Deep breath. Here's the answer.

Australians need no visa for Germany for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen Area. Under a bilateral German–Australian agreement, after your first 90 days in any Schengen country you can leave the Schengen Area and re-enter Germany for up to another 90 days — in Germany only, no paid work. Document your exit and re-entry, and contact a German mission to confirm the route and current formalities. This is not an unrestricted 180 days in Schengen or an automatic reset.

Key facts

For Australian passport holders, tourism or short business trips.

You may need a visa if…

• The 90-day limit applies to the entire Schengen Area, not just Germany.
• Overstaying the 90-day limit can result in fines, deportation, or future entry bans.
• While not typically checked, you may be asked to show proof of sufficient funds for your stay.
• Ensure your passport is in good condition with sufficient blank pages.
• Rules may change, so always check official sources close to your travel date.
• Bilateral route: after 90 days in Schengen, exit Schengen, then re-enter Germany for up to 90 more days in Germany only. Document exit and re-entry and confirm with a German mission.
• ETIAS applications are not open yet and there is no fixed launch date.
• The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) records free biometrics at the border — no advance action.

Before you travel

• ✓Count Schengen days (max 90 in 180)
• ✓Passport valid 3 months after leaving Schengen (whole stay for the bilateral Germany route)
• ✓Using the bilateral route? Confirm formalities with a German mission and keep proof of exit and re-entry
• ✓No ETIAS application yet

Common questions