Visas and entry requirements in Europe and the Schengen area

COVID-19 and travel in the Schengen area

Non-essential travel by non-EU citizens and residents to the EU and Schengen Area is currently restricted until at least 15 June.

If you’re trying to get home, and can still book commercial flights, do so as soon as possible. 

If you can't leave or prefer to stay where you are, make plans to remain for an extended period.  Ensure you have a safe place to stay, follow the advice of local authorities and minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Stay in touch with family and friends so they know you are safe. Read the travel advice for your current location.

Our network of embassies and consular posts around the world will provide you with up to date local advice and support throughout this difficult period. We encourage you to follow the social media for the Australian Embassy or High Commission of the country you're in. We also encourage you to subscribe to Smartraveller for the latest advice.

For more information see our Coronavirus (COVID-19) – information for Australian travellers page.

This page has general information on bilateral visa waiver agreements with European countries.

The Australian Government doesn't issue visas for other countries and can't provide definitive information on entry and exit requirements. Only the countries you plan to visit can provide up-to-date and authoritative information about their requirements.

Contact the nearest high commission, embassy or consulate of the countries you plan to visit, well before you travel.

The Schengen area

What is the Schengen area?

The Schengen area is made up of 26 European countries, which have common entry and exit requirements. It allows travellers to move freely between member countries without having to go through border controls or have visas for each country.

The following countries comprise the Schengen area:

Entry and exit in the Schengen area

Visas

Australians don't need a visa to travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. If you leave the Schengen area and return within the same 180-day period, the previous stay will count towards the 90 day maximum.

If you stay more than 90 days in a 180-day period in the Schengen area without a valid visa, you may be fined or banned from entering the Schengen area.

The Delegation of the European Union to Australia and the European Commission has more information, including a calculator to help you track your number of visa-free days.

You will need to apply for a visa before you travel if you're visiting for anything other than tourism or business. Apply at the embassy, high commission or consulate of the Schengen country where you intend to stay the longest. If you'll be staying an equal length of time in more than one Schengen country, apply for your visa at the embassy of the first Schengen country you will visit. Visa rules relating to work and business visits are governed by the individual countries.

Other formalities

Make sure you get a clear entry stamp in your passport when you enter the Schengen area for the first time. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained.

Some countries require you to register with local authorities within three days of your arrival.

See our destination-specific travel advice for entry and exit details for each country, or check the European Commission for information on temporary internal border controls.

The visa requirements described here only apply when travelling on your Australian passport. If you're a dual national and choose to travel on your other passport, you'll need to check the visa requirements for that nationality.

Non-Schengen European countries

Many European countries are not part of the Schengen area. Non-Schengen countries have their own entry and exit requirements. These countries include:

Consult the nearest high commission, embassy or consulate of these countries for visa information.

Bilateral visa waiver agreements

Australia has bilateral visa waiver agreements with several countries in the Schengen area. In most cases, these agreements allow you to spend up to 60 or 90 days in the country for tourism, regardless of stays in other Schengen countries.

Using these visa waiver agreements in combination with Schengen visa-free arrangements is complex. Each country operates the visa waiver agreements in its own way. Most countries require you to use the visa waiver agreement at the end of your Schengen area travel. Contact the embassy or consulate of the relevant country for the details on how they operate the visa-waiver agreements.

Bilateral visa waiver agreement countries include:

Countries can change their entry or exit requirements at short notice. Before you travel, consult the nearest embassy or consulate of these countries for current visa information.

Other European countries with visa waivers

Some European countries outside the Schengen area allow you to enter visa-free for tourism. Travel to these countries does not count towards the 90-day maximum for Schengen area travel. Most are up to 90 days, however some are for longer. See individual country advisories for details of entry and exit arrangements.

Countries can change their entry or exit requirements at short notice. Before you travel, consult the nearest high commission, embassy or consulate of your destination for the latest visa information.

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