On October 14, the upgraded arrangement of China Special Work Visa, visas for Chinese citizens belonging to five specific occupations under the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), took effect. The updated version optimized visa arrangements for Chinese citizens engaging in Chinese chefs, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, Mandarin teacher's aides, Wushu martial arts coaches, and Chinese tourism specialists. The visa caps for Mandarin teacher's aides and Chinese tourism specialists, which are frequently used categories, are increased to 300 and 200, and qualification requirements are broadened for Chinese tourism specialists and Chinese chefs.

Under the China-New Zealand FTA, which was signed into force in 2008, New Zealand pledged to issue 800 visas under China Special Work Visa without requirement for labor market testing, opening a green channel for Chinese citizens working in China special work occupations in New Zealand. In 2021, China and New Zealand signed the Protocol to Upgrade the China-New Zealand FTA, which improved visa-related arrangements based on the FTA’s implementation.

The China-New Zealand FTA was China’s first bilateral FTA signed with a developed country and China’s first comprehensive FTA. The two parties concluded for the first time arrangements for China Special Work Visa, China Working Holiday Visa, and mutual recognition of conformity assessment of electrical and electronic equipment and components and organic product certification. In June 2024, the two parties launched negotiations on a negative list for trade in services under the FTA, with the aim of further enhancing openness and cooperation of bilateral services trade.