Here's why you'll now need a visa waiver to visit Greece in 2024

From January 2024 , visitors from 50+ nations, including Australia and New Zealand, will require an ETIAS to enter any of the EU Schengen area countries.

Australians will need an ETIAS visa waiver to visit Europe from 2024 after the EU announced that its long-awaited electronic visa waiver scheme, ETIAS, would be implemented from November 2023.

The ETIAS visa waiver program was originally set to be implemented in May 2023 but was postponed till next year.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is an electronic travel waiver program (not unlike the ESTA visa waiver program employed by the US) for non-EU nationals travelling to any of the 26 Schengen member countries.

From 2024, visitors from 50+ nations, including Australia and New Zealand, will require an ETIAS to enter any of the Schengen area countries, including in transit.

The Schengen area is a group of 27 European countries – including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain – which have officially abolished border controls and adopted common entry and exit requirements that allow visitors to move freely between them. Croatia is the most recent country to join the group.

Applications are all completed quickly online via a “largely automated IT system” and don’t require any biometric information. Most applications will be processed within minutes, although the EU has noted that “in very exceptional cases”, approvals could take up to a month.

ETIAS visa waivers are valid for short-term stays (up to 90 days) and for business or leisure purposes. Once approved, an ETIAS can be used for up to three years or until the passport expires (whichever comes first.)

To apply for an ETIAS visa waiver, you will need a valid passport, an email address, and a debit or credit card to pay the ETIAS processing fee of €7 (or approximately A$11). 

There’ll be no changes for those travellers who previously needed a visa to enter. 

ETIAS Benefits

• ETIAS is valid for three years from the date of issue
• It can be used for multiple entries under a 90-day duration
• Fast authorisation and electronic delivery
• Apply on desktop, tablet or mobile

ETIAS Application Advice

• Submit the application at least 96 hours before departure.
• If denied for an ETIAS, travellers can still apply for a full visitor visa
• An ETIAS does not guarantee entry to Europe as the border security personnel makes the final decision of the European country of arrival.

Read more about ETIAS visa waivers here.