Australians who want to visit some of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe will soon have to apply for a new kind of visa.

ETIAS, which stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System, will be similar to the US Visa waiver system, an ESTA.

Which countries need ETIAS

The countries where you will need the new travel authorisation to go include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Do Australians need ETIAS?

Yes, Aussies are among the nationalities which will need them.

Brits and Americans and Kiwis also need one, along with many other nations.

What date does ETIAS start?

It will start “early 2025” according to the official website.

How long is the ETIAS valid for?

The ETIA will be linked to your passport.

It will be valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

But if you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.

You can stay for 90 days out of 180 days in Europe, the same as before.

Border guards will check details and determine if they let you in.

They will cost seven euro, which is just under $12.

Under 18s and over 70s don’t need to pay for them.

Nor do family of EU citizens or of non-EU nationals who have the right to move freely throughout the European Union.

“Most applications are processed within minutes,” the website says.

“It is possible however that your application may take longer to process. If so, you will receive a decision within four days.”

You could be asked for more information, and might need to attend an interview, likely in rare cases.

Aussies planning to go to Europe should apply “well in advance,” the website said.

ETIAS information needed

The application will ask for a lot of information.

This will include your name, address, date of birth but also things like you parent’s first names, level of education, occupation, details of travel, and details of any criminal convictions.