Australians are lucky to have one of the most unrestricted passports in the world. An Australian passport through numerous travel arrangements and visa waiver programs permit travellers to enter specific countries across the world without needing to adhere to general visa requirements that other passport holders may be subject to.
Entry rules can change at short notice. It is important that you conduct your own research prior to travelling internationally to ensure you are aware of all the country-specific requirements.
New Zealand
Australian passport holders are permitted to travel freely without the requirement of a visa to New Zealand. This is due to the 1973 Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangements. This legislation permits the free flow of Australians and New Zealanders between the two countries. It is a reciprocal agreement and therefore allows Australian and New Zealand citizens to enter each country to visit, live and work indefinitely.
For more information about NZ visas, see our New Zealand website here.
Japan
Japan reopened to visa-free short-term visitors in October 2022.
To travel to Japan, Australians do not require a visa for short-term stays. Upon arrival in Japan, Australian passport holders will be granted permission to enter. A short-term stay is a stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives. It should be noted that this does not include activities that provide remuneration i.e. employment.
USA
Australia is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for the United States of America (USA). The VWP enables Australian passport holders among other countries to travel to the USA for tourism or business without obtaining a visa. The VWP permits stays for up to 90 days. To enter the USA under the VWP, Australian passport holders must apply for authorisation through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). To travel to the USA, under the VWP you must:
- Possess a passport with an integrated chip (e-Passport)
- Register on-line through ESTA
- Meet the standard VWP conditions
Apply for your ESTA well before you travel. The ESTA fee rose to USD 40 on 30 September 2025, and an approved ESTA is generally valid for 2 years or until your passport expires.
United Kingdom
Australians do not need a visa to visit the UK for up to 6 months, but since 8 January 2025 you must get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before you travel. The ETA is applied for online and covers multiple visits over 2 years or until your passport expires.
For more information on tourist visas for the USA, see our page on US Visitor Visas.
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area is a group of 29 countries located in Europe that permit visa-free travel for Australian passport holders. This is permitted for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Therefore, if you leave the Schengen area and return within the same 180-day period, the previous stay will also count towards the 90-day maximum. Although a visa is not required, Australian passport holders must produce the following when arriving in the Schengen area:
- Australian passport: must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your stay
- Proof of purpose of travel
- Evidence of financial means to support yourself
- Any other documents required by each country you intend to visit
The Schengen area includes the countries below. Croatia joined in 2023, and Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2024 and 2025, so the Schengen 90 day limit now also covers your time in those countries.
Since 12 October 2025, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) records the fingerprints and photo of non-EU visitors, including Australians, when they first cross a Schengen border, replacing passport stamps. A separate online travel authorisation, ETIAS, is planned to follow, so check the current rules before you book.
Other Countries with Visa Waiver Agreements
| Country | Visa requirements |
|---|---|
| Barbados | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for a maximum of 6 months |
| Albania | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 90 days in a 6-month period |
| Kosovo | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 90 days in a 6-month period |
| Armenia | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 180 days in a 1-year period |
| Belarus | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 30 days |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 90 days |
| Bulgaria (Schengen Area since 2024 to 2025) | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 90 days |
| Croatia (Schengen Area since 2023) | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 90 days |
| Cyprus | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 90 days |
| Moldova | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 90 days |
| Montenegro | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 90 days |
| Georgia | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 1 year |
| Iceland (Schengen Area) | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders |
| North Macedonia | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 90 days within a 180 day period |
| Romania (Schengen Area since 2024 to 2025) | No visa requirements for Australian passport holders
Permitted to stay for up to 90 days within a 180 day period |
Related guides
- Travelling Outside Australia during COVID-19 for Dual Citizens
- Maintaining your Permanent Residency in Australia and COVID-19
- Australia and Singapore Travel Bubble
- Australia and New Zealand Travel Bubble
- United States: Upcoming Immigration Changes in 2022
- Canada: Upcoming Immigration Changes in 2022
- New Zealand visas (VisaEnvoy NZ)
- US visitor visas
- Schengen visa information
- Book a consultation
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