Switzerland entry requirement for Australians
A traveler named Queenie is planning a three-day stay in Zürich and wants reassurance about not needing a visa as an Australian citizen. She also seeks advice on how long immigration might take since she has a train to catch after arriving.
- No visa is needed for Australian citizens visiting Switzerland for up to 90 days, currently.
- Expect potential delays at immigration due to the new European Union Entry/Exit System starting in October 2025, especially if arriving from outside the Schengen area.
- Plan your travel immediately after landing; consider going straight to your accommodation, as immigration delays may disrupt your plans.
AI-generated summary-
Hello,
i’m just needing reassurance that I don’t need a Visa for a three day stay. I’m arriving in Zürich from Australia And I am an Australian citizen.
Also wondering how long it will take to go through immigration as I have a train to catch. I have cabin luggage only
Thanks,
-
Hi Queenie,
For short-term visit to Switzerland (less than 90 days), no visa is required for Australians entering Switzerland for for tourism, business, visiting friends/family, or other short-term purposes.
Please check out our planning page for useful tips on how to plan your Switzerland holiday! https://www.myswissalps.com/planning/practical/
Regards,
Anna
Many thanks, Anna. I was having a last minute, almost panic attack. I was quite positive I didn’t need a Visa however I just needed that reassurance. Many thanks again.
Hi Queenie!
As a fellow Aussie, no we do not need a visa for Switzerland currently, however I have read that from mid to late 2026 some time the EU is introducing a ETA type ‘visa’ for certain countries (AUS) being one of them. Much like the ETA that is now required for us in the UK. Hope this helps!
Nella 🙂
Hi, I recently received the following notification from the Australia Government Smartraveller website (! week ago):The new digital European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) will start on 12 October 2025 and register all non-EU nationals, including Australians, travelling in or out of the Schengen area.
European countries using the EES will gradually introduce the system at their external borders. Data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by 10 April 2026.
When you enter the Schengen area on your first visit to Europe after the EES is introduced, you will be required to:
- have your fingerprints and photo taken
- answer Schengen Border Code questions.
This will create a digital record that registers your biometric details.
If you revisit the Schengen area within 3 years of creating your digital record, you’ll only need to provide your fingerprint and/or photograph at the border on entry and exit.
You do not need to do anything before arriving at the border.
The EES registration is free.
Thanks ckoneo8 for the very clear information in your reply
Wow!. At last the EES is coming into force. It was planned to come in two years ago.
Delays if you arrive in Switzerland from outside the Schengen area
The down side for visitors to Switzerland arriving from outside Schengenland is that from October 12th, and certainly for a few months, there are going to be delays at immigration at Zurich, Geneva, and Basel airports for people needing to go through the EES procedure.
I personally will be affected by this, as I am British and resident in Britain (outside Schengenland) and I am booked on a flight touching down on a day in December at Zurich at 14 45. I shall be staying in Zurich.
My serious point is this. I see enquiries in this forum from people who are obviously touching down in Zurich early morning after a long flight, and are planning to do extensive travelling on their first day in Switzerland. Be warned that the delays at immigration MAY ruin those plans. I would suggest that the only sensible plan for the next few months is to go straight to your resorts.
Best wishes to everyone
Roger
By sheer luck we touch down in Geneva, Switzerland late on the night the new system starts…. 12 October. We catch the Golden Pass Express the next day, so only a bus to our accommodation to catch, which is how I planned it… Never rely on any commercial travel meeting personal deadlines. The new EES process will significantly impact on the time it takes to get through the airport, given they will take our photos and fingerprints, but the added security is welcome, given what is happening in the world. At least at the moment it isn’t an added cost, but I guess that will change as it will cost each country $$$$ to gather this information. Happy travel in December.
Very interesting information thank you so much for all that content.
I’m arriving late September so luckily we’ll miss out on all the new procedures. I leave for Australia from Paris late October so hopefully will be able to skip all the new immigration processes.
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