Effective immediately, the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in New Zealand have made the following changes on Chinese visa requirements and relevant procedures.
1.Eligible Visa Category
In accordance with the relevant arrangement, the following visa category are acceptable for processing: M category, F category, Z category, S1 category, S2 category, Q1 category, Q2 category, R category and C category.
2.How to apply
All applications must be submitted via post or courier, and follow the instructions below:
2.1 Applicant to complete application
a. Please complete China Visa Application Form through China Online Visa Application website. All applicants, including holders of diplomatic and official passports, but excluding visa applications for Hong Kong SAR of China and Macao SAR of China, are required to complete the visa application form online, and make sure to print out and sign at “Applicant Signature” on both Confirmation of Online Visa Application and Visa Application form of the People's Republic of China.
b. Applications must be submitted via post or courier service to the corresponding consular office of the Embassy or Consulate-General in New Zealand in accordance with the consular district jurisdiction of your residential address in New Zealand. Please make sure to include all required documents (please refer to section 3), and to ensure you have signed on both Confirmation of Online Visa Application and Visa Application form of the People's Republic of China. Please also include a pre-paid, self-addressed courier package for returning your passports.
2.2 Visa Issuance
The Chinese diplomatic and consular missions will review your applications, and visas will be issued if you meet the requirement and then return to you. You will be notified in case any further documents are required or incomplete document. Applications will be returned without processing if you did not meet the requirements.
3.Required documents (detailed requirements please refer to the websites of Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in New Zealand.)
3.1 Confirmation of Online Visa Application and Visa Application form of the People's Republic of China generated by China Online Visa Application website. (Please remember to print out and sign.)
3.2 Original passport and copy of the information page.
3.3 One photography
3.4 Proof of legal stay or residence status (for non-NZ citizens when applying for a Chinese visa in New Zealand)
3.5 Previous Chinese passport (for people who were Chinese citizens and applying for a Chinese visa for the first time after becoming a citizen of another country), or previous Chinese visa (if applicable).
3.6 Proof of COVID-19 vaccination status.
3.7 Supporting documents based on the visa category
Visa Category Description Required Documents
| Visa Category | Description | Required Documents |
| M Visa | Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial, trade, exchanges, visits, and study tours and other activities. | Invitation letters issued by a trade partner in China, or trade fair invitation or other invitation letters issued by relevant entity or individual. |
| F Visa | Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial, trade, exchanges, visits, and study tours and other activities. | Invitation letters issued by relevant entity or individual. |
| Z-Visa | Issued to those who intend to work in China. | Valid Notification Letter of Foreigners Work Permit or Foreigners Work Permit |
| S1 Visa | Issued to spouse, parents, and children under the age of 18, parents of the spouse of the Z visa holder. | 1. Letter of invitation from the holder of Z visa. 2. Proof of family relationship between the applicant and the inviter. 3. Copy of the information page of the inviter’s current valid passport, and Notification Letter of Foreigners Work Permit, or Foreigners Employment Permit, Residence Permit (Work), or Z vis |
| S2 Visa | Issued to spouse, parents, and children under the age of 18, parents of the spouse of the Z, M, or F visa holder. | 1. Letter of invitation from the holder of Z visa. 2. Proof of family relationship between the applicant and the inviter. 3. Copy of the information page of the inviter’s current valid passport, and Notification Letter of Foreigners Work Permit, or Foreigners Employment Permit, Residence Permit (Work), or holder of Z/M/F visa. * For children over the age of 18 years old and their spouses, a letter of explanation is also required. |
| Q1 Visa | Issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or family members of a foreigner with permanent residence status in China. *"family members" refers to spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, spouses of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents and grandchildren. | 1. Original and photocopy of a certificate (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certification of kinship issued by Public Security Bureau or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of family members between the applicant and the inviter. 2. An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China. 3. Proof of identity of the inviter (such as Chinese ID card, or household registration), or foreign passport and permanent residence permit. |
| Q2 Visa | Issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or family members of a foreigner with permanent residence status in China. *"family members" refers to spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, spouses of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents and grandchildren. | 1. An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China. 2. Proof of identity of the inviter (such as Chinese ID card, or household registration), or foreign passport and permanent residence permit. * If you are applying for a visa on humanitarian grounds, such as attending a funeral, or visiting a seriously ill or dying family member, please provide us with a letter of diagnosis or notification of critical illness from the hospital, or death certificate. |
| R Visa | Issued to those who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China. | Confirmation Letter for High Level Foreign Talents *Spouses and children under the age of 18 submit proof of relationship (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate) to apply for an S2 visa |
| C Visa | Issued to crew members. | A letter of guarantee issued by a foreign transport company or an invitation letter issued by a relevant entity in China |
3.8 You may be asked to provide more documents based on your individual circumstance.
4.Please contact us if you are applying for a diplomatic or official visa.
5.Applications for a student visa can only be accepted for processing along with Visa Application for Study in China (JW201/JW202).
6.Other visa categories not mentioned in this Notice are temporarily not acceptable for processing.
7.Further changes to the requirements will be published on the official websites and on the official channels on WeChat.
Chinese Embassy in New Zealand
Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland
Chinese Consulate-General in Christchurch