One-stop fares to a dozen gateways and the most permissive entry rules of any non-European passport — here's how to get there and what you need before you go.
From Brisbane, every major European hub is a single stop away — and the entry rules are the most permissive of any non-European passport.
Europe is the most accessible long-haul destination for Australians: competitive one-stop fares to a dozen gateways, and 90 days of visa-free Schengen travel in a single trip. Two things changed recently — the UK now needs an ETA, and the EU's ETIAS is coming — so this guide keeps the current requirements straight before you book.
Australians enjoy the most permissive visa arrangement of any non-European passport — here's the current picture.
| Entry type | Status | Duration | Key notes for Australians |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen Area 🇪🇺 | ✓ Visa Free | 90 days / 180 | A shared allowance across 27 countries in any rolling 180-day period. Most of continental Europe, including Croatia (since 2023) and non-EU Switzerland, Norway & Iceland. |
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | ETA | Up to 6 months | Not in Schengen. Apply for the UK ETA before travel (~£20, raised April 2026), valid 2 years. UK time does not count toward Schengen 90 days. |
| ETIAS (EU pre-registration) | Coming | 3 years | An automated background check, not a visa (~€20). Repeatedly delayed — expected late 2026 and not yet required. Verify at travel-europa.eu. |
| Ireland 🇮🇪 | ✓ Visa Free | 90 days | Not in Schengen and no ETA required. Its allowance is separate from Schengen. |
| Non-Schengen EU | ✓ Visa Free | Varies | Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus have separate entry rules; the Balkans typically allow 90 days visa-free independently. |
| Extended trip (90+ days) | Plan | Strategy needed | Use 90 days in Schengen, then the UK or the non-Schengen Balkans as a "reset" while the 180-day window rolls over. |
| Working Holiday | Apply ahead | 12 months | Bilateral schemes with Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Denmark and others — each a separate national application, valid for that one country only. |
How to get there efficiently, and how to move around once you arrive.
No — Australians travel visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the 27 Schengen countries. It's a shared allowance: days in France count the same as days in Germany, Spain or Greece. The EU's ETIAS pre-registration (~€20) is expected in late 2026 but is not yet required.
ETIAS is the EU's automated pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors — like Australia's own system, not a visa. It will cost about €20, last three years, and apply to Australians. Its launch has been repeatedly delayed; as of 2026 it is expected in late 2026 and not yet in force. Always verify at travel-europa.eu before you travel.
Yes — since 2025 Australians need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), about £20 after the April 2026 increase, valid two years for stays up to six months. UK time does not count toward the Schengen 90 days. See our UK & Ireland guide.
Use the 90 days in Schengen, then move to the UK (up to 6 months) or the non-Schengen Balkans (Serbia, Bosnia, Albania, Montenegro — typically 90 days each) while the 180-day window rolls over. Study or work stays need a national visa. See the entry table above.