Travel within France and Europe

Catching the metro

Visa Requirements

New Zealanders are advised that only the country they plan to visit can provide up-to-date information on specific visa requirements and the associated costs and procedures for obtaining these. Travellers should therefore contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the countries they intend to visit, well in advance of departure from New Zealand. The New Zealand Embassy cannot assist with obtaining visas or providing information, either before or after departure from New Zealand.

As a general rule however, New Zealanders who plan to spend less than three months (within a six month period) as visitors in the « Schengen Zone » do not require visas for the following countries, which are parties to the Schengen Convention : Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

Countries that joined the EU in May 2004 (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) apply the same short-term visitor visa waiver policy.

For stays of more than three months, or for information relating to working or studying in France or any other country, travellers must contact the Embassy or Consulate of the country concerned, prior to departure from New Zealand. The application procedure for a long-stay visa for France is lengthy and often requires the applicant to be in or return to their country of residence for an interview and, if accepted, for the visa to be issued. Full information can be found on the Embassy of France in New Zealand website.

New Zealanders are reminded that the United Kingdom and Ireland are not part of the Schengen Zone, therefore travellers should contact the nearest UK and Ireland Embassy, High Commission or Consulate for information on visa requirements. Note: visa applications for entry to the UK may not be accepted by the British Consulate in Paris unless the applicant is legally resident in France (ie) holder of a « carte de séjour » or a « carte de résident ».

Holders of Working Holiday Visas should note that these visas are only valid for work in the country of issue (ie) a France Working Holiday Visa allows the holder to work in France only, for the period stipulated, and not in other EU or Schengen Zone countries.