EU VISAS
Please use this section as a guide only.
The advice we give all artists is to speak directly with a professional visa agent and connect with artists that have successfully toured to the countries you are looking to perform in.
According to the UK Government’s Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, 21 member states allow “some form” of musical touring without a work permit or visa. These are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania and Sweden (UK Music, 2024).
However the actual amount of visa free touring differs per country, and individual countries may also have additional restrictions, such as France requiring musicians to be employed by a registered venue.
We recommend talking to your agent or promoter about what might be required for you. Alternatively, check the government websites of each European country you’re visiting to see what the entry requirements are.
The European Union EU Entry/Exit System (ESS)
The new digital European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) has started registering 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.
The EU has received reports of fraudulent websites misleading travellers, claiming they must register and pay fees before traveling to the EU/Schengen area. This information is false.
The registration process should only take a few minutes, but when the system starts, you may experience longer border queues.
If you frequently travel to the Schengen area for work and/or leisure, ensure your total stay is no more than 90 days in every 180 days. This period is calculated as a single period for all the European countries using the EES. It is attached to you as a person, rather than to your passport. This means that even if you enter the Schengen area using a different passport, you will still be restricted to the same 90 days in every 180 days.
If you stay longer than permitted, you will be considered an ‘overstayer’.
If you overstay the period allowed in the European countries using the EES, the system will identify you and record this information. This may result in you being detained or removed from the country, a fine or prevent you from returning to the EU in the future. It is up to each country to decided how they’ll manage overstays.
For more information, visit https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/basics/visas-and-entry-requirements-europe-and-schengen-area