The NZ–China FTA is a treaty between New Zealand and China that liberalises and facilitates trade in goods and services, improves the business environment and promotes cooperation between the two countries in a broad range of economic areas. For more information and the full text of the Agreement, see www.ChinaFTA.govt.nz. It was signed on 7 April 2008, and enters into force on 1 October 2008.
The NZ–China FTA aims to make it easier for New Zealand and Chinese nationals to enter each other’s country for a temporary stay related to the supply of services.
Both countries have made a commitment to, within 10 working days of a completed temporary entry or temporary employment entry visa application being received, either decide the application or to advise when a decision will be made.
China has agreed to fast processing of visa applications by New Zealanders visiting China for business purposes, including services suppliers, investors and goods sellers, and to greater transparency in processing the applications. This will ensure that the procedures that New Zealand business people need to follow in order to gain entry to do business in China do not become stricter – and provides New Zealand with a good basis on which to seek to work to improve these conditions over time. The NZ–China FTA goes further in this respect than any of New Zealand’s other FTAs.
In sectors where it has made services commitments, China has also agreed to extend the maximum stay of New Zealand business visitors to six months, compared to the previous 90 days.
Intra-corporate transferees employed as managers, executives or specialists will be granted a work permit for the length of their contract or for an initial stay of three years in China, whichever is shorter.
In each of the service sectors for which New Zealand has made modes 1-3 service commitments (education, environmental, computer, photographic, duplicating and construction services), Chinese executives or managers who have been employed by their employer for at least 12 months prior to their proposed transfer to New Zealand may enter for an initial stay of up to three years, which may be extended for a further three years if the need for the executive or manager still exists.
New Zealand has also made two new visa facilitation commitments:
The FTA includes commitments for a limited number of workers from China to enter New Zealand for temporary employment, without labour market testing (but subject to specified qualifications and work experience requirements, registration if required, and the requirement for a bona fide job offer), if they work in one of the following occupations:
Applications under this policy must be lodged at either the Beijing or Shanghai Branch of Immigration New Zealand.
The Guide to Special China Immigration Policies (INZ 1157) PDF provides more detail on all of the NZ-China FTA immigration policies. Also see our China Special Work Policy page, or either our Beijing or Shanghai branches.
In addition, a maximum of 1000 skilled Chinese workers at any one time may be granted temporary employment for up to three years, in specified occupations where New Zealand has a skills shortage. Entry will be limited to no more than 100 workers in each occupation at any one time.
The list of occupations is as follows (all occupations have attached qualification and experience requirements): Computer Application Engineer, Senior Test Analyst, Structural Engineer, Veterinarian, Fitter and Turner, Registered Nurse, Fitter Welder, University or Higher Education Lecturer, Early Childhood Education Teacher, Design Engineer - Electronics / Product Engineer, Auditor, Electronics Technician, Medical Diagnostic Radiographer / Medical Radiation Therapist / Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Boatbuilder, Film Animator, Electrician, Plumber, Automotive Electrician, Diesel Mechanic, Motor Mechanic.
Applications under this policy must be lodged at either our Beijing or Shanghai branch.
The Guide to Special China Immigration Policies (INZ 1157) PDF provides more detail on all of the NZ-China FTA immigration policies. See also our China Skilled Workers Policy page or from our Beijing and Shanghai branches.
Alongside the FTA, New Zealand has established a working holiday scheme with China. The scheme provides for a maximum of 1000 Chinese nationals per year, who meet requirements relating to health, character, education and English language ability, to enter New Zealand for one year. Applications for this scheme must be made online, and any paper-based applications will be returned. See the China Working Holiday Scheme page.
The FTA entered into force on 1 October 2008.
The facilitation of temporary entry between countries is an increasing feature of free trade discussions. The easy movement of business people assists in the development of commerce in both goods and services. Temporary entry for skilled workers offers Chinese people opportunities to further their experience and work under New Zealand conditions and salaries, and for New Zealand employers to fill jobs where there are significant skill shortages.
The FTA makes it easier for business people from New Zealand and China to visit each other’s country for a short time to do business. It confirms existing policies that enable specialist business people from China to work in New Zealand temporarily as intra-corporate transferees. It also provides special arrangements for capped numbers of people from China to work temporarily in New Zealand if they have particular skills and a job offer, under the China Special Work Policy and the China Skilled Workers Policy. In addition, it adds China to the many countries from which New Zealand welcomes young people on working holidays.
The new policies are for limited numbers of people, and specifically for those who have particular traditional skills or where there are significant shortages of skilled New Zealanders. Everyone applying to come to work temporarily in New Zealand to fill job vacancies (except New Zealanders and Australians) must meet the same general conditions. These include checks on qualifications and experience, health and character, and that job offers are genuine, including having New Zealand-standard terms and conditions.
As at 25 September 2008, there were over 87,000 people in New Zealand on work permits. This included more than 16,000 working holiday makers, almost 28,000 who were in skill shortage jobs and around 4,000 who were on graduate job search work permits.
The NZ–China FTA provides for up to 1800 skilled people from China to work temporarily in New Zealand at any one time under the new policies, provided they meet the requirements and have a job offer.
More than 56,000 people, from 162 nationalities, were in New Zealand on student permits as at 25 September 2008. This included more than 12,000 Chinese citizens, almost 9,000 South Korean citizens, almost 3,000 Japanese students, just over 5,000 from India and around 1,500 from the USA. Fee-paying students from around the world are encouraged to study in New Zealand. There is no cap on numbers.
As noted above, more than 16,000 young people (18-30 years old) from 27 countries were in New Zealand on working holidays as at 25 September 2008. This included 4,509 United Kingdom citizens, almost 3,000 young Germans, 430 Czech citizens and 830 young Americans.
The NZ–China FTA provides for up to 1000 young people from China to be granted a working holiday visa each year. Like the NZ-United States working holiday scheme, this is not a reciprocal arrangement; and like the NZ-Thailand working holiday scheme, applicants will need to show they speak some English and have met an education standard. All working holiday schemes require that employment is incidental rather than a primary reason for visiting New Zealand and require applicants to hold funds so they can support themselves without working.
Yes. Everyone who works in New Zealand comes under the same labour laws, including holiday provisions and the ability to join a union. New Zealand and China have also agreed to cooperate on the promotion of sound labour policies and practices, including the promotion and protection of the employment rights and obligations of migrant workers.
Applications can be lodged on and after 1 October 2008.
Information on the number of people who have been approved under the skilled worker policies and the China working holiday scheme is available in our statistics pages.
