Travel Journal

At some date in 2025, New Zealand passport holders will probably need an ETIAS Travel Authorisation to enter the EU. (we’re being deliberately vague here as the scheme has been delayed several times since 2020 and still isn’t live yet)

ETIAS – the European Travel Information and Authorisation System – is a visa waiver system for those visitors whose countries are not part of the EU. Some nationalities will still require a visa to enter the Schengen Zone (29 European countries with freedom of movement between them), but New Zealand is one of about 60 countries that are deemed a low-level threat to the safety and security of the region and its people, and therefore qualify for the ETIAS.

Once the scheme is live (at 9/9/24 it is NOT currently) applying for an ETIAS can only be done online via the official ETIAS http://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en or download the ETIAS app, which is also under construction. Complete the application form, pay the fee of €7 (NZ$12.50), submit your application and await an email confirming the outcome. Applicants under 18 or over 70 pay no application fee.

Once granted, the passport holder has the right to enter and remain in the countries of the Schengen Zone plus most of Europe’s non-Schengen countries and microstates, such as Andorra and Monaco, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Apart from a few Balkan countries such as Serbia, the ETIAS covers all of continental Europe plus the Nordic countries. Once approved, an ETIAS is valid for three years, or until the passport expires. During that time, passport holders can make multiple entries into the Schengen Zone.

Beware of fake websites masquerading as official ETIAS websites. They’re scammers; they’ll charge more than the official fee, and once you hand over your credit card details, you open yourself up to possible fraud.