by personal application. The stay should be only in Hainan for a maximum of 30 days.
(c) Port Visa or Visa on Arrival (VOA)
If New Zealanders have an urgent need to visit China and the Chinese visa is unlikely to be issued before departure, port visas can be applied for at the port of entry. Relevant supporting documents are required.
3. After entry, New Zealanders can:
(a) Apply for visa extension, renewal, or reissue conveniently. Those who are in China for short-term non-diplomatic, nonofficial business and with legitimate reasons for extending their stays may submit relevant applications to the nearest exit-entry administrations of the public security organs located in the places where they stay.
(b) Request a visa for re-entry. In cases where there are legitimate reasons for multiple entries and exits, they can, with the relevant supporting documents, apply to the public security exit-entry administration for the issuance of a multiple-entry visa.
(c) Be exempted from inspection of certain supporting documents. If the supporting documentation required for a visa application can be validated through information sharing, it will be exempt from inspection. Also, when applying for short-term family reunion visas, a declaration of the family relationship by the inviting individual can be used as proof of the family relationship.
For further information and confirmation on Chinese entry and exit policies, you can contact the 12367 Service Hot-line of the National Immigration Administration.
Any questions regarding visa application or visa policies, you are welcome to call us on
09-5713080 or email us at chinaconsulate.akl@gmail.com. We will get back to you ASAP.
