🇳🇿New Zealand

🇫🇷FranceNZ-FR

New Zealand to France visa requirements

Q: Do I need ETIAS to travel to France right now?

No. As of 30 May 2026 ETIAS is not yet required. It is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026; once live, NZ travellers will need to apply online (EUR 20) before departure.

Q: How long can I stay in France visa-free?

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area. France's bilateral agreement with NZ can add a further 90 days in metropolitan France, taken after the Schengen 90 — for a possible 180 days total.

Q: What is the EES and do I need to do anything?

The Entry/Exit System is the EU's biometric border system, already in use. On arrival you register fingerprints and a photo at a kiosk or with an officer; no separate document or fee is needed.

Q: What passport validity do I need?

Your passport must be issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area.

Q: Can I work or study in France visa-free?

No. Visa-free entry covers tourism, business visits and transit only. Work, study or stays over 90 days require a long-stay French visa.

New Zealand ordinary passport holders do NOT need a visa for short tourist stays in France. You can enter the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. As of 30 May 2026, no ETIAS travel authorisation is yet required (it is expected to launch in late 2026). France is part of the Schengen Area, and New Zealand is on the EU's visa-exempt list (Regulation (EU) 2018/1806). NZ ordinary passport holders may travel to France for tourism, business, family visits or transit without a visa for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across all 29 Schengen states combined. France also maintains a bilateral agreement with New Zealand (in force since 1947) that allows an ADDITIONAL 90 days in metropolitan France only, taken AFTER the 90-day Schengen allowance — giving a potential 180-day total, but you must identify yourself at the French border so officers can adjust your Entry/Exit System (EES) record. The EES biometric border system is already operational. ETIAS (a pre-travel online authorisation, not a visa) is expected to become mandatory for visa-exempt nationals including New Zealanders in the last quarter of 2026; it is NOT yet required as of 30 May 2026. Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area and issued within the last 10 years.

VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30

For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.

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/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30

Visa type

Visa-free (Schengen short stay)

Maximum stay

90 days per 180-day period (Schengen-wide); up to a further 90 days in metropolitan France under the NZ-France bilateral agreement

per entry

Entries

Multiple

from issue date

Visa fee

NZD 0 / EUR 0

consular fee only

Processing time

None (no application required)

standard track

Validity

Passport valid 3+ months beyond departure, issued within last 10 years

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Check your passport

Ensure your NZ ordinary passport was issued within the last 10 years and is valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended departure from the Schengen Area.

· Before booking

/02

Confirm your stay fits 90/180

Count days already spent in any Schengen country in the past 180 days. Your France/Schengen tourist stay must not exceed 90 days within any rolling 180-day window.

· 90/180 rule

/03

Prepare supporting documents

Carry proof of accommodation, return/onward tickets, sufficient funds and travel insurance. Border officers may ask for these even though no visa is needed.

· At check-in

/04

Travel and clear EES at the border

On arrival, complete biometric registration at the Entry/Exit System (EES) kiosk or with a border officer. No passport stamp is issued.

· On arrival

/05

Declare the bilateral agreement if extending in France

If you plan to use the extra 90 days in metropolitan France after your Schengen 90, identify yourself to the French border officer so they can adjust your EES record. This stay must follow the Schengen 90, not precede it.

· Optional extension

/06

Track your days and exit on time

Keep within your authorised stay to avoid overstay penalties, entry bans or future ETIAS/visa refusals.

· Throughout trip

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items

Personalized checklist

New Zealand -> France · Visa-free (Schengen short stay)

0 / 10 complete

Visa typeTravel date

Deadline reminderAdd a date before export

RequiredNZ ordinary passport issued within the last 10 years

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

required

RequiredPassport valid 3+ months beyond Schengen departure date

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

required

RequiredReturn or onward travel ticket

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

required

RecommendedProof of accommodation (hotel booking or host invitation)

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

recommended

RecommendedProof of sufficient funds for the stay

Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances

recommended

RecommendedTravel/medical insurance

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

recommended

RequiredAwareness of the 90/180-day Schengen limit

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

required

OptionalETIAS authorisation (only once it launches in late 2026)

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

optional

ConditionalOfficial application form or online application

Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed

Visa-free routes usually do not require a visa form; submit any arrival card or authorization if required.

RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary

Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it

Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.

Official sourcesFrance in New Zealand (French Embassy) — Extended stay rules for NZ citizens France-Visas (official French visa portal) — New Zealand SafeTravel.govt.nz (NZ Government) — EU and UK upcoming travel changes

Application link included: France-Visas (official French visa portal) — New Zealand

Open link

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Short-stay visa feeEUR 0No visa required for NZ passport holders for stays up to 90 days

ETIAS authorisation (from late 2026)EUR 20Not yet required as of 30 May 2026; free for under-18s and over-70s

EES border registrationEUR 0Biometric entry/exit registration is free

Total estimateNZD 0 — NZD 0incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa-free entry

Immediate at border

No prior application or processing; show passport and complete EES registration on arrival.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

Schengen visa exemption

New Zealand is on the EU visa-exempt list (Regulation (EU) 2018/1806), so no short-stay visa is needed for France.

High

/02

Tourism and short visits

Holidays, sightseeing and short family or business visits up to 90 days are covered visa-free.

High

/03

NZ-France bilateral extension

A 1947 bilateral agreement lets NZ citizens add up to 90 more days in metropolitan France after the Schengen 90.

Medium

/04

Transit through France

Airport and onward transit within the Schengen Area is covered under the same visa-free entry.

Medium

/05

Long stays / work / study

Stays beyond 90 days for work or study still require an appropriate long-stay French visa.

Low

/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01

Immigration

Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.

/02

Customs

Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.

/03

Connectivity

Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.

/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024

2026-05-30

New Zealand to France route verified

Confirmed via the French Embassy in New Zealand and France-Visas that NZ ordinary passport holders remain visa-free for Schengen short stays (90/180), with a bilateral 90-day France extension. EES is operational; ETIAS is expected late 2026 and is not yet required.

/09 — The questions