Visas and entry requirements in Europe and the Schengen Area

Last Updated
Tuesday, 12/08/2025
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This page is for Australians travelling to Europe.

The Australian Government doesn't issue visas for other countries, so we can't provide final information on border rules. Before you travel, ask your destination's high commission, embassy, or consulate for details.

The Schengen Area

The Schengen area is made up of 29 European countries with common border rules. It lets travellers move freely between Schengen countries without:

  • going through border controls
  • getting a visa for each country.

The Schengen area destinations are:

*Smartraveller does not provide travel advice for these destinations.

European Union EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

Entering and exiting the Schengen area from 12 October 2025

The new digital European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) will start on 12 October 2025 and register all non-EU nationals, including Australians, travelling in or out of the Schengen area.

European countries using the EES will gradually introduce the system at their external borders. Data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by 10 April 2026. 

When you enter the Schengen area on your first visit to Europe after the EES is introduced, you will be required to:

  • have your fingerprints and photo taken
  • answer Schengen Border Code questions. 

This will create a digital record that registers your biometric details. 

If you revisit the Schengen area within 3 years of creating your digital record, you'll only need to provide your fingerprint and/or photograph at the border on entry and exit.

You do not need to do anything before arriving at the border. 

The EES registration is free.

The registration process should only take a few minutes, but when the system starts, you may experience longer border queues.

If you frequently travel to the Schengen area for work and/or leisure, ensure your total stay is no more than 90 days in every 180 days. This period is calculated as a single period for all the European countries using the EES. It is attached to you as a person, rather than to your passport. This means that even if you enter the Schengen area using a different passport, you will still be restricted to the same 90 days in every 180 days.

If you stay longer than permitted, you will be considered an 'overstayer'.

If you overstay the period allowed in the European countries using the EES, the system will identify you and record this information. This may result in you being detained or removed from the country, a fine or prevent you from returning to the EU in the future.

Do I need a visa for the Schengen area?

Australians can travel for short trips, without a visa, to the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180 day period. Your travel must be for:

  • tourism, holidays, or visiting friends and family
  • business purposes for your Australian employer, to attend meetings, conferences or conduct research
  • cultural and sports events
  • getting medical treatment
  • transit

You may need to apply for a visa if you do not meet the criteria listed.

Apply at the embassy, high commission, or consulate of the country where you'll stay the longest. If you are staying for the same length of time in each country, apply at the embassy of the country you'll visit first.

You'll need to apply for a visa if:

  • you're planning to stay for more than 90 days
  • your reason for travel changes, and you no longer qualify for visa-free travel.

You'll need to apply outside the country for which you want a visa.

Calculating 90 days in any 180 day period

Calculating your visa-free days can be complicated. You can use the  EU short-stay calculator as a helpful tool to check the duration of your authorised stay.

You can also ask the passport control officers at external borders for this information.

What if I want to stay more than 90 days in Europe?

Visa waiver agreements with Australia

Australia has visa waiver agreements with several countries in the Schengen area. Some countries allow Australians to stay beyond the 90-day limit under specific conditions. Visa waiver agreement countries include:

Using visa waiver agreements with Schengen visa-free arrangements is complex. Each country operates the visa waiver in its own way.

Most countries need you to use the visa waiver at the end of your Schengen area travel.

Non-Schengen European countries

Some European countries outside the Schengen area allow tourists to enter visa-free. Most let visitors stay for up to 90 days, but some allow longer stays.

Passport validity requirements

You must show a valid passport when entering the Schengen Area.

Your passport must be:

  • valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU
  • must have been issued within the last 10 years

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

After it is fully implemented, EES registration will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU.

Some countries need you to register within 3 days of arrival.

See our destination-specific travel advice for entry and exit details for each country.

If you're a dual national travelling on another passport, check the rules for that nationality.

European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be an electronic travel authorisation expected to start in the last quarter of 2026. It will be an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of the 30 European countries. It will be valid for up to three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you will need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation. ETIAS is different to the EES data collection system.

Be aware of scam websites encouraging you to apply for ETIAS before the system is operational.

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