China's new pilot visa-free policy for New Zealand citizens will be effective from July 1, according to a late Tuesday announcement by the Chinese Embassy on social media.
The policy will allow travelers from New Zealand, Australia, and Poland to enter China without a visa until the end of next year. The embassy stated, "From July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders from these countries can visit China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for up to 15 days without a visa."
However, travelers from these countries who do not meet the conditions for visa exemption will still need to apply for a visa before entering China.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced this policy during his official visit to New Zealand earlier this month. A spokesperson from New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade welcomed the announcement, describing it as a positive development for short-term business and leisure visitors to China. They noted that it would strengthen people-to-people connections between the two nations.
Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong highlighted that the visa-free policy has garnered significant attention in New Zealand. He noted, "The number of people searching for information about traveling to China has increased sharply, and they look forward to an early implementation of the visa-free policy." Wang emphasized that this interest reflects a strong desire in New Zealand to enhance cooperation and promote people-to-people ties with China.
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