FCM Travel has issued guidance for Australian corporate travellers heading to Europe, as confusion persists around Schengen stay limits, the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the upcoming ETIAS scheme.
The advisory comes as the EU introduces digital border controls. Travel managers are being urged to check timelines and rules carefully, as the different systems operate separately and begin at different times.
Australian travellers don’t need visas for short stays
Australian travellers remain visa-exempt for short stays of up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen Area. FCM advises using the European Commission’s official calculator to confirm compliance, as the EES will digitise entry and exit records and reduce reliance on passport stamps.
The European Commission’s official short-stay calculator
The EES has been operational since 12 October 2025, with full implementation expected in April 2026.
EU’s explanation of the Entry/Exit System (EES)
If you’re entering the Schengen Area for the first time, expect fingerprint and facial image capture
Travellers entering the Schengen Area for the first time under the system should expect fingerprint and facial image capture at external borders, which may increase processing times.
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) has not yet launched. The EU indicates it will begin operating in the final quarter of 2026, with an exact start date to be announced in advance and a transitional grace period of at least 12 months. No application is currently required, and travellers are advised to avoid third-party ETIAS websites until the official system opens.
Aussies will need an ETA to visit the UK from 25 February
Separate rules apply to the UK. From 25 February 2026, most visa-exempt visitors, including Australians, will require a UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for short visits. Dual British or Irish citizens are not eligible for an ETA and must travel on a valid British or Irish passport.
Renos Rologas, general manager ANZ at FCM Travel, said: “Executives are travelling to Europe in large numbers – and some are still tripped up by 90/180 calculations, EES biometrics, or when ETIAS actually starts.”
He added: “Our message to business travellers is simple: check the 90/180 days on the official calculator, allow for EES on first entry, and ignore ETIAS ‘application’ sites until Brussels publishes the start date. Those three steps prevent most European trip failures.”