FCM Travel has released a critical advisory for Australian corporate travellers regarding European border management surrounding the existing 90-day short-stay rule, the Entry/Exit System (EES), and the upcoming ETIAS pre-travel authorisation.
The advisory from Flight Centre Travel Group’s corporate division consolidates official data from the European Commission, the EU’s EES/ETIAS portals, and government sources to help travel managers navigate the changes.
“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,” FCM Travel general manager, ANZ, Renos Rologas, said.
“These sorts of complexities are our bread and butter – allowing us to navigate the difficulties for customers so they’re freed up to do what they do best. We’re helping travel managers plan correctly by pointing them to the official rules and timelines, so itineraries aren’t derailed.”
Aussie travellers visa-exempt for up to 90-day stays
The advisory confirms that Australian travellers remain visa-exempt for short stays up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen Area.
Travel managers should verify compliance using the European Commission’s official calculator rather than relying on passport stamps, as the EES digitises entry and exit data.
Full EES implementation is not expected until this April
Regarding the EES, which has been operational since 12 October 2025, full implementation is expected in April 2026.
Travellers should anticipate fingerprint and facial image capture upon their first entry into the Schengen Area following this rollout. Business travellers should allocate additional time at external borders to accommodate this processing.
ETIAS pre-travel authorisation has not yet started
Confusion persists regarding ETIAS. The official timeline indicates it will begin operating in the final quarter of 2026. The EU plans to announce the exact start date in advance, with a transitional grace period of at least 12 months.
No immediate action is required from travellers, and third-party application sites should be avoided until official channels open.
The Schengen Area now comprises 29 countries, including Bulgaria and Romania, for air and sea travel. Cyprus participates in cooperation but retains internal border controls, while Ireland remains outside the Schengen zone.
Travellers to the UK should note that, from 25 February 2026, most visa-exempt visitors, including Australians, will require a UK ETA for short visits.
EXPLAINER: Going to the UK? With days to go, what Aussies need to know about new ETA
Dual citizens holding British or Irish citizenship are not eligible for an ETA and must present a valid British or Irish passport to verify their citizenship. Although a grace period has been in effect since January 2025, enforcement will be strict from 25 February 2026.
Dual citizens should carry both their valid UK and Australian passports to enter and exit the UK, and their Australian passport for travel to Australia.
“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,” Rologas added. “Those three steps prevent most European trip failures.”
