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 Christchurch:
(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 :
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 Chinais 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 onChinese 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 03-3433650 or email us at: chc_zx@csm.mfa.gov.cn. We will get back to you ASAP.
2023年以来，中国有关部门推出多项外国人签证优化和入境便利政策措施，旨在为包括新西兰公民在内的广大外籍人员来华提供更多高效便捷的服务。目前，北京、上海、杭州、广州、深圳等城市均开通往返奥克兰的直飞航班，中新人员往来更加畅通。为帮助新西兰民众更好了解有关举措，我们专门梳理了适用于新西兰公民的入境“福利”。
（一）无需预约。在线签证申请通过初审后，即可在工作时间到馆办理。
（二）签证费用大幅降低。这将为赴华新西兰公民带来实实在在的优惠。
（三）在线申请表格显著优化。大量文字性填报内容被删减，有效减少申请人填表时间。
（四）部分种类签证免采指纹。短期签证申请到馆办理更快捷，仅需两三分钟即可完成。
持24小时内国际联程机票，在经北京、上海、杭州、广州、深圳等城市机场过境前往第三国或地区，可免办边检手续，直接免签过境。如持有144小时内联程客票，可填写临时入境外国人入境卡，向上述城市口岸边检机关提出申请。
经北京过境，可在北京、天津、河北三省（市）停留不超过144小时。
经上海或杭州过境，可以在上海、江苏、浙江三省（市）停留不超过144小时。
经广州或深圳过境，可在广东省停留不超过144小时。
港澳地区组团入境广东免签。经香港、澳门旅行社组团，由香港、澳门进入广东大湾区9市和汕头市，免办签证入境并停留不超过144小时。
上海游轮免签。新西兰旅游团经中国境内有相应资质的旅行社组织、接待并从上海邮轮口岸整团入境免办签证，可在沿海邮轮靠泊港口所在城市、港口周边城市（本省级行政区域内）以及北京市累计停留不超过15天。
海南入境免签。通过中国境内旅行社邀请接待、单位邀请接待或自行申报等方式由海南所有对外开放口岸免签入境出境，可在海南省停留不超过30天。
如急需来华且来不及在出发前办妥签证，可凭相关证明材料申办口岸签证入境。
（一）就近就便申请签证延期换发补发。短期来华从事非外交、公务活动，如有正当合理事由需继续在华停留，可直接向停留地公安机关出入境管理机构申请签证延期换发补发。
（二）申办再入境签证。因正当合理事由需多次出入境，可凭相关证明材料，向公安机关出入境管理机构申请换发多次入境有效签证。
（三）免予查验部分证明材料。申办签证证件时，对于通过信息共享可查到相关证明材料的，免予查验；办理亲属短期探亲团聚类签证的，可以邀请人亲属关系声明替代亲属关系证明。
如需进一步了解出入境政策，可致电国家移民管理局12367服务平台详询。
如对签证申请或签证政策有任何疑问，可通过电话、邮件方式向我馆咨询。证件咨询电话：03-3433650；证件咨询电子邮箱：chc_zx@csm.mfa.gov.cn。
