Schengen DaysHow long can Australian citizens stay in Europe?
Australian passport holders can travel to the Schengen Area visa-free for short stays — but not indefinitely. The limit is the Schengen 90/180 rule: at most 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, counted across the whole Schengen Area. Here is exactly what that means for Australians.
Visa-free, but capped at 90 days
As an Australian citizen you do not need a visa for tourism, business or family visits of up to 90 days. That allowance is not per country — every Schengen country shares one 90-day total. A month in France, three weeks in Italy and a fortnight in Spain all draw from the same 90 days. The window is rolling: on any date, look back over the previous 180 days and your presence in that period must not exceed 90.
Counting your days correctly
- Both your entry and exit days count as full days — the arrival stamp and the departure stamp are each one day of presence.
- Days need not be consecutive; several shorter trips add up to the same 90-day total.
- Leaving for a weekend does not reset the count — used days only 'fall off' once they are more than 180 days in the past.
- The Entry/Exit System (EES) now records your border crossings automatically, so your dates are logged electronically rather than by ink stamp alone.
ETIAS from 2026 — what changes (and what doesn't)
From 2026, Australians will need an ETIAS travel authorisation before entering — a quick online approval linked to your passport, not a visa. Important: ETIAS does not add any days. It is simply permission to travel; the 90/180 limit stays exactly the same. If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you need a national long-stay visa or residence permit from the specific country, which is outside the 90/180 rule. Because rules can change, always confirm the current requirements with official EU sources or the embassy of the country you are visiting.
Frequently asked questions
Do Australians need a visa for Europe?
Not for short stays. Australian citizens can enter the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. From 2026 you will also need an ETIAS travel authorisation, which is not a visa and does not add extra days.
Is the 90 days per country or for all of Europe?
For the whole Schengen Area combined. All Schengen countries share one 90-day total, so time spent in France, Germany, Italy and any other member state adds up together.
Can I stay longer than 90 days as an Australian?
Not on visa-free entry. To stay beyond 90 days you need a national long-stay (type D) visa or residence permit from the specific country you plan to live in, which is separate from the 90/180 rule. Check that country's official requirements.
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