Entry requirements to Europe have changed. Here's what Aussies need to know

Europe is making changes to its entry rules. Here’s how it will affect Australians.

We’ve come a long way from the days when a passport was barely more than a paper document, completely disconnected from a digital system. Now, everything is online, and borders are continuing to evolve in the way they process arrivals. Already, 2025 has seen the introduction of the TDAC in Thailand, which replaced the paper-based TM6 arrival form. Now, Europe is following suit with an overhaul of its arrivals system that’s being rolled out from now until 2026.

What has changed?

Previously, Australians could travel to Europe’s Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, without submitting any documents. But with the rollout of two new systems, the ESS and ETIAS, travellers will now be subject to additional security checks and required to submit documentation before crossing the border. The ESS and ETIAS are designed to improve border security, reduce airport wait times and enhance the overall travel experience for visa-exempt visitors. Although both are necessary and compulsory, the ESS and ETIAS are not the same as a visa, and Australians will still be able to travel visa-free.

There will be an extra few steps to take before you embark on your next Euro summer (Image: Getty/todamo)

ESS

The ESS stands for Entry/Exit System, and it’s already taken effect as of October 12. The ESS is a digital upgrade to the way Europe handles arriving and departing visitors. Passport stamps will be retired, and instead, a digital record of incoming and outgoing travellers will be made. The first time you arrive in the Schengen zone, passport officers will take a photo of you and take a scan of your fingerprints. You do not have to repeat this process if you return to the Schengen zone at a later date (unless your passport expires), as your data will be filed away for three years and one day. Nor do you have to repeat this process as you move about the Schengen zone, but the countries you visit will be kept on file.

Stamps for passports have been retired in favour of the ESS. (Image: Global Residence Index/Unsplash)

ETIAS

The ETIAS, or European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is similar to an ESTA for the United States. It’s not a visa, but rather a compulsory pre-screening document that collects information about your personal details, passport information, travel plans and travel history. The cost to apply is €20. The ETIAS is set to come into effect in 2026, six months after the ESS. Authorisations will be valid for three years, or until your passport expires. Applications can be made through the EITAS website.

Although initial consequences of the ESS and ETIAS may make arrival queues longer, they’re set to save time in the long run. (Image: Daniel Schludi)

What does it mean if I’ve got a holiday to Europe coming up?

If you are travelling before 2026, you do not have to do anything. However, Smartraveller has warned passengers to be prepared for longer queues during the initial stages, although the ESS and ETIAS are expected to make entry more efficient. If you are travelling during 2026, there is a transition period of six months where travellers without an ETIAS won’t be denied entry if they meet all other requirements. But it will become compulsory in the last quarter of the year.

“Some of the most frequented international destinations like Europe are introducing significant changes to the application and entry process”, says Corporate Traveller Global Managing Director, Tom Walley.

“It’s critical that travellers are aware, and don’t just follow the same method they may have previously relied on. While the cost associated with these new electronic authorisations is mostly relatively small, the consequences of being unaware of this requirement could be significant, particularly for travellers on tight schedules.”