Visa requirements for Australian passport holders are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Australia entering with an Australian passport.
As of 2024, Australian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 189 countries and territories, ranking the Australian passport 5th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.[1]
Besides visa requirements, most countries specify other requirements for the entry of Australian and other citizens into their country. For example, that a prospective entrant has no criminal history or health issues, or that there is evidence of sufficient funds or of a ticket for exit.
Each country has a multitude of visa types, each with its particular purpose and requirements. Rules for visits by ordinary passport holders are as follows:
Country / Region | Visa requirement | Allowed stay | Notes (excluding departure fees) | Reciprocity [2] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | |||||
Albania | 90 days | ||||
Algeria |
| ||||
Andorra | 90 days | ||||
Angola | 30 days | ||||
Antigua and Barbuda | 1 month | ||||
Argentina | 90 days | ||||
Armenia | 180 days | ||||
Austria | 90 days |
| |||
Azerbaijan | [4] | 30 days | |||
Bahamas | 3 months | ||||
Bahrain | 14 days | ||||
Bangladesh | 30 days |
| |||
Barbados | 6 months | ||||
Belarus | 30 days |
| |||
Belgium | 90 days |
| |||
Belize | 30 days | ||||
[6] | 30 days |
| |||
Bhutan | [7] |
| |||
90 days | |||||
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 90 days |
| |||
Botswana | 90 days |
| |||
Brazil | [8] | 90 days |
| ||
30 days | |||||
Bulgaria | 90 days |
| |||
Burkina Faso | [10] | ||||
Burundi | 1 month | ||||
Cambodia | [11] | 30 days |
| ||
Cameroon | [12] |
| |||
Canada | 6 months |
| |||
Cape Verde |
| ||||
Central African Republic | |||||
Chad | |||||
Chile | [15] | 90 days | |||
30 days |
| ||||
Colombia | 90 days |
| |||
Comoros | 45 days | ||||
| |||||
[18] | 7 days |
| |||
Costa Rica | 90 days | ||||
Cote d'Ivoire | [19] | 3 months |
| ||
Croatia | 90 days |
| |||
Cuba | [20] | 90 days |
| ||
Cyprus | 90 days |
| |||
Czech Republic | 90 days |
| |||
Denmark | 90 days |
| |||
Djibouti | [21] | 90 days | |||
Dominica | 6 months | ||||
Dominican Republic | 90 days | ||||
Ecuador | 90 days[22] | ||||
Egypt | [23] | 30 days | |||
El Salvador | 3 months | ||||
Equatorial Guinea | [24] | 30 days | |||
Eritrea |
| ||||
Estonia | 90 days |
| |||
30 days | |||||
Ethiopia | up to 90 days | ||||
Fiji | 4 months | ||||
Finland | 90 days |
| |||
France | 90 days |
| |||
Gabon | [25] | 90 days |
| ||
Gambia | 90 days | ||||
Georgia | 1 year | ||||
Germany | 90 days |
| |||
Ghana |
| ||||
Greece | 90 days |
| |||
Grenada | 3 months | ||||
Guatemala | 90 days | ||||
Guinea | [27] | 90 days | |||
Guinea-Bissau | 90 days | ||||
Guyana | [28] | ||||
Haiti | 3 months | ||||
Honduras | 3 months | ||||
Hungary | 90 days |
| |||
Iceland | 90 days |
| |||
India | [29] | Up to 90 days | |||
Indonesia | 30 days[30] |
| |||
[31] | 30 days |
| |||
Iraq | [33] | 60 days | |||
Ireland | 3 months | ||||
Israel | 3 months |
| |||
Italy | 90 days |
| |||
Jamaica | 30 days | ||||
Japan | [35] [36] [37] | 90 days | |||
Jordan | [38] | 30 days |
| ||
Kazakhstan | 30 days | ||||
Kenya | [39] | 3 months |
| ||
Kiribati | 120 days | ||||
| |||||
[41] | 90 days |
| |||
Kuwait | [43] | 3 months | |||
Kyrgyzstan | 60 days |
| |||
30 days | |||||
Latvia | 90 days |
| |||
Lebanon | 1 month |
| |||
Lesotho | 14 days | ||||
Liberia |
| ||||
Libya | [45] | ||||
Liechtenstein | 90 days |
| |||
Lithuania | 90 days |
| |||
Luxembourg | 90 days |
| |||
Madagascar | 60 days | ||||
Malawi | 30 days | ||||
Malaysia | 3 months | ||||
Maldives | 30 days | ||||
Mali |
| ||||
Malta | 90 days |
| |||
Marshall Islands | 90 days | ||||
Mauritania |
| ||||
Mauritius | 90 days | ||||
Mexico | 180 days | ||||
30 days | |||||
90 days |
| ||||
Monaco | |||||
Mongolia | 30 days |
| |||
Montenegro | 90 days |
| |||
Morocco | 3 months | ||||
Mozambique | [47] | 30 days |
| ||
Myanmar | [48] | 28 days | |||
Namibia | 3 months | ||||
Nauru |
| ||||
Nepal | 90 days[50] | ||||
Netherlands | 90 days |
| |||
New Zealand | Indefinitely |
| |||
Nicaragua | 90 days | ||||
Niger |
| ||||
Nigeria | [55] | 90 days |
| ||
90 days |
| ||||
Norway | 90 days |
| |||
Oman | [59] | 14 days / 30 days | |||
Pakistan | [60] | 90 days |
| ||
Palau | 30 days | ||||
Panama | 90 days | ||||
Papua New Guinea | [61] | 30 days | |||
Paraguay | 90 days | ||||
Peru | 90 days | ||||
Philippines | 30 days | ||||
Poland | 90 days |
| |||
Portugal | 90 days |
| |||
Qatar | [62] | 30 days | |||
Romania | 90 days |
| |||
| |||||
Rwanda | 30 days |
| |||
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 3 months | ||||
Saint Lucia | 6 weeks | ||||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 3 month | ||||
Samoa | 60 days | ||||
San Marino | 90 days | ||||
[63] | |||||
Saudi Arabia | [64] | 90 days |
| ||
Senegal | 90 days | ||||
Serbia | 90 days |
| |||
Seychelles | [65] | 3 months | |||
Sierra Leone | [66] | 3 months / 30 days | |||
Singapore | 90 days | ||||
Slovakia | 90 days |
| |||
Slovenia | 90 days |
| |||
Solomon Islands | 3 months | ||||
Somalia | |||||
South Africa | 90 days | ||||
[67] |
| ||||
Spain | 90 days |
| |||
Sri Lanka | [68] | 60 days / 30 days | |||
Sudan |
| ||||
Suriname | [69] | 90 days | |||
Sweden | 90 days |
| |||
Switzerland | 90 days |
| |||
[70] | |||||
Tajikistan | 30 days |
| |||
[72] | 90 days | ||||
60 days |
| ||||
Timor-Leste | 30 days |
| |||
Togo | [74] | 15 days | |||
Tonga | 31 days | ||||
Trinidad and Tobago | 30 days | ||||
Tunisia | 3 months | ||||
Turkey | [75] | 90 days |
| ||
Turkmenistan |
| ||||
Tuvalu | 1 month | ||||
Uganda | [76] | 3 months |
| ||
Ukraine | 90 days |
| |||
United Arab Emirates | 30 days |
| |||
United Kingdom and Crown dependencies | 6 months |
| |||
United States | [78] | 90 days | |||
Uruguay | 3 months | ||||
Uzbekistan | 30 days | ||||
Vanuatu | 30 days | ||||
90 days | |||||
[79] | 30 days |
| |||
Yemen | |||||
Zambia | 30 days |
| |||
Zimbabwe | [80] | 30 days |
|
Territory | Conditions of access | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
[81] | Letter for an entry permit upon arrival into Abkhazia is mandatory from 3 working days. | ||
[82] | 90 days | ||
[83] | 3 months | ||
Arrival by sea to Gaza Strip not allowed.[84] | |||
Undefined visa regime in the Western Sahara controlled territory. | |||
30 days for 30 USD, payable on arrival.[85] [86] | |||
[87] | Multiple entry visa to Russia and three day prior notification are required to enter South Ossetia.[88] [89] | ||
[90] | 90 days; May enter using eGate.[91] | ||
[92] | Registration required after 24 hours.[93] [94] |
Territory | Conditions of access | Notes |
---|---|---|
China | ||
Hong Kong | 90 days | |
30 days | ||
Denmark | ||
Faroe Islands | [95] | |
Greenland | [96] | |
Finland | ||
Aland Islands | 3 months | |
France | ||
French Guiana | 3 months | |
French Polynesia | 90 days within 180 days | |
French West Indies | Includes overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique and overseas collectivities of Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin. | |
Mayotte | 3 months | |
New Caledonia | 3 months | |
Reunion | 3 months | |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 3 months | |
Wallis and Futuna | [97] | 3 months |
Netherlands | ||
Aruba | 30 days, extendable to 180 days | |
Caribbean Netherlands | 90 days. Includes Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. | |
90 days | ||
90 days | ||
New Zealand | ||
Cook Islands | 31 days | |
Niue | 30 days | |
Tokelau | [98] | Processing time for a tourist visa compulsory from 3–4 days. |
United Kingdom | ||
[99] | Stays longer than 28 days per 12-month period require a permit.[100] | |
Anguilla | 3 months | |
Bermuda | Up to 6 months, decided on arrival. | |
British Indian Ocean Territory | Special permit required.[101] | |
30 days, extensions possible | ||
Cayman Islands | 6 months | |
A visitor permit is normally issued as a stamp in the passport on arrival, The maximum validity period is 1 month.[102] | ||
Gibraltar | ||
Montserrat | 6 months | |
14 days visa free and landing fee 35 USD or tax of 5 USD if not going ashore.[103] [104] [105] | ||
3 months within any year period.[106] [107] | ||
Visitor's Pass granted on arrival valid for 4/10/21/60/90 days for 12/14/16/20/25 pound sterling.[108] | ||
Permission to land required for 15/30 pounds sterling (yacht/ship passenger) for Tristan da Cunha Island or 20 pounds sterling for Gough Island, Inaccessible Island or Nightingale Islands.[109] | ||
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | Pre-arrival permit from the Commissioner required (72 hours/1 month for 110/160 pounds sterling).[110] [111] | |
Turks and Caicos Islands | 90 days | |
United States | ||
American Samoa | [112] | 30 days |
Guam | 45 days | |
Northern Mariana Islands | 45 days | |
Puerto Rico | Under the Visa Waiver Program, for 90 days on arrival from overseas for 2 years. ESTA required. | |
Under the Visa Waiver Program, for 90 days on arrival from overseas for 2 years. ESTA required. | ||
Antarctica and adjacent islands | ||
Territory | Conditions of access | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Belarus Brest and Grodno | Visa-free for 10 days[113] | ||
China Hainan | [114] | 30 days. Available at Haikou Meilan International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport. | |
China Tibet Autonomous Region | Tibet Travel Permit required (10 USD).[115] [116] | ||
Visa issued by Russia is required.[117] | |||
Ecuador Galápagos | Online pre-registration is required. Transit Control Card must also be obtained at the airport prior to departure.[118] | ||
Eritrea outside Asmara | To travel in the rest of the country, a Travel Permit for Foreigners is required (20 Eritrean nakfa).[119] | ||
Greece Mount Athos | Special permit required (4 days: 25 euro for Orthodox visitors, 35 euro for non-Orthodox visitors, 18 euro for students). There is a visitors' quota: maximum 100 Orthodox and 10 non-Orthodox per day and women are not allowed.[120] [121] | ||
India PAP/RAP | Protected Area Permit (PAP) required for whole states of Nagaland and Sikkim and parts of states Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh. Restricted Area Permit (RAP) required for all of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of Sikkim. Some of these requirements are occasionally lifted for a year.[122] [123] [124] | ||
Kish Island | Tourists for Kish Island do not require a visa.[125] | ||
You can apply for an e-Visa (30 days) to visit the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.[126] | |||
Fiji Lau Province | Special permission required.[127] | ||
France Clipperton Island | Special permit required.[128] | ||
Special permission required for the town of Baikonur and surrounding areas in Kyzylorda Oblast, and the town of Gvardeyskiy near Almaty.[129] | |||
outside Pyongyang | People are not allowed to leave the capital city, tourists can only leave the capital with a governmental tourist guide (no independent moving) | ||
Malaysia Sabah and Sarawak | These states have their own immigration authorities and passport is required to travel to them, however the same visa applies.[130] | ||
Maldives outside Malé | With the exception of the capital Malé, tourists are generally prohibited from visiting non-resort islands without the express permission of the Government of Maldives.[131] | ||
Norway Jan Mayen | Permit issued by the local police required for staying for less than 24 hours[132] and permit issued by the Norwegian police for staying for more than 24 hours.[133] | ||
Norway Svalbard | Right to live and work under the Svalbard Treaty. | ||
Crossing from Ukraine requires visit purpose to be explained to Ukrainian passport control on exit and those who entered from Russia are not allowed to proceed further into Ukraine.[134] | |||
Several closed cities and regions in Russia require special authorization.[135] | |||
Sudan outside Khartoum | All foreigners traveling more than 25 kilometers outside of Khartoum must obtain a travel permit. | ||
Sudan Darfur | Separate travel permit is required.[136] | ||
Tajikistan Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province | OIVR permit required (15+5 Tajikistani Somoni) and another special permit (free of charge) is required for Lake Sarez.[137] [138] [139] | ||
UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus | [140] | Access Permit is required for travelling inside the zone, except Civil Use Areas. | |
Korean Demilitarized Zone | Restricted zone. | ||
UNDOF Zone and Ghajar | Restricted zone. | ||
United States Minor Outlying Islands | Special permits required for Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll and Wake Island.[141] [142] [143] [144] [145] [146] [147] | ||
Margarita Island | All visitors are fingerprinted.[148] | ||
Phú Quốc | 30 days[149] | ||
Yemen outside Sana’a or Aden | Special permission needed for travel outside Sana’a or Aden.[150] |
Some countries regard Australia's requirement for obtaining an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) prior to travel as being equivalent to offering visa-free travel when deciding whether to grant the same to Australians wishing to enter their territory.
The United States, for example, offers their Visa Waiver Program to Australian passport-holders,[151] and one of the conditions for joining this scheme is that "Governments provide reciprocal visa-free travel for U.S. citizens for 90 days for tourism or business purposes".[152] However, the United States has required from January 2009 a similar ETA from citizens of Australia and some more countries. This system is not called a visa, but Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, therefore the US allows visa-free travel for Australians.
As of December 1998, Japan has also granted visa-free access to Australians.[153] Other ETA eligible countries and territories including Canada,[154] Hong Kong,[155] Malaysia,[156] Singapore,[157] South Korea (90 days)[158] and Taiwan (90 days)[159] also grant visa-free access to Australians while Brunei grants Australians a 30-day visa on arrival.[160]
The Australian Government has signed bilateral visa waiver agreements with a number of the individual countries who are Schengen signatories, which allow Australian citizens to spend up to three months in the relevant country, without reference to time spent in other Schengen signatory states. Since these agreements continue to remain valid despite the implementation of the Schengen agreement, the European Commission has confirmed that in practice if Australians visit Schengen countries which have signed these types of bilateral agreements with Australia, then the terms of these agreements override the conditions normally imposed as a result of the Schengen visa exemption agreement.[161] However, amendments are under consideration to restrict exit from the Schengen area only through the territory of the Member State which is a Contracting Party to the bilateral agreement and the authorities of which have extended the stay.[162]
Australia has individual bilateral visa waiver agreements with the following Schengen signatories:
Consequently, Australian citizens can visit the above Schengen member states visa-free for periods of up to three months in each country.
If, however, an Australian citizen then visits another Schengen state not included in the list above, the restriction of no more than three months out of a 6-month period in the Schengen area as a whole applies. Therefore, if an Australian citizen has already spent three months in one or more of the above Schengen countries, any visits to another Schengen country without a bilateral visa waiver agreement with Australia may lead to difficulties with local law enforcement agencies (e.g. being accused of having overstayed upon leaving a Schengen country which is not in the list above).
Australian citizens are classified as 'Annex II' foreign nationals, and so are permitted to stay visa-free in the 26 member states of the Schengen Area as a whole — rather than each country individually — for a period not exceeding 3 months every 6 months.
During the visa exemption period, Australian citizens are permitted to work in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia and Sweden.[178]
In addition, Australian citizens intending to stay and work in Estonia for up to 90 days can do so without a visa as long as the employer has completed a 'registration of short-term employment'.[179]
In general, any person who is not a European Union, European Economic Area or Swiss citizen and who wishes to stay in a Schengen member state for more than 3 months is required to obtain a national long-stay 'D' visa and/or a residence permit.
Australian citizens aged 18–30 (or 18–35 in some cases) are able to obtain a national long-stay 'D' visa and/or a residence permit from some Schengen member states on the basis of a working holiday (see below). Schengen member states also issue national long-stay 'D' visas and residence permits for other reasons to those fulfilling criteria laid out in their national immigration policies (e.g. skilled workers, students, au pair).
In general, the national long-stay 'D' visa/residence permit needs to be obtained in advance through the member state's embassy/consulate. However, some Schengen member states offer exceptions for Australian citizens.
allows Australian citizens to enter the country without a visa and to apply for a temporary residence permit or a 'Red-White-Red Card' (issued to permanent immigrants) after arrival, rather than in advance through an Austrian embassy/consulate.[180] [181]
The allows Australian citizens to apply for a work visa under a special scheme known as a 'Green Card' (rather than a 'Blue Card' or work permit which is required by most non-EU citizens). The application for a Green Card can be lodged at any Czech embassy/consulate (or, in some circumstances, within the Czech Republic if the applicant is already resident there) and is usually processed within 60 days.[182] Note that 'Green Cards' are no longer issued after 24 June 2014.[183]
permits Australian citizens intending to stay in the country for over 3 months to enter without a visa and to apply for a residence permit after arrival (whilst for many other non-EEA and Swiss citizens, a residence permit and visa for a stay over 3 months must be applied for in advance at a German foreign mission).[184] [185]
permits Australian citizens to stay and work in Estonia for more than 90 days but less than 6 months as long as they obtain a category 'D' long-stay visa at a cost of €80 in advance at an Estonian foreign mission after the employer has completed a 'registration of short-term employment'.[186] Australian citizens intending to stay and work in Estonia for more than 6 months can apply for a temporary residence permit for employment after arrival in the country.[187]
allows Australian citizens who wish to stay for more than 90 days in the country to apply for a residence card from the regional directorate of the Office of Immigration and Nationality within 90 days of arrival and do not need to obtain a residence permit prior to arrival in Hungary (unlike most other non-EEA and Swiss foreign nationals).[188]
permits Australian citizens intending to stay in the country for over 3 months as self-employed persons or as businesspersons to enter Latvia without a visa and to apply for a residence permit after arrival (whilst for many non-EEA and Swiss citizens, an application for a residence permit must be lodged in advance at a Latvian foreign mission).[189]
exempts Australian citizens from the requirement to obtain a Schengen category "D" visa (the visa issued for long term stays in The Netherlands of over 90 days, known in Dutch as the "MVV" visa) - an exemption which goes beyond the visa waiver afforded to most other non-EEA and non-Swiss foreign nationals who are usually only given a visa waiver of up to 90 days in a 180-day period.[190]
permits Australian citizens who have qualifications as a skilled worker to stay in the country without a visa for up to 6 months to seek employment as a skilled worker or a specialist (except as a religious leader/teacher or an ethnic cook), as long as they register with the police within 3 months of arriving in Norway.[191]
Australian citizens are able to visit the United Kingdom for up to 6 months (or 3 months if they enter from Ireland) without the need to apply for a visa as long as they fulfil all of the following criteria:
However, even though, strictly speaking, they are not required to apply for a visa if they satisfy all of the above criteria, an Australian citizen who falls into any of the following categories has been strongly advised by the UK Border Agency (replaced by UK Visas and Immigration) to apply for a visa prior to travelling to the UK if they:
Australian citizens who were born before 1983 and qualify for the right of abode are able to live and work in the United Kingdom indefinitely.
Australian citizens with a grandparent born either in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man at any time or in Ireland on or before 31 March 1922 can apply for UK Ancestry Entry Clearance, which enables them to work in the UK for five years, after which they can apply to settle indefinitely.
Australian citizens aged 18 to 30 can apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa which allows them to pursue a working holiday in the UK for two years.
In June 2021, the Australian and UK governments announced that their reciprocal working holiday scheme would soon be expanded to allow citizens of both countries aged 18 to 35 live and work in the other country for up to three years. These changes are expected to either in 2023 or by mid-2024 at the latest.[194]
By virtue of the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, Australian citizens are exempt from the requirement to hold a permit on arrival in New Zealand and may reside or work for an indefinite period as long as:[195]
See also: Australian passport. It is an offence for Australians to travel or remain in Declared Areas.
Holders of an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) travelling on business do not require a visa to the following countries:[196]
|
1 - Up to 180 days
2 - Up to 90 days
3 - Up to 90 days in a period of 180 days
4 - Up to 60 days
The card must be used in conjunction with a passport and has the following advantages:[197]
There are currently over 100 Australian missions overseas. In some countries Australians may also receive consular assistance from Canadian missions under the Canada–Australia Consular Services Sharing Agreement.
See also: List of diplomatic missions of Australia.