Travelling in Europe and the Schengen area
As the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not issue visas for foreign countries, we cannot provide definitive advice on the requirements to enter or exit countries within Europe and the Schengen area.
Our New Zealand Embassies and High Commissions overseas also cannot advise on your right to enter or stay in a foreign country and will refer you to this page.
We recommend however that you:
- read the information on this page before embarking on travel;
- read the visa/entry information on the websites of the Embassies of the relevant EU/Schengen countries you intend to visit or transit (e.g. the French Embassy in Wellington if you are intending to travel to France);
- You may also like to consult with a travel agent.
Border controls in Europe and the Schengen area
The Schengen Area is made up of 29 European countries with common border rules, 25 of which are EU Member States.
The Schengen area encompasses 25 EU Member States (all, except from Cyprus and Ireland) as well as the non-EU States Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
See also: The Schengen area explained.
The members of the Schengen area are:
|
|
Border controls in Europe
New Zealanders should be aware that border control points have been eliminated among European countries that are full members of what is called the “Schengen area”. To enter the Schengen area, travellers must hold a return/onward travel ticket and a passport which has at least 3 months validity from the date of intended departure from the Schengen area.
Bulgaria and Romania partially joined the Schengen area on 31 March 2024. Border controls should have ceased for air or sea travel between Bulgaria, Romania, and other Schengen area countries. Controls are still undertaken for land-based travel.
The European mini-states (Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City) are not formally part of the Schengen area, but can be entered from the neighbouring Schengen area countries without going through border controls.
The following European countries are not part of the Schengen area. If travellers move between any of these countries, or from one of these countries into the Schengen area, you will have to go through border controls:
- in Western Europe: Ireland, United Kingdom*
- in Central/Eastern Europe: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine.
*New Zealand passport holders whose purpose of travel is tourism are able to spend up to six months visa-free in the United Kingdom.
Once the Schengen area is entered, movement to other countries inside the area is often without border control points, however the Schengen Borders Code allows member states to temporarily reintroduce border controls in the event of a serious threat to public or internal security. New Zealanders wishing to enter a country that has reintroduced border controls may be asked to show travel documentation (i.e. a passport valid for at least three months from the date of expected departure from that country) and/or other supporting documents (such as an invitation letter, proof of lodging or return/onward travel).
For information on EU/Schengen area border policies, please refer to the website of the European Commission: Migration & Home Affairs
Visa-free access for New Zealand travellers to the Schengen area
New Zealanders can travel visa-free in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period under the standard Schengen allowance.
Your travel must be for the purposes of:
- business
- visiting friends and family
- tourism and holidays
- cultural and sports events
- transit
- official visit
- medical reasons
- short-term study
- research.
Calculating your 90/180 days:
The European Commission provides a calculator to help travellers track visa-free days under the general Schengen allowance.
Entering and exiting the Schengen Area
To enter the Schengen area, travellers must hold a return/onward travel ticket and a passport which has at least three months validity from the date of intended departure from the Schengen area.
New Zealand travellers should be aware that from November 2024, the EU will introduce a digital border system to strengthen security of its external Schengen border. The new registration process is called the Entry/Exit System (EES). It will register when non-EU nationals cross external borders of Schengen countries and will more accurately identify overstayers. The EU has not yet confirmed a specific date in November for the introduction of the EES.
It will require most citizens of countries outside the EU to create a digital record and register their biometric details, such as providing fingerprints and having their photo taken, when then enter the Schengen area. This should take a few minutes when travellers first visit after the EES is introduced. For subsequent visits, travellers will only need to provide fingerprint or photograph at the external Schengen border. Further information about the EES is available on the EU’s official travel website here.
The EES will replace passport stamping. Until it comes into force we recommend that you continue ensure your passport is stamped on first entry into the Schengen area and when exiting the area for the last time.
A European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to be introduced some time in 2025. The ETIAS is an electronic travel authorisation form required to be completed before travellers can enter the participating European countries. The ETIAS travel authorisation is valid for three years or until the travel document used in your application expires.
Further information about the ETIAS can be found on the EU’s official travel website here.
Please continue to check the European Commission for information on temporary border controls.
Visa waiver agreements with New Zealand
Visa free access in the Schengen Area (beyond the standard Schengen allowance) is also available to New Zealand travellers through Bilateral Visa Waiver Agreements (BVWA).
New Zealand has BVWA’s in place with 18 Schengen members:
|
Austria Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany |
Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Liechtenstein Luxembourg |
Netherlands Norway Portugal Spain Sweden Switzerland |
New Zealand travellers must use the Schengen allowance first before using visa free access through a BVWA. Travellers can draw on the use of one BVWA. Where possible, New Zealand travellers should notify the use of a BVWA at entry to the Schengen area. The authorised length of stay for New Zealand travellers varies for each BVWA and is outlined here.
New Zealand travellers should be aware that entry, and the length of stay under these visitor visa waiver agreements, is always subject to the decision of the border control authorities. Border officials may adopt different interpretations of the Schengen rules or take into account other factors which might affect eligibility for entry.
We advise New Zealand travellers to retain informal evidence of time spent in each Schengen country, such as accommodation receipts, ATM receipts, and boarding passes. The onus is on the traveller to prove length of stay in a particular country or the Schengen area as a whole.
Consequences of overstaying
We recommend that New Zealand travellers check for advice on how the rules will be applied with the European Union or individual European countries or embassies.
Consequences of overstaying can be serious. They might include being removed from the territory, and administrative fines or detention. It could also impact future travel to the Schengen area, as well as to other countries that take past travel records into account.
When is a visa required for travel to the Schengen area?
As a general guide, when the purpose of travel is to visit for more than 90 days or for reasons other than tourism and irrespective of the intended length of stay, a visa is likely required and should be obtained prior to leaving New Zealand or entering that country.
New Zealand travellers should be aware that the standard Schengen allowance (90 day visa waiver rule) and the BVWA are not work visas or work permits. Working holiday visas (WHV) are country-specific. For example, a WHV for Italy does not give the holder the right to work in France.
Well in advance of leaving New Zealand, check whether you require a visa on the websites of the embassies of the relevant EU/Schengen countries (e.g. the Italian Embassy in Wellington if you are intending to travel to Italy).
Please note that New Zealand Embassies or High Commissions overseas cannot provide information or advice on the visa application process or your right to enter or stay in a foreign country.
Non-Schengen European countries
Many European countries are not part of the Schengen Area. Non-Schengen countries have their own border rules. These countries include:
|
United Kingdom Ireland Albania Armenia
|
Belarus Bosnia & Herzegovina Cyprus Georgia |
Kosovo Moldova Montenegro North Macedonia (Republic of North Macedonia) |
Russia Serbia Türkiye Ukraine
|
Ask these countries’ high commission, embassy or consulate for visa information.
Crime
Europe is a major destination for New Zealanders, especially during the northern hemisphere summer. Every year tens of thousands of New Zealanders travel to Europe and while most will encounter few if any problems, some will become the victim of a crime. Most of these crimes involve theft of funds, passports and other personal possessions, but muggings and other attacks can also occur.
- make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance before you leave home
- be aware of the increase in crime in many parts of Europe especially during the northern hemisphere summer
- tourists are often seen as easy targets and can be most vulnerable in or around major tourist centres and sites
- criminals frequent tourist areas and major attractions such as museums, monuments, restaurants, hotel lobbies and public areas, beaches and resorts, trains, train stations, airports, subways, petrol stations and ATM machines
- crimes can occur at any time of the day or night. Thieves are highly skilled operators so be alert to contrived distractions that are set-ups for theft
- exercise caution, carry limited cash and credit cards, and leave extra cash, credit cards, passports and personal documents in a locked, safe location (e.g. hotel safety deposit box)
- rental cars are easily identifiable. Never leave luggage or other possessions in vehicles, even if locked and not visible to the eye (e.g. in boot)
- luggage and personal belongings should never be left unattended, particularly at airports or hotel check-in
- wear handbags and backpacks in front of your body and don’t leave them under tables or on chair backs (e.g. in restaurants)
- pay close attention to the safety advice and warnings given by tour operators