Days Allowed

By passport

Schengen rules for New Zealanders

New Zealanders can make short visits to the Schengen area without a visa: up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all 29 countries. Bilateral agreements may allow more time in some countries, but each country decides how to apply them.

Last checked 3 Nov 2026 against the official sources below.

The 90 days

  • Short stays are up to 90 days in any 180-day period, shared by all 29 Schengen countries.
  • Entry and exit days both count, and the 180-day window moves forward every day.
  • Cyprus is not in the Schengen area and has its own separate 90 days.

Bilateral visa waiver agreements

SafeTravel says New Zealanders may get extra visa-free time in some Schengen countries through a bilateral visa waiver agreement. How it’s applied is at the discretion of each country: they may read the agreement and the Schengen rules differently, or weigh other factors. Your entry and length of stay are decided by that country’s border officials.

SafeTravel points to the EU’s list of these agreements. Its 2019 edition lists an agreement with New Zealand for:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Liechtenstein
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland

A listed agreement isn’t a promise of extra days. Contact the embassy of the country before you rely on one, and keep evidence of where you were, such as receipts and boarding passes, as SafeTravel suggests.

We explain these agreements but don’t calculate them. The calculator counts the 90/180 rule only.

Entering the Schengen area

  • Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.
  • You may need to show a return or onward ticket to a country outside the Schengen area.
  • The EES records your passport, fingerprints and a photo of your face. You don’t need to carry anything extra for it. More: EES explained.
  • ETIAS isn’t running yet. The EU will announce the start date several months before launch. See ETIAS.

Mini-states and non-members

SafeTravel says Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are not formally part of the Schengen area, but you can enter them from Schengen countries without border controls. How their days count: Schengen and the microstates. Cyprus, Ireland and the UK are not Schengen members and have their own entry rules.

If you overstay

SafeTravel warns you could be removed, fined or detained, and it could affect future travel to the Schengen area and other countries. See overstaying.

Questions

How long can New Zealanders stay in the Schengen area?

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, counted across all 29 countries together. Some countries may allow more time in that country under a bilateral visa waiver agreement, at their discretion.

Which countries have a bilateral agreement with New Zealand?

SafeTravel points to the EU’s list. In its 2019 edition, 17 Schengen countries list an agreement with New Zealand. Each country decides how to apply it, so ask its embassy before you plan around it.

Does the calculator include bilateral agreements?

No. It counts the 90 days in any 180-day period only.

Do Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City need separate entry?

SafeTravel says these mini-states, and Andorra, are not formally part of the Schengen area, but you can enter them from Schengen countries without border controls. Carry your passport.

More guides

Sources

Last checked 3 Nov 2026.

A planning tool. Border officials decide.