Visa rules change in New Zealand

There has been a change in visa rules that will affect Chinese nationals looking to take cheap flights to New Zealand.

New visa rules have come into affect that will impact on Chinese people taking cheap flights to New Zealand.

Designed to make the process of travelling between the countries easier, the moves – implemented by Immigration New Zealand – include a relaxation of the rules regarding what documents are needed to support a visa application and efforts to encourage multiple-journey permits into New Zealand.

In addition, Immigration New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand have launched up a shared office in Shanghai, a facility that was opened by chief executive of the latter organisation Kevin Bowler.

He notes that China is one of his country’s “fastest growing visitor markets”, with the number of arrivals from the Asian nation rising from 20,000 to 130,000 between 1999 and June 2011.

“The additional effort by Immigration New Zealand in China will support this increasing demand and is likely to encourage greater numbers of single-destination travellers who will want to see more and do more in New Zealand,” he states.

In order to obtain a visa to enter New Zealand, Chinese travellers – as well as those from certain other countries – need to have a valid passport, proof that they have plans to leave the country and be able to show they have enough money to support themselves during their stay.

However, British citizens who are able to produce evidence of their right to live permanently in the UK are able to visit the country for up to six months without requiring a visitor visa.

Written by Ruth Norris