WI2.30 China Working Holiday Scheme (26/03/2012)

See also Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010 reg 12, sch 1

1. This scheme is available to 1000 young citizens of the People's Republic of China annually.
2. To be eligible for a work visa under this scheme, applicants must:
   1. be citizens of China, ordinarily resident in the People's Republic of China and actually resident there at the time of applying (see WI2.1.1(d)); and
   2. have a minimum of NZ$4,200 available funds for their maintenance during the period of stay in New Zealand; and
   3. agree to hold medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance that will remain current throughout their stay in New Zealand; and
   4. have a senior high school qualification (gao zhong xue li) granted in respect of a minimum of three years' full-time study; and
   5. have a level of proficiency in English that is assessed as at least functional; and
   6. meet the requirements at WI2.1.1(b) and (d).

      Note: For the purposes of these instructions:
      ~ the evidence required at WI2.30 (b)(iv) must be verified by the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Centre (CDGDC) and such verification provided with the qualification
      ~ an applicant's proficiency in English is deemed to be at least functional if they can produce a certificate from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), showing they achieved an average level of 5.5 over the four components of the test.

3. Successful applicants will be granted a work visa with the following conditions:
   1. first entry to New Zealand must be made within 12 months of the visa being granted, and the visa will allow work and multiple entries to New Zealand for 12 months from first arrival.
4. Participants in this scheme must not work for the same employer for a period exceeding three months.
5. Applicants under this scheme must lodge their application in the prescribed manner (WI2.30.1) using the online application system.
6. Further documentation must be lodged by the applicant no later than 30 days from the date of advice from INZ. If documentation is not received by the deadline, the application may be determined on the basis of the information available.

WI2.30.1 Mandatory requirements for applications lodged under the China Working Holiday Scheme

See also Immigration Act 2009 ss 43, 57

See also Immigration Regulations 1999 reg 6A

1. Applications made under the China Working Holiday Scheme must be made online. using the electronic form provided on the Immigration website (https://www.immigration.govt.nz/secure).
2. An immigration officer may consider an application where the applicant has supplied the following information in electronic form:
   1. his or her name; and
   2. his or her date of birth; and
   3. the details of his or her passport or other certificate of identity and, if applicable, confirm that he or she is a citizen of China; and
   4. details of the type of visa applied for; and
   5. such information as is required by the electronic form to be tendered in order to determine whether the relevant visa should be granted.
3. The applicant must also complete their application by:
   1. acknowledging that the details supplied in support of their application are true and correct to the best of their knowledge; and
   2. agreeing that if their circumstances change before a visa is granted they will notify an immigration officer of that change in circumstances; and
   3. paying the prescribed fee (if any) for the type of visa applied for, or arranging for the payment of that fee in a manner satisfactory to the immigration officer.

WI2.30.5 Additional requirements for applications under the China Working Holiday Scheme

See also Immigration Act 2009 ss 43, 57

See also Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010 reg 12

Before determining an application the immigration officer processing the application may require the applicant to do one or more of the following:

1. to be interviewed by an immigration officer;
2. to produce further information or evidence (including photographs) that the officer thinks necessary for him or her to determine the application;
3. if applicable, require the applicant to produce travel tickets to a country that the person has right of entry to or evidence of onward travel arrangements that the officer thinks necessary for him or her to determine the application;
4. if applicable, require the applicant to produce evidence of the applicant’s funds for maintenance while in New Zealand or evidence of the applicant’s sponsorship that the officer thinks necessary for him or her to determine the application;
5. if not already provided, require the applicant to produce his or her passport or other certificate of identity.

Effective 26/03/2012