China will launch a visa-free policy for New Zealand passport holders beginning July 1, as announced by the Chinese Embassy via social media late Tuesday.
According to the embassy, the visa-free arrangement will extend to travelers from New Zealand, Australia, and Poland until the end of next year.
Starting from July 1, 2024, until December 31, 2025, citizens of these countries holding ordinary passports can enter China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or transit purposes for up to 15 days without needing a visa,” the embassy’s statement read.
Individuals from the aforementioned countries who do not meet the criteria for visa exemption will still be required to obtain a visa before entering China.
The visa-free initiative was originally announced by Chinese Premier Li Qiang during his recent official visit to New Zealand.
A spokesperson from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade expressed appreciation for the development, noting its positive impact on short-term travel between the two countries.
“This is a positive step for both business and leisure travelers to China,” the spokesperson commented. “It will enhance the connections between people in New Zealand and China.”
Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong highlighted the widespread interest in China’s visa-free policy across various sectors in New Zealand.
“There has been a notable increase in inquiries about travel to China, and there is anticipation for the swift implementation of this visa-free policy,” Wang remarked.
“This underscores the strong desire across New Zealand to deepen collaboration with China across different domains and foster closer people-to-people ties.”
