Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has unveiled a 12-month pilot that lets Chinese citizens and passport-holders from Pacific Islands Forum states travel directly from Australia to New Zealand using only an NZeTA, bypassing the usual visitor-visa requirement. The scheme, announced on 5 November 2025 and effective 3 November, allows stays of up to three months per visit.
To qualify, travellers must hold an eligible Australian visa (for example, a Student, Work or Permanent Resident visa) that remains valid at check-in and fly directly from an Australian port. Transit through Australia does not count. INZ says the pilot aims to “test seamless trans-Tasman mobility” and stimulate two-way tourism after Chinese visitor numbers to New Zealand recovered to just 62 per cent of 2019 levels by mid-2025.
![New Zealand Opens Door to Chinese and Pacific Nationals Travelling From Australia Without Visas]()
For mobility managers, the development simplifies multi-leg Asia-Pacific itineraries: Chinese executives attending conferences in Sydney can now add an Auckland site visit without lengthy visa lead times, provided they obtain an NZeTA (NZD 17 via the app) and pay the IVL conservation levy. Airlines anticipate incremental demand; Air New Zealand is adding a fourth weekly Sydney-Shanghai frequency from January 2026, partly to feed onward travel.
The trial will be closely watched in Canberra. Australia’s own visitor-visa processing for Pacific Islanders averages 14 days; advocacy groups argue that adopting a reciprocal model could strengthen the Pacific Engagement Visa once it launches in July 2026. INZ will review compliance and economic impact data mid-2026 before deciding whether to make the arrangement permanent.
Travellers should note that Australian bridging-visa holders are excluded, and that overstays during the pilot could jeopardise future entry to either country. Corporate travel policies should be updated to reflect both NZeTA eligibility and mandatory on-arrival biosecurity declarations.
To qualify, travellers must hold an eligible Australian visa (for example, a Student, Work or Permanent Resident visa) that remains valid at check-in and fly directly from an Australian port. Transit through Australia does not count. INZ says the pilot aims to “test seamless trans-Tasman mobility” and stimulate two-way tourism after Chinese visitor numbers to New Zealand recovered to just 62 per cent of 2019 levels by mid-2025.
For mobility managers, the development simplifies multi-leg Asia-Pacific itineraries: Chinese executives attending conferences in Sydney can now add an Auckland site visit without lengthy visa lead times, provided they obtain an NZeTA (NZD 17 via the app) and pay the IVL conservation levy. Airlines anticipate incremental demand; Air New Zealand is adding a fourth weekly Sydney-Shanghai frequency from January 2026, partly to feed onward travel.
The trial will be closely watched in Canberra. Australia’s own visitor-visa processing for Pacific Islanders averages 14 days; advocacy groups argue that adopting a reciprocal model could strengthen the Pacific Engagement Visa once it launches in July 2026. INZ will review compliance and economic impact data mid-2026 before deciding whether to make the arrangement permanent.
Travellers should note that Australian bridging-visa holders are excluded, and that overstays during the pilot could jeopardise future entry to either country. Corporate travel policies should be updated to reflect both NZeTA eligibility and mandatory on-arrival biosecurity declarations.
