Taiwanese authorities last year reportedly found abnormal UnionPay transactions and proposed a cross-strait information exchange to prevent illegal money-laundering,according to CNA news agency.
Under current New Zealand immigration rules, applicants under the Investor and Investor Plus categories must transfer funds using the banking system.
However, Chinese applicants say strict foreign exchange rules in China prevent them from using banks as a means for money transfer.
"Immigration NZ is still assessing whether it would be acceptable for funds to be transferred via a UnionPay debit card, but [we] recognise that China UnionPay is the major electronic payment card used by Chinese nationals," said Mr Carley.
"Immigration NZ has already signed an agreement with the company to make the visa process easier for temporary migrants."
From next month, holders of Platinum and Diamond UnionPay credit cards would be able to provide evidence of their premium card status in lieu of employment and funds documentation.
"Any decision to endorse UnionPay debit cards ... would not open the floodgates as there is a cap of 300 applications to be approved annually under the Investor category," Mr Carley said.
June Ranson, chairwoman of the NZ Association of Migration and Investment, said the association opposed the proposal as the system had the potential for use in money-laundering.
"The important part of transferring funds is that it needs to have an audit trail as to how the funds had been earned legally," Ms Ranson said.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said making it easier for Chinese to move substantial amounts of money to New Zealand was a risky move.
