Temporary Employment Entry and Working Holiday Schemes under the Free Trade Agreement
Under the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, signed in 2008, New Zealand Immigration provides for several categories of work visa for Chinese nationals. The China Special Work Category under the FTA includes commitments for skilled 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:
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners
- Chinese chefs
- Mandarin teachers’ aides
- Wushu martial arts (including tai chi) coaches
- Chinese tour guides.
In addition, under the China Skilled Work Category, 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 is limited to no more than 100 workers in each occupation at any one time.
The list of occupations (which all have specific qualification and experience requirements) is as follows:
- Auditor
- Automotive Electrician
- Boatbuilder
- Computer Application Engineer
- Design Engineer - Electronics / Product Engineer
- Diesel Mechanic
- Early Childhood Teacher
- Electrician
- Electronics Technician
- Film Animator
- Fitter and Turner
- Fitter / Welder
- Medical Diagnostic Radiographer / Medical Radiation Therapist
- Motor Mechanic
- Plumber
- Registered Nurse
- Senior Test Analyst
- Structural Engineer
- University or Higher Education Lecturer/Tutor
- Veterinarian.
Successful applicants may undertake any employment except permanent employment and are not able to work for any single employer for more than three months. Applicants may enrol in one or more courses of training or study of up to three months' duration in total during their visit to New Zealand. Please also note that all applications for the Working Holiday Scheme are made online by applicants, and it is not necessary for applicants to use an immigration agent to complete this process.
Applicants for the Working Holiday Scheme must:
- have a senior high school qualification
- have a minimum of NZ$4200 in available funds
- prove they have functional English, by producing 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, and
- meet normal health and character requirements.
More information on each of these policies, including how to apply, can be found at the links below. (Most links are to the Immigration New Zealand website)
1. China Special Work Policy
1.1: Overview of the Policy
1.2: How to apply
2: China Skilled Work Policy
2.1: Overview of the Policy
2.2: How to apply
3: Information for New Zealand Employers
3.1: Overview
3.2: Using Recruitment Agents in China
3.21: Information on Immigration NZ website
3.22: List of Recruitment Agents identified by China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM)
4: Working Holiday Scheme
4.1: Overview4.2: Frequently Asked Questions
4.3: Apply Online
5: Immigration Statistics
5.1 Immigration statistics on Immigration New Zealand website
5.2 Instructions for accessing immigration statistics on Temporary Employment and Working Holiday Scheme uptake [PDF 200KB]
6: Contact Information
Beijing:
Beijing branch of Immigration NZ
General enquiries and visa applications for New Zealand should be directed to the New Zealand Visa Application Centre in Beijing.- Phone: 010 84476877, 84476776, 84477363
- Email: infopek.nzcn@vfshelpline.com
- Website: www.newzealandvisachina.com
For a specific enquiry about a visa application lodged more than a week ago, or if you are seeking immigration policy advice, please contact INZ Beijing branch.
- Phone: 010 6532 6688
- Email: INZBeijing@dol.govt.nz
We encourage agents and customers to correspond with their case officer by email wherever possible.
Shanghai:
Shanghai branch of Immigration NZ
Phone: +86 21 3366 2734; 33662784
Email: infosha.nzcn@vfshelpline.com
Note: For general enquiries please use the telephone number and email address provided above. For application enquiries we encourage advisers and customers to correspond with their case officers by email wherever possible.
Lodging applications - Applications must be lodged at our Visa Application Centre:
2/F, Guangdong Development Bank Tower
No. 555 Xujiahui Road
Huangpu District
Shanghai.
New Zealand:
Immigration New Zealand - Contact us
| Online | Go to our... |
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Knowledge base [NZ Department of Labour] |
Phone - in New Zealand |
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Our Contact Centre is open Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 7:00pm (New Zealand time), except on New Zealand public holidays. [NZ Department of Labour] |
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Rest of New Zealand |
0508 558 855 |
Phone - outside New Zealand |
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- Page last updated: 22 March 2012
