Bilateral agreement with New Zealand

Citizens of certain third countries (non-EU countries) may stay in Sweden visa-free regardless of previous stays in non-Nordic Schengen countries. This is possible through visa-exemption agreements between Sweden and individual third countries, also known as ”bilateral visa-waiver agreements”.

Sweden has entered into visa-exemption agreements with a number of countries, including New Zealand, predating the common visa policy for the Schengen area, and these agreements remain effective.

Citizens of New Zealand may, due to provisions in the Schengen regulations, travel to and stay in Sweden for up to three months regardless of whether they have previously stayed in another non-Nordic Schengen country. A stay in Sweden or another Nordic country during the last six months will be counted as part of the time period of visa-exemption. 

Example

A citizen of New Zealand who has stayed visa-free in France for 90 days may travel to Sweden and, by invoking the agreement, stay in Sweden visa-free for an additional 90 days. However, the same citizen may not invoke the agreement if the visa-free stay was in Norway.