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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.

the small beach village of Sant' Angelo on the island of Ischia in Italy
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.

passport control
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."

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Elizabeth Whitehead

Elizabeth Whitehead

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What the European heatwave means for your summer travel plans

    Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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    Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK. 

    Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.

    And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.

    Why is it so hot in Europe?

    Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

    France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

    In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

    The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

    Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

    How travel is impacted

    A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius
    A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

    During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

    If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

    Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

    people swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris
    People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

    With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

    Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

    How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

    Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

    Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

    Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.

    Entry requirements to Europe have changed