ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)

A major step in strengthening border security for the Schengen Area (of which Switzerland is a part of) will be the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is expected to become operational in the last quarter of 2026. The European Union will announce the exact start date several months in advance, along with detailed information on application procedures. ETIAS is a mandatory pre-travel screening for individuals that plan to enter the Schengen Area including Switzerland and do not have a valid Swiss passport or that of a Schengen country. Those that do hold such a passport are exempt from ETIAS and do not need to apply for it.

If you are planning to travel to Switzerland (or the EU) later in the year, make sure you enter the country with a valid Swiss (or EU) passport. Individuals travelling on an Australian passport or that of a non-EU country, obtaining ETIAS clearance will be a necessary step in your travel document preparation. At airline check-in, travellers should present their Australian passport, but they will also need to show their valid Swiss passport to be permitted to board the flight to Europe. Updates will be published throughout the year on this SAA website, the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) and through the official EU website ETIAS will also be the subject of a webinar hosted by the FDFA and Soliswiss on 16 June 2026 – www.revue.link/webinars