ETIAS Visa Waiver for New Zealand Citizens
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Welcome to Europe
Visa Waiver for New Zealanders traveling to Europe
New Zealand passport holders can travel to Europe without requiring a European visa. New Zealand citizens can enter all Schengen member states for short-term stays by simply showing their passports to immigration officials upon arrival. The privilege is due to the island country being a member of the European Visa-Exempt Program.
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System – European Travel Information and Authorisation System) aims to improve security and strengthen border control within the Schengen area. The main goal is to ensure the safety of Europeans and visitors. However, New Zealand citizens who wish to travel to Europe in 2025 will need to apply online to get an ETIAS visa exemption.
ETIAS Requirements for New Zealand Citizens
New Zealand Citizens must apply for the Schengen visa if traveling for long-term purposes. The visa requirements do not apply for citizens who travel to Europe from New Zealand for less than 90 days. For entry to the European Union as a tourist or leisure visitor, travelers must simply present the NZ passport at the Schengen Member State border. The changes within the travel requirements will come into full force by the end of 2025. An EU visa waiver for New Zealander citizens will be a mandatory requirement who visit Europe. Along with their national passports, NZ travelers must carry an approved ETIAS visa waiver to enter Europe.
New Zealanders who travel to Europe in late 2025 will need to register online before they depart to receive the Schengen Area travel authorization. The ETIAS visa waiver will be made available via an easy-to-use online application.
• A valid New Zealand passport that can be machine-readable and has at least three months before departure.
• Debit or credit card to pay the ETIAS fee.
• Valid email address to receive the approved ETIAS Visa Waiver
These are the primary ETIAS conditions for New Zealand citizens wishing to visit any Schengen Member States. The Schengen Area consists of 26 European countries that have agreed to unite passport and border control.
The Schengen Area includes EU member countries such as Austria and Belgium, and the Czech Republic. Denmark, Estonia. Finland, France. Germany. Greece. Hungary. Italy. Latvia. Lithuania. Luxembourg. Malta. Spain. Slovenia. It also includes four countries that aren’t EU members: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and the microstates Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.
New Zealanders will be granted entry to any of the above countries with the new ETIAS electronic trip authorization. They will also travel freely between these countries with approved ETIAS. Travelers can stay up to 90 days within Europe with the European visa waiver. ETIAS is a multiple-entry travel waiver. Citizens can enter and leave all Member States if they do not exceed the 90-day limit.
New Zealand passport holders should be aware that Ireland and the United Kingdom are not members of the Schengen Area. These countries have not chosen to participate in ETIAS, so visiting either country will not require a European visa waiver travel authorization.
Additionally, Schengen Area membership, as expected, might be extended to other EU countries like Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia. Therefore, NZ tourists who plan to travel to these countries will likely need an ETIAS. ETIAS representatives shall update additional information such as the required documents for New Zealanders applying for an ETIAS and the countries citizens will have entry when they travel with this electronic travel authorization. Once information is available, we will update this website with details about ETIAS and how it affects New Zealanders traveling to European countries.
New Zealanders must apply for ETIAS travel authorizations before leaving New Zealand to allow enough processing time and screening.
Get notified when ETIAS becomes mandatory
ETIAS required
These countries will require an ETIAS visa waiver upon their arrival on their territory.
Austria- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Ireland
- Romania
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican
EU Visa Waiver Application for New Zealand Citizens
As of 2025, the ETIAS visa waiver is a legal requirement to allow New Zealanders into the Schengen area. You can obtain the visa waiver online by accessing the ETIAS application from your smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer. The process is straightforward.
New Zealanders who apply for an ETIAS must provide basic personal information, such as the below:
• Full name
• Date and birthplace
• Street address
• Phone number
• Exact passport information such as country of issue, expiration date, and expiration date should be available
Citizens of NZ who complete the online ETIAS application will have to disclose some of these details:
• Criminal records
• History of employment
• Use of drugs
• Ties with human trafficking
• History of deportation from the EU Member States or prior travel to conflict zones
• Information about European trips in the past
The application for ETIAS should be easy and quick. It should take NZ citizens less than 10 minutes to complete the form.
Double-checking is necessary to ensure the smooth processing of their ETIAS request. It is good to read through all information before applying for a European visa waiver. Doing this will ensure no typographical errors or inconsistencies, as any mistakes could cause delays.
The final step in the ETIAS travel authorization process is payment. The applicants can make the payment with a debit or credit card. After the application has been submitted, officials will check it against European border security and criminal databases.
ETIAS checks aim to detect potential threats and enhance security measures for residents and visitors. The information provided in the ETIAS application allows European immigration officials pre-screen all citizens who intend to visit the Schengen Zone.
All data submitted on the Europe Visa Waiver Application are checked against multiple security databases managed and maintained by the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems within the Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice, also known as EU-LISA.
Some security databases used for screening include:
• VIS is a database that compiles information about visas
• SIS is a European shared database identifying criminal records, missing persons, and theft.
• EURODAC is a database that collects fingerprint information
ETIAS is a set of security processes and procedures designed to identify illegal entry into the Schengen Area or identity theft. Suppose an NZ citizen submits a form that raises red flags in its automated screening against the security database. In that case, the ETIAS staff will manually process the application.
A manual assessment by the European Coast Guard or Border Guard will undoubtedly result in a more extended processing and delivery time.
If the citizen is involved in serious criminal activity, an ETIAS visa waiver will be rejected.
ETIAS - Travel from New Zealand to Europe
After the travel authorization has been approved, the ETIAS will go to the applicant’s email. It will be in PDF format. Since applicants will not receive any physical documents, their passports will be digitally linked. The passports will reflect their status as ETIAS holders for immigration officials.
The ETIAS visa waiver is available to New Zealanders for three years starting at the date of approval. It allows unlimited entry into the Schengen area.
Dual citizens must ensure that they travel with the same passport number as the user entered when filling out the ETIAS online form. You cannot transfer it onto a different passport like other travel authorizations. The electronic travel authorization shall become null if a traveler’s passport expires before the expiration of the 3-year ETIAS validity period. New Zealanders will need to apply for an ETIAS renewal if they lose their passport or are denied a visa.
New Zealand's bilateral agreements with European countries
New Zealand’s government has reached a bilateral agreement with many European countries. These agreements allow citizens of New Zealand to visit these countries for longer than the existing 90-day visa-free permit.
Any passport that meets the validity requirements issued by New Zealand may be used for extended stays in the following countries:
• Belgium (2 months)
• Denmark (3 months)
• Germany (3 Months)
• Italy (3 Months)
• Luxembourg (90 days)
• Netherlands (90 Days)
• Iceland (3 Months)
• Liechtenstein (90 days)
• Norway (90 Days)
• Switzerland (90 days)
New Zealanders with an ordinary passport is allowed to enter the following countries during the additional period:
• Greece for 90 days
• Spain (90 Days)
• France (90 Days)
• Austria (3 Months)
• Portugal (90 Days)
• Finland (90 Days)
• Sweden (3 months)
New Zealanders can also enter Austria with an official, diplomatic, or service passport, which allows them to stay for up to three months after the 90-day visa-free period in the UE.
A bilateral agreement refers to a contract signed with a particular government. New Zealanders cannot travel visa-free to any country where the deal is not applicable. They must stay within the relevant country for the duration of the reciprocal arrangement. Those who wish to visit more than one Schengen member state visa-free in one trip should apply for an ETIAS Visa Waiver.
The bilateral agreements between the NZ-EU Member States may differ depending on the new legislation.
FAQs for New Zealand citizens applying for ETIAS
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No. New Zealand citizens can travel to Europe without a visa for stays less than 90 days. If any of the travelers plan to remain in Schengen Area for more than 90 days they need to apply for the Schengen visa designated for the appropriate travel purpose (work, study, living)
Up to 3 months. New Zealand citizens are allowed to travel short-term to EU without any visa requirements. It includes the leisure, business and medical purposes. However, for the purposes for traveling for studying, working or living in the EU, or any other long-term plans, New Zealanders need to apply for the Schengen visa.
