Australians Face New Entry Systems for the US and Europe

Australian passport holders travelling internationally are preparing for two significant new entry authorisation requirements — one for the United States and one for Europe. While neither the US Global Entry programme nor the EU's ETIAS scheme is a traditional visa, both introduce an additional step that travellers will need to complete before boarding a flight or driving to a border crossing.

Photo by Nothing Ahead on Pexels

US Global Entry: A Faster Path Through American Customs

US Customs and Border Protection launched a pilot programme for Australian travellers in January 2025. An initial phase limited enrolment to around 1,000 frequent travellers who had made five or more trips to the United States in the preceding twelve months. A broader expansion to all eligible Australians would require new legislation and had not yet been confirmed at the time of reporting.

Global Entry membership costs US$100 and is valid for five years. Members pass through dedicated automated kiosks on arrival in the United States rather than joining the standard customs line. The programme also includes TSA PreCheck, which allows expedited security screening at US domestic airports. Applicants undergo a background check and an in-person interview before being approved.

ETIAS: New Entry Requirements for Europe

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System — ETIAS — will require nationals of visa-exempt countries, including Australia, to obtain approval before travelling to any of the 30 participating European countries. The application is completed entirely online, through the official website or a dedicated mobile application, and approval for most travellers is expected within minutes to a few hours.

ETIAS authorisation is valid for three years or until the linked passport expires, whichever comes first, and covers an unlimited number of trips. Each stay is still subject to the standard 90-day-in-180-day Schengen limit. The fee is EUR 20. Travellers under 18 and over 70 are exempt from the charge. ETIAS was expected in 2025 at the time this article was published; the confirmed launch date is 2026.

Two Different Systems, Two Different Processes

Despite sharing some surface similarities — both are digital, both are pre-travel, and both are not traditional visas — the US Global Entry programme and the EU's ETIAS are quite different in scope. Global Entry is an optional premium scheme for frequent travellers that accelerates border processing on arrival. ETIAS is a mandatory travel authorisation that every eligible visitor must hold before departing for Europe.

For Australian travellers planning trips to both regions, the most practical approach is to apply for each system separately and well in advance. Given that ETIAS applications are expected to be processed quickly for most applicants, the more pressing logistical step is likely to be the Global Entry in-person interview requirement.