NZ visas for Chinese bank’s clients fast-tracked

More than half of a Chinese bank’s wealthy clients had their New Zealand visitor visas approved within a day in the last year after an agreement to fast-track them. Immigration New Zealand introduced a streamlined visa process for the bank’s private banking or prestigious wealth management customers two years ago.

It has since also signed a similar deal with China UnionPay for its Platinum or Diamond credit card holders. The Bank of China said the streamlined applications had cut visa processing times by at least half, from 15 days to fewer than five days, and in the past year, more than half of its clients that had applied for visas, had them approved within one business day.

Its associate New Zealand director Pengbo Jiang said it had boosted their clients’ experiences of overseas study, travelling and investing in New Zealand.

“It has also enhanced the Bank of China Private Banking and Prestigious Wealth Management brand value, and helped us further implement the Bank of China global wealth management overseas development strategy.”

Under the agreement, those travellers no longer needed to provide evidence of onward travel from New Zealand or their financial employment status. Immigration New Zealand’s tourism sector relationship manager Andrew Johns said Chinese tourist numbers had increased significantly in recent years and that growth was forecast to continue.