China → New Zealand
Mainland China ordinary passport holders generally must obtain a New Zealand Visitor Visa before short tourist/business travel; the permitted stay is set by the visa conditions.
Must meet Visitor Visa requirements, including genuine visitor purpose, health and character, sufficient funds or sponsorship, and plans to leave New Zealand. I found no official New Zealand rule making a US visa, US green card, Schengen visa, UK visa, or Japan visa a visa-waiver document for entry to New Zealand.
Based on passport-specific data. · as of 2026-06-18
Official source ↗Documents that change the outcome
- Visa-free· apec_abtc · 90 days
Applies only to short-term business travel, not tourism; traveller must hold a valid APEC Business Travel Card or virtual ABTC with New Zealand pre-clearance/NZL listed, and travel on the passport linked to the ABTC. The United States and Canada are transitional ABTC members and do not receive reciprocal visa-free entry arrangements, only fast-track facilitation.
source ↗
Documents & how to apply
- Completed visitor visa application form — Use INZ 1017 or the Tourist/Business Visitor form; PRC citizens travelling for tourism only for less than 6 months use INZ 1188. Online applicants complete the form in the online system and upload documents.
- Supplementary Form for Chinese Visitors, Students and Workers INZ 1027 — Required for Chinese nationals and people born in China.
- Current passport and copy of passport identity pages — Passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least 3 months after the intended departure date from New Zealand; paper applicants may provide original or certified copy.
- Recent passport-sized colour photos — 1 acceptable photo for online applications, or 2 photos for paper applications; checklist says recent photos must be less than 6 months old.
- Copy of Chinese identity card — Required for each Chinese applicant included in the application.
- Household registration book (Hukou) — For Chinese nationals; copies should also be provided for family members included in the application.
- Evidence of funds — May include bank deposit books, bank statements or payslips for the previous 6 months, credit card statements and limits, or other funds evidence; a sponsor may provide INZ 1025. INZ states at least NZD 1,000 per month, or NZD 400 per month if accommodation is prepaid.
- Proof of outward travel — Can be a ticket out of New Zealand, or bank/credit card evidence showing enough money to buy one; this money must be additional to living funds.
- Proof of plans in New Zealand — Used to show genuine visitor intentions; the official page requires proof of plans in New Zealand.
- Proof of prepaid accommodation · optional — Such as hotel prepaid vouchers or receipts; can be used as funds evidence and affects the monthly funds threshold.
- Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry INZ 1025 · optional — Only if sponsored; online applicants may also need the sponsor's sharing ID.
- Business or employer letter · optional — For business visits, INZ requires a letter from the employer or New Zealand company confirming employment and business reasons; employed applicants' checklist also asks for position, salary, employment length, leave approval and employer contact details.
- Relationship evidence for accompanying partner or dependent children · optional — If including a partner or dependent child, provide evidence such as Hukou, marriage certificate or birth certificate showing parents' names; if one parent is not travelling, provide consent letter.
- Police certificate · optional — Usually required only if aged 17 or older and total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer, or if requested during processing.
- Medical examination or chest X-ray evidence · optional — For stays under 6 months, a chest X-ray is not normally needed; for stays under 12 months, a medical certificate is not normally needed, but INZ may request evidence based on health information.
- English translations of non-English documents — Provide English translations and copies of the original documents.
⏱ Visitor Visa: 80% within 2 weeks; the Business Visitor Visa page shows 80% within 1 week. 💳 441 NZD (government fee) 📍 Apply online through Immigration New Zealand; paper applications can also be lodged at New Zealand Visa Application Centres in mainland China or Hong Kong. Approved visas are normally issued as eVisas.
Submit a complete application early; INZ recommends not booking non-refundable travel until the Visitor Visa is approved.
Requirements vary by consulate — verify with the official source. official ↗
Common questions
No. The New Zealand official rules found here indicate that Chinese passport holders generally need a Visitor Visa for short visits; the NZeTA exception is for travel from Australia with an eligible Australian visa, and I found no rule allowing a US visa to substitute for a New Zealand visa.
Yes for short-term business travel, not tourism. APEC source material lists New Zealand as allowing ABTC business visits for 90 days per visit, with New Zealand pre-clearance required.
Usually no Visitor Visa is needed before travel, but an NZeTA is required before departure. On arrival New Zealand may grant a visitor visa for up to 6 months per visit.
Yes; New Zealand’s visa-waiver rule applies to permanent residents of Taiwan travelling on a Taiwan passport. A personal identity number in the visible part of the biodata page demonstrates permanent residence.
Verify with official sources
Visa policy changes without notice and this page is reference information that may contain errors. Before travel, verify via the official sources below or contact the destination country's embassy / consulate / immigration authority directly; final admission is at the destination government's discretion.