10 October 2024: From 14 October 2024, there will be changes to the China Special Work Visa to match updates in the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement. These changes will increase visa numbers in some job categories and make it easier for Chinese chefs to qualify.
About the China Special Work Visa
The 2008 New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement allowed up to 800 work visas each year for Chinese nationals in five specific jobs:
- Chinese chefs
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners
- Mandarin teacher’s aides
- Wushu martial arts coaches
- Chinese tour guides
Each visa lasts for up to 3 years. After the visa expires, the person must stay outside New Zealand for 3 years before applying again.
Updates from the 2018 Agreement
In 2018, the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement was updated. Changes were made to the number of visas allowed for certain jobs:
- Chinese Tour Guides: The number of visas increased from 100 to 200, and the job title changed to “Chinese Tourism Specialists” to help New Zealand businesses hire staff more easily.
- Mandarin Teacher’s Aides: Visas increased from 150 to 300.
- Fewer visas were given to Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Wushu Martial Arts Coaches because these jobs were less in demand.
New Changes from 14 October 2024
Starting from 14 October 2024:
- 200 visas will be available for Chinese Tourism Specialists instead of tour guides.
- The qualification requirements for Chinese chefs will be expanded. Chefs can now qualify if they hold a Certificate of Occupational Skill Level (COSL) Level 3 in traditional Chinese cooking.
China Special Work Visa Details
Who Can Apply:
- Citizens of China who have a job offer in one of these roles: chef, traditional medicine practitioner, Mandarin teacher’s aide, Wushu martial arts coach, or tourism specialist.
Visa Information:
- Length of Stay: Up to 3 years
- Quota (per year): 800 visas across the five jobs
- 200 Chinese chefs
- 200 traditional Chinese medicine practitioners
- 150 Mandarin teacher’s aides
- 150 Wushu martial arts coaches
- 100 Chinese tourism specialists
- Cost: From NZD $1355
- Processing Time: 80% of applications processed in 5 weeks
What You Can Do with This Visa:
- Work in New Zealand in one of the five special jobs.
- Study for up to 3 months.
Important Information:
- The visa length depends on your job offer.
- If your visa is for less than 3 years, you can apply for another visa to stay longer (up to 3 years total), as long as you still meet the requirements.
Family: You can’t include your partner or children in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship with you.
Reference
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/
About ICL Immigration
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