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What you need to know about the changes to make it easier for Chinese visitors to visit New Zealand from Australia.
Earlier this year the Government announced changes to make it easier for Chinese passport holders to visit New Zealand from Australia.
From 3 November 2025, people with passports from China can visit New Zealand from Australia without a visa. Instead of applying for a visa, if they have a valid eligible Australian visa, they will be able to travel to New Zealand on a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), and stay for up to 3 months.
This is a trial for 12 months.
Requirements
You must:
- be travelling to New Zealand from Australia
- have a passport from China
- have an eligible Australian visa (listed in the following section) that is valid when you check in to your flight to New Zealand
- have a valid NZeTA.
To get an NZeTA you must:
- be in good health
- have a good character
- have a genuine reason for visiting New Zealand
- have enough money to pay your expenses
- have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.
Eligible Australian visas
Eligible Australian visas are:
- UR160 — Business Owner (provisional)
- UR161 —Senior Executive (provisional)
- UR162 —Investor (provisional)
- UR163 —State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (provisional)
- UR164 — State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (provisional)
- UR165 — State/Territory Sponsored Investor (provisional)
- UT173 — Contributory Parent (temporary)
- EB188 — Business, Innovation and Investment (provisional)
- TO300 — Prospective marriage
- UF309 — Partner (provisional) visa
- GA400 — Temporary work (short stay specialist)
- UY405 — Investor retirement
- GF407 — Training
- TQ410 — Retirement
- TZ417 — Working Holiday
- TK445 — Dependent Child visa
- UP461 — New Zealand citizen family relationship
- US462 — Work and Holiday
- UC457 — Business (long stay)
- VF476 — Skilled – Recognised Graduate
- GK482 — Skills in Demand
- VC485 — Temporary Graduate visa
- SP489 — Skilled Regional (provisional)
- PS491 — Skilled Work Regional (provisional)
- PE494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional)
- TU500 — Student
- TU590 — Student Guardian
- FA600 — Visitor
- TV651 — e-Visitor
- UK820 — Partner Visa (temporary)
- GH870 — Sponsored Parent
- UU884 — Contributory Aged Parent
Transit
From 27 October 2025, Chinese nationals will be able to transit through Auckland International Airport on an NZeTA, instead of a Transit Visa.
If you want to transit through New Zealand on or after 27 October 2025, apply for an NZeTA.
NZeTA
With an NZeTA you can:
- travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa
- stay in New Zealand for up to 3 months at a time
- travel to New Zealand multiple times while your NZeTA is valid (you must be travelling from Australia each time)
- transit through New Zealand for up to 24 hours.
You cannot work for a New Zealand employer if you are in New Zealand on an NZeTA.
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
How to apply
If you are travelling to New Zealand from 3 November, you will be able to apply for an NZeTA from 27 October 2025. While you will be able to apply from this date, your flight to New Zealand must be on or after 3 November.
You will not be able to use the NZeTA before 3 November. If you are travelling before this date, you must have a valid visa.
You can request an NZeTA using the free NZeTA app or through the NZeTA website.
Make sure to request your NZeTA at least 72 hours before you travel.
Fees, decision times and where to apply
Traveller declaration
You will need to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) before you arrive in New Zealand. You can fill out the form online 24 hours before you depart.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration website
Fact sheets
This information is also available in PDF format in English and Simplified Chinese.
