Australian citizens travelling to the EU can apply for ETIAS for Europe from 2024. ETIAS will become an entry requirement for Australians travelling for business or leisure purposes. The European visa waiver for Australian citizens will allow short stays of up to 90 days.
ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) has already received the full backing of the European Union. The new security system is being implemented to reduce illegal immigration and improve security. Australians will still be able to visit the Schengen Area without a visa, but will require the new travel authorisation.
This new system, however, permits Australians to travel to all Schengen member states. This includes EU member states such as France, Germany, Spain, and Italy in addition to 4 non-EU Schengen nations: Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland.
ETIAS will also be required to visit Bulgaria, Cyrpus and Romania which are EU countries in the process of joining the Schengen Area.
ETIAS Required
ETIAS permits Australians to travel to all Schengen member states from 2024:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Germany
- France
- Spain
- Portugal
- Sweden
- Finland
- Denmark
- Lithuania
- Latvia
- Estonia
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Hungary
- Slovenia
- Italy
- Greece
- Czech Republic
- Malta
- EU Schengen
- Non-EU Schengen States
- Non-Schengen EU States
ETIAS Required
Non-EU Member States:
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Switzerland
Micro-States de facto part of Schengen Area:
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican City
ETIAS Required
Non-Schengen EU States
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Romania
How to Apply for an ETIAS for Australia from 2024 Onwards
Applicants from Australia seeking to visit Europe with an ETIAS visa waiver from 2024 will need to fill out an online form. This will require the applicant to submit the following information:
- Their full name and surname
- Nationality
- Date, location, and country of birth
- A current address
- Their contact telephone number
- An active email address
- Their passport number, issue date, and expiry date
Be aware that you will also need to indicate the country of arrival in the Schengen zone. However, once you’ve arrived at your allocated nation of entry you will be able to travel freely within the Schengen Area without any individual permission needed for each country
Once these details have been submitted, you will then need to answer a number of security questions and pay an administration fee. If approved, your ETIAS will then be sent to your registered email address directly. The travel authorisation is linked to the Australian passport and will be verified when crossing an external Schengen border.
ETIAS does not guarantee entry into the EU, the final decision to permit entry rests with the border officials. They may require the visiting Australian citizen to prove that they do not intend to overstay on their ETIAS and could ask for evidence such as:
- A return plane ticket to Australia
- Evidence of onward travel
- Proof of sufficient funds to support the individual during their stay
- Appropriate health insurance coverage
Europe Visa Requirements for Australian citizens
Australians do not need a visa to travel to the Schengen Area short-term. As a visa-exempt third-nation, Australian citizens enjoy visa-free stays of up to 90 days. This will not change when ETIAS is introduced. Australians will maintain their visa-free privileges, but will need to register online before departure. ETIAS is a visa waiver, not a visa, for Europe.
Australians who wish to stay in Europe for longer than 3 months, or to work of study in an EU member state, need the relevant visa or residence permit.
Requirements to apply for ETIAS from Australia
Various requirements are in place for Australians visiting Europe with an ETIAS. Australian citizens need to have a valid passport, working email address, and a valid credit or debit card at the time of their application.
With an approved ETIAS visa waiver, Australians will be granted authorisation to enter the European Schengen zone for periods of up to three months. The ETIAS visa waiver for Australians sets out to improve safety standards for international travel throughout the European Union.
Australian citizens must also securely pay the ETIAS application fee using a credit card or debit card. Once the ETIAS travel authorisation has been approved, it will be sent directly to the applicant’s email address.
The ETIAS requirements for Australian citizens include answering of a number of security questions. During the application process you will also be asked to provide information about the following subjects:
- Your criminal record history
- Your employment history
- Drug use
- Human trafficking
- Travel to conflict areas
- Any previous trips you’ve made to Europe
To ensure maximum security in the Schengen Area, this information and your identity details will be cross-referenced against international criminal and informational databases such as eu-LISA, Schengen Information System (SIS), INTERPOL, EURODAC, EUROPOL, and Visa Information System (VIS). These will ensure that information on potential applicants meets the security criteria of the Schengen zone.
Australians travelling to European Countries
Australian citizens do not need a visa for short-term stays in the Schengen Area for touristic, family, or business purposes. From 2024, Austalian citizens will be able to register with ETIAS, the new European travel authorisation.
In addition, there are other travel restrictions when travelling to Europe from Australia. This includes (but is not limited to) importing and exporting currency, perfume or alcohol, and the prohibition of firearms.
All Australian citizens will be required to apply for ETIAS to travel to the European Union without a visa. Additionally, minors will be allowed to travel with their normal passports but will also be required to apply for an ETIAS.
The ETIAS however, is only available to Australians holding full citizenship. All other Australians who are not full citizens, on the other hand, must have a valid visa to travel to Europe even for short-term stays. This applies to:
- Australian Subjects
- Australian Overseas Citizens
- Australian Protected Persons
ETIAS FOR AUSTRALIANS - FAQ
How long can Australians stay in Europe and the Schengen zone?
The ETIAS for Australians allows visitors to spend a period of up to 90 days in the Schengen area at a time. The ETIAS itself is valid for three years and can be used multiple times within the validity period of the visa-waiver.
There are a few restrictions to this period of visitation permitted by the European ETIAS. Firstly, you cannot stay in Europe for more than 90 days in any six month period.
Additionally, it’s important to bear in mind that if your identifying document (such as your Australian passport) expires before the end of the validity of your ETIAS, you will need to apply for a new ETIAS in order to travel to the Schengen zone again. This is because your ETIAS is joined specifically to your identifying documents and therefore if you travel with new documents you will need another ETIAS.
(Video) ETIAS - European Travel Information and Authorisation SystemCan Australians Work in Europe with an ETIAS?
An ETIAS visa waiver can only be used for tourism, business, and transit purposes within the Schengen area. Australians wishing to work in Europe will not be able to do so with an ETIAS.
Working in Europe with an Australian ETIAS document could lead to the revocation of your visa waiver. This is because working in the Schengen area invalidates the agreed-upon conditions of the travel authorization document at the time of the application. You may also be barred from applying for a new ETIAS for a period of time as well.
However, if australian citizen intend to travel to Europe to seek employment, this can be done with an appropriate national visa or work permit. This will, however, depend on the country you wish to work in. You will also be assessed for eligibility based on your personal and professional circumstances based on the national requirements of the Schengen member in question.
Can Australians use an ETIAS for Study Purposes?
Unfortunately it is not possible for Australian citizens to travel on an ETIAS to study in Europe. The terms of an ETIAS visa waiver specify that the holder may only visit the Schengen area for the purposes of travel, transit and business.
In order to study for an Undergraduate degree or Master’s degree program in Europe for Australians, the applicant will instead need to hold an appropriate study visa or national visa, depending on which country they wish to earn their qualification in.
Is ETIAS for Australians a European visa?
No, ETIAS is not a visa for Europe. ETIAS is an electronic travel authorisation, also known as a visa waiver, for travellers who do not need a visa for the Schengen Area. Australian citizens do not require a visa to visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days for tourism or business. Austalian visitors will need to register with ETIAS once it becomes mandatory.
(Video) ETIAS: Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System Europe's New Visa Waiver