New Zealand-Europe bilateral visa waiver agreements

[ollie360]

Hi everyone!
I have a question about the unique (seems unique anyway) visa waiver agreements NZ has with a number of Schengen countries. Here are the links where I got my information:

http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/destinati ... tips.shtml
http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/new_z ... dex_en.htm

They say New Zealanders can spend 3 months in each country that has an agreement, overriding the standard 3 months out of a 6-month period schengen-zone rule. I understand that I could say, spend 3 months in Germany, then 3 months in Spain, consecutively. My question is, could I spend 3 months in Germany, then 3 months in Spain, then 3 months in Germany again? (all consecutively) I guess only someone who is very familiar with the rules for NZ passport holders would be able to answer this question.

Thank you very much if you know anything about this!

[ca.funke]

New Zealand isn´t the only country with such agreements. This also applies to the US.

For the US I know the following practical example:

>>Original article (in German)<<

>>Google Translate to English<<

Essence: A US citizen left Germany to the US, changing flights in Switzerland. Thus she effectively left the Schengen in Switzerland, which made her liable to a fine as she "overstayed" in Switzerland.


As for your practical question: Germany - Spain - Germany (3 months each): I don´t know. If I were you, I´d send the question to the (German) Ministry of foreign affairs. If you don´t get the answer you expect: Don´t despair! Have a friend send the same question (put in other words) a few days later, and the answer might be totally different!

Rgds & good luck!

[ollie360]

Thank you for your reply. I'm not sure I understand the situation in the news article completely, but that shouldn't happen to me. New Zealand and Switzerland have a bilateral visa waiver agreement. So legally, I can stay 90 days in Germany, 90 days in France, then exit the schengen-zone from Switzerland after staying another 90 days there (270 days total) - for example.

The question is more about if I spend 90 days in a number of separate Schengen countries with agreements then want to return for another 90 in a country I have already visited. Sorry if my wording is a little confusing!

Good advice about emailing the Foreign Office, I have sent them an email.

[ca.funke]

...but that shouldn't happen to me. New Zealand and Switzerland have a bilateral visa waiver...

Yes - you´re not in the same, but in a very similar boat. As you can see from your link:
http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/destinati ... tips.shtml

NZ has an arrangement with a bunch of the Schengen-countries, but not all. So you have to be aware of that, and only go to those included in the agreement!

...then want to return for another 90 in a country I have already visited...

Complicated scenarios call for complicated wordings. With my

Germany - Spain - Germany (3 months each)

I wanted to highlight the return-scenario (Germany -- Germany), thus hoping we´re talking about the same thing?

...the Foreign Office, I have sent them an email.

Good that you asked the Ministry. Hope they´ll reply swiftly and correctly.

Please let us know the answer!

[ollie360]

Hey,

So the Ministry have replied and after a few emails back and forth, it sounds like my proposed plans are possible. The usual rules apply, beyond the schengen area rules, if I keep to countries that have agreements. That's 90 days in, 90 days out. So 3 months Germany, 3 months Spain and 3 months Germany again is possible - I just have to spend at least 90 days out of Germany.

I do have to be careful to retain information of my whereabouts throughout the journey and hopefully all the officials I encounter are aware of these agreements!