WI12 China Special Work Instructions

1. These instructions allow limited numbers of citizens of the People's Republic of China who are qualified in certain occupations, and who hold a full-time New Zealand job offer in that occupation, to be granted a work visa and entry permission.
2. To be considered under these instructions the applicant must be one of the following:
   1. a Chinese chef who has a Chinese Occupational Skills Testing Authority Certificate Level 3 in traditional cuisine; or
   2. a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner (including a TCM nurse) who has a higher education degree requiring at least three years' successful study in TCM from an institution recognised by the Chinese government; or
   3. a Mandarin teachers' aide who has a higher education degree requiring at least three years' successful study; or
   4. a Wushu Martial Arts coach with Wushu Grade 3-5 Certificate and a post-compulsory education qualification in either physical education or teaching requiring at least two years' successful study from an institution recognised by the Chinese government; or
   5. a Wushu Martial Arts coach with Wushu Grade 6-9 Certificate and five years' teaching experience; or
   6. a Chinese tour guide who, at the time of application, holds a valid Tour Guide Licence in China, and can demonstrate knowledge of New Zealand and can provide acceptable English language test results, as set out at WI12.1 (no more than two years old at the time the application is lodged).
3. At any one time, the number of Chinese nationals holding a visa granted for any occupation under these instructions must not exceed the following:
   1. 200 Chinese chefs;
   2. 200 TCM practitioners (including TCM nurses);
   3. 150 Mandarin teachers' aides;
   4. 150 Chinese Wushu Martial Arts coaches; and
   5. 100 Chinese tour guides.
4. To be granted a work visa under these instructions, applicants must:
   1. provide a completed work visa application form, fee and immigration levy; and
   2. have a full-time New Zealand job offer in one of the occupations listed above, which meets the requirements set out in W2.10; and
   3. meet the specific qualifications and/or experience requirement for their occupation, as detailed in WI12(b) above; and
   4. meet health and character requirements set out in A4 and A5; and
   5. meet the requirements for bona fide applicants set out in E5.

   Note: For the purpose of these instructions the job offer for a Mandarin teacher’s aide may meet the requirements at W2.10.5 and W2.10.10 if the applicant presents a letter showing they have been nominated by the Ministries of Education in New Zealand and China.

5. A labour market test is not required.
6. An application for an initial work visa under these instructions may be lodged by a person who is:
   1. outside New Zealand; or
   2. lawfully in New Zealand on a work or student visa at the time of application, and who is a:
      • TCM practitioner;
      • Mandarin teachers’ aide;
      • Wushu Martial Arts coach; or
      • tour guide.
7. Successful applicants who apply offshore will be granted a work visa and entry permission with the following conditions:
   1. first entry to New Zealand must be made within six months; and
   2. the work visa will be valid for multiple entries to New Zealand for a maximum of three years, depending on the length of their job offer.
8. Successful applicants who apply in New Zealand will be granted a work visa with multiple-entry travel conditions for a maximum of three years, depending on the length of their job offer.
9. If the initial visa is valid for less than three years, a further visa may be granted for the balance of the three-year period, as long as the applicant still meets all the requirements of these instructions.
10. Work visas granted under these instructions must be endorsed with conditions that allow work only for a specified employer in a specified occupation.
11. On completion of the three-year period, applicants must remain outside New Zealand for three years before applying for a further visa under these instructions.

Note: These instructions reflect New Zealand's international trade commitments (see E9).

WI12.1 Acceptable English language test results

The following English language test results are acceptable:

Effective 13/05/2019