Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that, effective November 3, 2025 for a twelve-month trial period, people with passports from China, or from Pacific Islands Forum countries, can visit New Zealand from Australia without a visa.
Instead, they will be able to travel to New Zealand with a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) and stay for up to three months if they have a valid eligible Australian visa.
Eligible visa-free travelers must:
- be travelling to New Zealand from Australia
- have a passport from China or from a Pacific Island Forum country (listed here)
- have an eligible Australian visa (listed here) that is valid when checking in to the flight to New Zealand (this does not include transiting through Australia)
- have a valid NZeTA.
To obtain a NZeTA, applicants must:
- be in good health.
- have a good character.
- have a genuine reason for visiting New Zealand.
- have enough money to pay their expenses.
- have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.
Applicants should request a NZeTA via the free NZeTA app or through the official INZ website at least 72 hours before travel, and pay the fees. Travelers will need to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) before arrival in New Zealand. They can fill out the form online 24 hours before departure.
NZeTA holders can:
- travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa.
- stay in New Zealand for up to three months at a time.
- travel to New Zealand from Australia multiple times while the NZeTA is valid.
- transit through New Zealand for up to 24 hours.
Holders cannot work for a New Zealand employer if they have travelled to New Zealand on an NZeTA and are visiting.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.