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We are a non-profit travel trade association whose prime objective is to promote travel and tourism to the USA

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We are a non-profit travel trade association whose prime objective is to promote travel and tourism to the USA. Our aim is to provide the New Zealand Travel Trade with information on Destinations and products and services available within the USA to assist our travel trade partners with trip planning to the USA. We do this by providing product information on all of our members and via a range of events held throughout New Zealand.

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Can I travel to the United States from New Zealand?

Most visitors from New Zealand, regardless of vaccination status, can enter the United States.

Can I travel to the United States if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from New Zealand can enter the United States without restrictions.

Can I travel to the United States without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from New Zealand can enter the United States without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter the United States?

Visitors from New Zealand are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering the United States.

Can I travel to the United States without quarantine?

Travellers from New Zealand are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in the United States?

Mask usage in the United States is not required on public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in the United States?

Restaurants in the United States are open. Bars in the United States are .

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How to apply for or renew a U.S. tourist visa

If you visit the U.S. for tourism or business, you may need a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa. Learn how to get and renew this type of nonimmigrant visa.

Find out if you need a visa to visit the U.S.

Check if your country participates in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) . If it does, you can get a waiver and will not need a visa. If you do not see your country listed, you will need a visitor visa.

Visitor (tourist) visas and other travel documents for entering the U.S.

The visitor visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa for people who wish to temporarily enter the U.S. There are two categories:

• B-1 for business travel
• B-2 for tourism and medical treatment

Learn about B-1 and B-2 visas , including:

• Reasons you would need each type of visitor visa
• How to apply
• What documents you will need
• Application fees
• How to prepare for your interview at your U.S. embassy or consulate

Along with your visa, you must bring a passport issued by your country of citizenship. When you arrive at your port of entry into the U.S., officials will issue you a Form I-94, which electronically records your arrival and departure dates. Learn more about Form I-94.

How to renew a visitor visa

The process to renew a visitor visa is the same as getting one for the first time. Follow the process to apply for a visitor visa from the Department of State.

Find the contact information for your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and contact them for visa renewal information.

Understand expiration dates for visas and I-94 forms

• The date you must depart the U.S. will be shown on your Form I-94. This date is determined by the Customs and Border Protection officer when you arrive at the port-of-entry into the U.S. 
• Only diplomatic visa holders and their dependents can renew their visas while they are in the U.S.

LAST UPDATED: May 31, 2024

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U.S. Consulate General Auckland, New Zealand - ACK

Please follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Consulate in Auckland, New Zealand. 

Step 1: Schedule a medical exam in New Zealand

As soon as you receive your appointment date, you must schedule a medical exam in New Zealand. Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” button below for a list of designated doctor’s offices in New Zealand. Please schedule and attend a medical exam with one of these doctors before your interview. 

Medical Exam Instructions >>

Step 2: Bring required documents to the consulate BEFORE your interview

It is important that you provide all required original documents and any missing items to the U.S. Consulate General in Auckland prior to your interview. We’ve created a checklist that will tell you what to bring. Please print the checklist below and bring it with the listed documents to the consulate the week before your interview any time between 8:00 a.m. and 12 noon Monday through Friday, except public holidays. Please place everything in a single envelope with your case number and full name on the outside, and address it to “Immigrant Visa Unit.”

Pre-Interview Checklist >>

Step 3: Review interview guidelines

Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your visa interview.  

Interview Guidelines >>

Medical Exam Instructions

All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination prior to the issuance of a visa. Only a physician accredited by the U.S. Consulate can perform this exam. It is your responsibility to schedule a medical exam with one of the doctors listed below at least two (2) weeks  before your visa interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy. Medical examination results from other physicians will not be accepted.

Approved Physicians:

AUCKLAND City Med Ground Level, Quay West Building 8 Albert St, Auckland City, 1010 (09) 377-5525 Dr. Megan Corbett, Dr. Donna Marshall, Dr. Lidia Nowak, Dr. Lisa Searle

Items to bring to your medical examination

Any medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, must be paid directly to the examining physician.

Medical fees are not paid by the U.S. government. Please take the following items to your medical exam:

• Your visa interview appointment letter,
• Your passport,
• Six (6) recently taken passport-sized color photographs,
• A copy of your immunization records, and
• A copy of the medical exam form that can also be found at the end of this page.

During the medical exam

The medical exam will include a medical history review, physical examination, and chest X-ray, gonorrhea test, and blood tests (for applicants 15 years of age or older). The United States also requires tuberculosis (TB) testing for all applicants two years of age and older. Please be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website . U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant vaccination requirements are available on CDC’s website . You can also read Frequently Asked Questions about our medical examination requirements online.

After the medical exam

When your examination is completed, the doctor will send the report directly to the U.S. Consulate. Any x-rays taken will be given to you. You DO NOT need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you suffer from tuberculosis (TB). However, you must carry the x-rays with you when you travel to the United States for the first time. The medical report must be less than six months old when you enter the United States as an immigrant.

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Pre-Interview checklist

Please use the list below to determine the items that every applicant must provide to the consulate PRIOR to the immigrant visa interview. Bring your documents to the consulate the week before your interview any time between 8:00 a.m. and 12 noon Monday through Friday, except public holidays. Place them in an envelope with your case number and full name on the outside and addressed to “Immigrant Visa Unit.” Any documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation:

A copy of your NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants).

A photocopy of the biographic page (where your name and photo are located) of your passport. You will need to bring the original unexpired passport, valid for a minimum of six (6) months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States, to your visa interview.

Two (2) color passport-size photographs of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2 inch x 2 inch).  Please review our online photo requirements .

Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 Application for an Immigrant Visa you submitted online at ceac.state.gov/iv.

Your original birth certificate and a photocopy. 

Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not accompanying)   .

Applicants who fall into any category listed in italics below should bring these additional documents:

For family-based visa applications:

• The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and any relevant W-2s.
• Proof of your U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States (photocopy of a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or lawful permanent resident card).
• Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant (such as photographs, letters, or emails).

If you are married:  Your original marriage certificate and a photocopy.

If you were previously married:  Your original divorce or spouse’s death certificate, and a photocopy.

If you are older than 16 years of age:  The original police certificate from your country of current residence countries of previous residence. If these three items are all true, you must bring a more recent police certificate to the interview: 

• You are older than 16 years;
• You obtained a police certificate and submitted it to NVC more than one year ago; and
• You still live in the country that issued the police certificate.

For employment-based visa applications:  Letter from your U.S. employer dated less than one month ago.

If you have ever been convicted of a crime:  Court and criminal records, and a photocopy.

If you have served in any country’s military:  Military records and a photocopy. 

If you are adopted:  Adoption papers or custody documents, and a photocopy.

If you are the petitioner’s stepchild:  The original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent, and a photocopy along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent.

Interview Guidelines

Sending documents to the U.S. Consulate

If the U.S. Embassy requests additional information or documentation from you, the consular officer will provide instructions on how to submit those to the embassy following your interview. 

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please email [email protected] as soon as possible. There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so please attempt to attend the date already assigned. For some family-based and employment preference visa categories, a visa became available within the month you have been scheduled by NVC. DV applicants should be aware that visas are numerically limited and must be issued by September 30 of the program year. There is no guarantee that a visa will still be available on the date of your rescheduled interview. Please carefully consult the Visa Bulletin before you request to reschedule your interview. 

Security screening procedures

All visitors to the U.S. Consulate in Auckland must follow certain security procedures. Any visitor who declines to be screened by U.S. Consulate security personnel will be unable to enter the consulate. You are not allowed to enter the U.S. Consulate while carrying any battery-operated or electronic devices, large bags or luggage, or food and liquid items.  To avoid delaying your entry and that of those in line behind you, please bring only what is required for your interview.

Accompanying persons

The following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

• Interpreter:  Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English well enough to participate in an interview.
• Special Needs Visitors:  Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.

Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview.

Immigrant visa fees

If you have not paid all required fees to the National Visa Center, please be prepared to pay these fees on the day of your interview. All fees may be paid in either U.S. dollars or the New Zealand dollar equivalent. We accept cash and credit cards only. Please note that if you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded . You can find a complete list of fees on our  Fees for Visa Services webpage . 

Do not make travel plans outside of New Zealand

If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the consulate while we prepare your immigration packet and print a visa for your passport. We will return your passport to you later via courier services only. If you have to travel within New Zealand while your passport is still with us, please make sure you have a valid picture ID other than your passport.

After Your Visa Interview

A consular officer can make a decision on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa. Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have received your immigrant visa.

If more information is needed

Sometimes a consular officer is unable to make a decision on a visa application because he/she needs to review additional documents or the case requires further administrative processing. When additional documents are requested , the consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents. The letter will include instructions on how to send those documents to the embassy. Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days. However, the timing varies based on the circumstances of each case. Before inquiring about the status of administrative processing, please wait at least 60 days after your interview.

What happens after visa approval?

Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet – We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport. Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling errors. We will also give you a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time. Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you. Do not put it in your checked luggage. If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, carry those with you and give them to the U.S. immigration authorities.

USCIS Immigrant Fee – All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people exempt from paying this fee are: children entering the United States under the Hague Process, returning residents, and people traveling on a fiancé(e) (K) visa.

When You Should Travel – You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, which is usually six (6) months from the date of printing. Your visa cannot be extended and all fees are nonrefundable. The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas. Unless they are eligible for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act, children who are issued a visa before turning 21 years of age must enter the United States before their 21st birthday to avoid losing their immigrant status.

Getting a Green Card – Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you write in your visa application form. This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States. If you plan to travel outside the U.S. before your green card arrives : Please consult USCIS’s and CBP’s websites for rules about what documents you need to re-enter the country. We also recommend you check with the airline to ensure you are in compliance with their rules. Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you will lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

Children’s Issues – In the United States, children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school. We recommend that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States. If your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custodial papers from the authoritative court in your home country. You will need these papers (translated into English) for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.

Information for New Immigrants – Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States. You can read their publication “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants” online.

Diversity Visa Applicants - Additional Information

If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all of the above instructions apply to you. Please schedule and attend a medical examination prior to your visa interview, and gather the required documents.

Below are additional instructions that apply only to DV applicants.

Bring to your interview

In addition to the documents listed on the Pre-Interview Checklist in this package, DV applicants should also provide the following items prior to your visa interview:

• Appointment information printed from the “Entrant Status Check” on the E-DV website .
• Documents showing that you have either a qualifying high school education OR have two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years immediately prior to application (for the principal applicant only; more information is available on our Diversity Visa Process webpage ).
• Payment in cash of the $330 Diversity Visa Application Fee per person.

Review your DV Program entry

Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry. On your initial E-DV application, you must have correctly entered your marital status. If you are legally married you must have listed your spouse, even if you are currently separated from him/her (unless your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident).

Additionally, you must have listed ALL of your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old. This includes your natural children, your spouse’s children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country.

Failure to have listed an existing spouse or children at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery will result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family. Any fees paid to the U.S. government in support of your visa application(s) are nonrefundable. If you failed to include a child who had already been born, or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the lottery, you should not proceed with the visa application. You can review the eligibility requirements on our Diversity Visa Process webpage .

Medical Examination Form

Print a copy of this form for each immigrant visa applicant, including children. Complete Section I and bring the form(s) to your medical examination along with the other items listed under ”Medical Exam Instructions.”

Download " Medical Examination Form "

Last Updated: 2/24/2023

Contact Information

3rd Floor Citigroup Building 23 Customs Street Auckland, New Zealand 1010

Other Links

Diversity visa instructions After your interview Frequently asked questions Where to find civil documents

Interview Preparation Video

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Our relationship with the us.

New Zealand and the United States have a deep and long-standing relationship and share a commitment to democratic institutions and the international rule of law.

Our relationship is multi-faceted and includes close cooperation across a broad range of areas from business and trade, to defence and intelligence, science and technology, culture, arts, education and people-to-people links. There is close cooperation in Antarctica and on related issues, including safeguarding the environment, scientific research into key issues including climate change, and supporting the Antarctic Treaty system.

New Zealand and the US are working increasingly closely to build a peaceful, stable, prosperous and resilient Pacific region, consistent with the Strategy for the Blue Pacific 2050. We have common interests in countering terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Indo-Pacific region and further afield. 

Defence and Security

New Zealand and the United States are close strategic partners and regularly collaborate on defence and security matters. We are both members of the Five Eyes and enjoy a special intelligence and security partnership.

In April 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the US Secretary of State released a joint declaration (external link) on the bilateral relationship. The declaration recommits to the historic partnership between the two countries and commits to working more closely together to advance shared values and interests. In May 2022 former Prime Minister Ardern and President Biden released the “United States-Aotearoa New Zealand Joint Statement”. Other key documents underpinning our strategic partnership with the US are the 2012 Washington Declaration which set out a framework for closer defence relations and the 2010 Wellington Declaration, which agreed to a new focus on practical cooperation in the Pacific and enhanced dialogue on a range of international issues.

These arrangements commit our two countries to collaborate on a wide range of issues, regular meetings between Ministers, and annual political and military talks between officials.

Trade and economic

The US is a key economic partner and one of New Zealand’s largest export markets, including for primary goods and for services. The US is also a significant source of foreign direct investment, education, tourism, and innovation. New areas of our knowledge economy feature in the relationship, including in the technology and aerospace sectors.

The latest information about New Zealand's trade profile with the US is available on the New Zealand Trade Dashboard (external link) .

New Zealand works with the US through the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and regionally through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

In May 2022, fourteen economies in the Indo-Pacific, including New Zealand and the US, commenced  negotiations on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). The IPEF Supply Chains Agreement entered into force in February 2024, while the IPEF Clean Economy and Fair Economy Agreements were substantively concluded in November 2023.

People and culture

Our close friendship is underpinned by people-to-people links.  

New Zealand is a member of the US Visa Waiver Program. New Zealand citizens visiting the US need to apply for an ESTA. The application can be found on the  ESTA website (external link) .

The KIWI Act, signed in 2018, allows New Zealand business people to apply for E1/E2 trade and investment visas. More information on the application process can be found at the US Embassy and Consulate website (external link) .

New Zealand operates a USA Working Holiday Scheme (external link) which allows young US citizens to live and work in New Zealand. 

The US offers young New Zealand citizens a J-1 Work/Travel visa (external link) to allow them to work in the US for twelve months, subject to certain conditions.

Fulbright New Zealand (external link) offers a range of exchange awards for New Zealanders wishing to study, research, teach, or present their work in the United States. Fulbright New Zealand is jointly funded by the US and New Zealand governments with additional private funding.

New Zealand and the US established the New Zealand United States (NZUS) Council (external link) in 2001. It aims to foster and develop a strong and mutually beneficial relationship, and advocates for growing trade and economic links between the two countries. 

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The world would be a pretty boring place without the USA. From the land that makes movies and movie stars, you can waltz down LA streets paved with their names; sit in Memphis homes once graced by legends better known as The King. You can visit Alcatraz at night and imagine Al Capone sitting in his cell making plans, walk the Golden Gate Bridge and surf OC waves that have forged the surfing elite. Eat boiled shrimp in Louisiana and brave a cold winter’s day in a snow covered NYC. It’s the land of opportunity and it’s so different, and so diverse, no two days need be the same.

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Are you planning your next trip to the USA? Want to learn more about this destination? Or looking for ideas and inspiration for your next holiday? Here is where you can find our featured articles on USA.

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Our Favourite Places to Explore WEST COAST USA

You’ve screamed your way around the Anaheim theme parks, learned to surf at iconic Huntington Beach, applauded clever sea mammals in San Diego and you played ‘spot the movie star’ on Sunset Strip. It’s been the holiday of a lifetime, but you know that the West Coast still has so much more to offer. San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles: three great cities, each with their own unique appeal. You could easily spend a week in each one, but it’s only when you get beyond the cities that you realise just how vast and diverse this region is. The towering Sierra Nevada mountains and eerie Death Valley are at opposite ends of the spectrum, but you’ve also got the dramatic Pacific Coast, the fabulous wine regions of Sonoma and Napa and some seriously impressive national parks. And that’s just California – it’s only a five hour drive from Los Angeles to the man-made wonder that is Las Vegas, which is a great base to see one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World; the Grand Canyon. Not forgetting north of California, the ‘Beaver State’ of Oregon and the ‘Evergreen State’ of Washington, with a diversity of landscapes from the picturesque Pacific coastline to the arid deserts east of the Cascade Range. But it’s one thing to run through the near-endless list of highlights: far better that you start planning a visit.

Our Favourite Places to Explore EAST COAST USA

Our favourite places to explore southern usa, our favourite usa experiences road trips.

Exploring America by car is easy. Driving on the right hand side of the road may be different, however the roads are excellent, well sign-posted and spacious. Just remember the centre line should be by the driver! Below are just four of our favourite self-drive itineraries. We have many other America road trip and self-drive suggestions here .

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Americans Head to New Zealand and Leave ‘the Chaos’ Behind

The Pacific island nation has become an object of fascination for some Americans who no longer want to deal with the U.S. political divide.

By Pete McKenzie

The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. This week’s issue is written by Pete McKenzie, a reporter based in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Then Ms. Schultz was hired by an American client who wanted to marry in New Zealand. She had previously visited there once, in 2014, before meeting her husband. Later, when she had described the remote Pacific archipelago to him, she said, “It fell on deaf ears, because the way I described it to him felt like a fantasy.”

This time, after the assignment was over, Ms. Schultz’s husband joined her for a road trip through New Zealand’s sparsely populated north. The country proved an easy sell. In a tiny cafe near a golden beach, he turned to her and asked, “When do we move?”

As the mood in the United States grows increasingly tense, New Zealand has become an object of fascination for many Americans, as it was for Ms. Schultz. After Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory, the number of Americans moving to New Zealand jumped by 65 percent. During one 2020 presidential debate, “How to move to New Zealand” was trending on Google search. As another U.S. election lurches into view, those who have made the move say they have few regrets.

“One of the big advantages of leaving the U.S. is I get to hit the unsubscribe button on the chaos,” Ms. Schultz, 31, said. “The politics and the election stresses out your nervous system when you live there. And I’ve just been able to check out of that.”

Ms. Schultz and her husband have settled near Hamilton, a small city on the North Island, and are applying for permanent residency. She has been delighted by the country’s functionality. “This is maybe a weird example, but public bathrooms are not a nightmare. You can go to the toilet and the hand soap dispenser will actually work,” she said. “Or there’ll be a public park with a grill that is actually functional.”

She volunteers at a nearby nature reserve, where she can walk through native forests, and is enthusiastic about the country’s friendliness. “I perhaps have some rose-tinted glasses,” she admitted, but she said she has been struck by “the sense of community that’s baked into the culture. Kiwis look out for each other.”

Other Americans are similarly enthusiastic. Sophie Zavaleta, 27, was learning to become a teacher in Alabama when she left for a study-abroad program in New Zealand in 2020. She intended to stay for two months, but when Covid-19 hit, she extended her stay.

She soon fell in love with the country. Her host family took her on trips to the beach, where she became obsessed with the coastal landscape. She got a teaching job in Auckland, the country’s largest city, and found the work much less stressful than what she would face in the United States. Her two-month trip has stretched to four years, and could become permanent.

There are some downsides. Food and rent cost much more in New Zealand than back home, Ms. Zavaleta said, and she misses her family. But as the U.S. election approaches, she said, “I’m glad I live here and don’t necessarily have to deal with all the political craziness I know will be over there.”

New Zealand has a points-based immigration system that largely requires migrants to have specific skills or to work in certain jobs to fill labor shortages. According to Statistics New Zealand, 5,874 Americans moved to New Zealand between June 2022 and June 2023.

Todd Henry, a 41-year-old bar owner in Auckland, grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to New Zealand for good in 2013, after several stints living there temporarily. He said that the country’s positivity stood in stark contrast to the mood in the United States, where “a vibe of negativity permeated a lot of conversations you had with people. It’s hard to describe, but I felt like that weighed on me. Everything was a political disaster.”

During Mr. Henry’s visits home, he has found a growing interest in his decision to move. “I watched it go from people saying, ‘New Zealand, what’s that and why do you want to move there?’ to ‘How do I move there too?’” he said.

He has noticed some familiar shifts in New Zealand. The country recently went through a divisive election in which several conservative parties swept the liberal government from power. “New Zealand is changing as well, unfortunately, in some ways, in the direction of the United States. Although not to that extreme,” Mr. Henry said.

Even then, Mr. Henry and some other Americans who moved to New Zealand said they were shocked by the situation at home. “It’s bizarre watching that stuff from here,” Mr. Henry said. Few said they were tempted to return. America “is too far gone to be saved by merely voting,” Ms. Schultz said. “If I thought it was salvageable, I would still be there.”

Here are the week’s stories.

Australia and New Zealand

Scientists Find the Largest Known Genome Inside a Small Plant. A fern from a Pacific island carries 50 times as much DNA as humans do.

Allies Warn Former Fighter Pilots Not to Train Chinese Military Members. A new bulletin says China is trying to step up recruitment of Western-trained fighter pilots to improve its air combat capability.

How Wombats May Save Other Animals From Wildfires. They build extensive burrow networks and don’t seem to mind when other woodland creatures use them as flameproof bunkers.

Around The Times

Guess Who’s Angry at China’s Real Estate Bailout: Homeowners. China has relaxed or eliminated measures on home buying to spur new purchases. This has made a vocal constituency of existing homeowners very unhappy.

The D-Day Battle France Chose to Forget. Until Now. Far from Normandy’s beaches, French paratroopers and resistance members fought a rear-guard action to keep the Nazis at bay. But its tragic end had made it a battle to forget.

In Global Elections, Strongmen Are Taken Down a Notch. In Turkey, India and elsewhere, where some feared authoritarian leaders would consolidate power, democracy has proved surprisingly resilient.

What My Dog Taught Me About Mortality. Walnut rescued me from death more than once — but not in the way you might think.

Are you enjoying our Australia bureau dispatches? Tell us what you think at [email protected] .

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An earlier version of this article misstated the locale shown in a photograph. It is in Palmerston North, not Palmerston.

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China Expands Visa-Waiver Program List: More Countries Added

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

June 17th, 2024 at 6:06 AM EDT

For years, China has been the gift that kept on giving to global tourism, sending millions of its citizens to explore, shop and snap selfies worldwide. Now, it's telling global travelers, "Your turn!" And if visa hassles are a deal-breaker, the country knows that removing them can only sweeten the deal.

Peden Doma Bhutia

China is opening its doors even wider to the world. Australia is now the latest country to join China’s expanding visa waiver program.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang made the announcement on Monday during an official visit to Australia, marking a significant step in strengthening ties between the two nations.

“We agreed to provide each other with reciprocal access to five-year multiple entry visas for tourism, business, and visiting family members to better facilitate personal exchanges. China will also include Australia in its visa waiver program,” stated Premier Qiang.

Australia’s national airline Qantas announced last month it was leaving Mainland China just six months after returning to the market. Speaking to Skift, the carrier’s International CEO said “Getting out of China at that point was the right call from our perspective.”

China has yet to detail the specifics of the new visa waiver arrangement, but the announcement closely follows a similar decision concerning New Zealand passport holders.

Just last Thursday, Premier Qiang declared visa-free entry for New Zealand citizens. “China is ready to discuss with New Zealand to introduce more measures to facilitate two-way travel,” Qiang mentioned, highlighting China’s move to ease travel restrictions.

In the past year, China has incrementally broadened its visa-free access to various countries.

China’s Visa-Free Travel Initiatives

In November, China introduced a one-year trial for visa-free travel for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia. In March, China expanded this program to include Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

China initially announced the visa-free policy for a trial period until November 30 this year, but has now extended it until December 31, 2025.

With the recent additions of Australia and New Zealand, the number of nations enjoying visa-free entry to China now totals 14. Passport holders from these countries can stay in China for up to 15 days for tourism, business, family visits, or transit purposes.

China also signed a 30-day mutual visa exemption agreement with Singapore and a similar arrangement with Thailand, effective March 1, allowing visa-free visits of up to 30 days per entry. It has also eased visa requirements for U.S. citizens visiting the country on tourist visas, removing the need to provide proof of round-trip air tickets, hotel reservations, itineraries, or invitation letters.

The Chinese government has also relaxed entry regulations for tourists arriving via cruise ships. As of May 15, such visitors can stay in China visa-free for up to 15 days.

China’s Inbound Recovery Lags Behind

The initiatives are part of a broader strategy to rejuvenate China’s tourism sector, which has been struggling to regain its pre-pandemic momentum.

China’s inbound recovery has been gradual. In 2023, China welcomed 35.5 million foreign visitors, which is only about 36% of the 97.7 million recorded in 2019.

However, Chinese online travel agency Trip.com Group notes promising signs of resurgence. During the Lunar New Year in February, the group reported a tenfold increase in inbound travel bookings compared to the previous year, with significant interest from Japan, the U.S., South Korea, Malaysia, Australia, the U.K., Canada, Vietnam, Germany and Thailand.

Moreover, Trip.com Group noted that international travelers are extending their stays in China. The average duration during the Spring Festival increased to just over two days, compared to under two days the previous year. The booking window for travel to China had also expanded from six days in 2023 to 39 days in 2024.

More Inbound Boosters

To further enhance the travel experience for international tourists, China has strengthened partnerships with major payment organizations like Ant Group and Mastercard. The International Consumer Friendly Zones program in Shanghai, has been launched in collaboration with 12 overseas payment partners of Alipay+ and other major international card organizations.

It aims to make transactions smoother for global travelers.

Statistics from the first quarter of this year show a threefold increase in foreign travelers to China compared to the same period in 2023. During this time, China issued 466,000 visas and documents to foreigners, marking a 119% year-on-year increase, and nearly 1.99 million foreigners entered China visa-free, a 266% year-on-year rise.

Highlighting the economic potential of inbound tourism, Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, stated, “China’s inbound tourism has huge potential, and if it is raised to the international median of 1.5% of GDP, it could yield a growth of over RMB 1.3 trillion ($179 billion).”

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Tags: alipay , asia monthly , australia , booking windows , china , china travel , Mastercard , new zealand , trip.com group , visa waiver , visas

Photo credit: China’s inbound recovery has been gradual. XiXinXing / Getty Images

New Zealand Prime Minister's plane breaks down on way to Japan

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China keeps its distance as Russia and North Korea deepen ties

China reacted guardedly this week as Russia and North Korea deepened their ties and vowed to resist the U.S.-led West, with Beijing avoiding any trilateral arrangement that might complicate its relations with other countries.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun blasted in US Senate hearing while apologising for safety woes

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Watch: Sen. Richard Blumenthal says "there's mounting evidence Boeing should be prosecuted." Credits: Video - CNN; Photo - Getty Images

US senators on Tuesday attacked the CEO of Boeing for the planemaker's tarnished safety record, overshadowing his apology to families who lost loved ones in two 737 MAX crashes and acceptance of responsibility after a January mid-air emergency.

Chief Executive Dave Calhoun faced repeated questions about how much he is paid, Boeing's safety culture, and why he is not immediately resigning instead of retiring by year's end, at a hearing before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

"I am proud of every action we have taken" Calhoun said in response to harsh questioning from Republican Senator Josh Hawley who asked, "why haven't you resigned?" and accused Calhoun of "strip-mining" Boeing while earning a multimillion-dollar pay package.

Calhoun's total compensation in 2023 rose to US$32.8 million, a 45% increase from the US$22.6 million he received the previous year.

More from Newshub

The hearing marked the first time Calhoun had faced lawmakers' questions and put the spotlight on Boeing's souring safety reputation and the CEO who said in March that he plans to step down by year-end amid a management shakeup by Boeing.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, who chairs the subcommittee, called the proceeding a "moment of reckoning" for Boeing and told the hearing there was overwhelming evidence that the US Justice Department should pursue prosecution against Boeing.

"As a former federal prosecutor and state attorney general I think that the evidence is near-overwhelming to justify that prosecution," Blumenthal said.

Prosecutors have until July 7 to inform a federal judge in Texas of their plans. The Justice Department found in May that Boeing had failed to "design, implement, and enforce a compliance and ethics program" as part of complying with a deferred prosecution agreement following the fatal crashes.

Calhoun took responsibility for incidents that have thrust Boeing into crisis over the last five years, acknowledging that the Alaska Airlines door plug incident on January 5 was the result of a manufacturing defect.

Boeing also took responsibility for the development of a key software system linked to the 2018 and 2019 fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia which killed a combined 346 people.

"I am here in the spirit of transparency and I am here to take responsibility," Calhoun told reporters earlier as he walked into the hearing room. At the beginning of the hearing, Calhoun turned to the crash victims' families and said: "I apologise for the grief that we have caused," adding the company was "totally committed" to addressing safety concerns and calling the families' losses "gut-wrenching."

Boeing's chief engineer, Howard McKenzie, played down safety concerns about hundreds of incorrectly tightened fasteners on some of the planemaker's widebody 787 jets. The discovery of the fasteners was first reported by Reuters last week.

McKenzie confirmed that the fasteners had been torqued from the wrong side, but said an initial analysis done by Boeing said they were safe.

Last week, Boeing told the US Justice Department it did not violate a deferred prosecution agreement which shielded the company from a criminal charge arising from the crashes.

"Boeing needs to stop thinking about the next earnings call and start thinking about the next generation," Blumenthal said.

He said a new whistleblower has come forward after a hearing with a previous whistleblower in April. Blumenthal said on Tuesday that Sam Mohawk, a current Boeing quality assurance investigator at its 737 factory in Renton, Washington, recently told the panel he had witnessed systemic disregard for parts that were potentially defective or lacking required documentation.

In a report released by the committee ahead of the hearing, Mohawk said his work handling nonconforming parts became significantly more "complex and demanding" following the resumption of MAX production in 2020 following two fatal crashes involving the model.

The report said Mohawk filed a related claim in June with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Boeing said in a statement that the planemaker is reviewing the claims it heard about on Monday. "We continuously encourage employees to report all concerns as our priority is to ensure the safety of our airplanes and the flying public," it said.

Boeing also said it has increased the size of its quality team and "increased the number of inspections per airplane significantly since 2019."

Since the January 5 mid-air blowout of a door plug on a 737 MAX 9 jet, scrutiny of the planemaker by regulators and airlines has intensified.

The National Transportation Safety Board said four key bolts were missing from the Alaska Airlines plane. The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the incident.

On May 30, Boeing delivered a quality improvement plan to the FAA after Whitaker gave the company 90 days to develop a comprehensive effort to address "systemic quality-control issues." He has barred the company from expanding production of the MAX.

Boeing shares closed 1.9% lower at US$174.99 on Tuesday.