Passport profile · AU

European digital nomad visas for Australian citizens

Australians get Schengen visa-free entry for 90 days in any 180, but anything longer is a residence visa issued by the destination's consulate before you fly. The Australian paperwork hinges on the AFP National Police Check and DFAT apostilles. Australia is a long-standing Apostille Convention member, so legalisation is straightforward. Tax is the part worth planning early: Australia taxes on residency, and the residency tests plus capital-gains rules on departure can bite if you don't structure the move.

Schengen-free for short stays (90 in 180)AFP police checks · DFAT apostilleResidence-based tax · CGT-on-departure planning

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Top picks

Lowest income threshold

Programmes that ask the least of your monthly income.

Top picks

Fastest path to permanent residency

Programmes that count toward EU permanent residence, sorted by years required.

Paperwork

What you'll need, regardless of destination

Every European DNV application from a Australia passport asks for these. Each has its own timing. Start with the slowest.

AFP National Police Check
~15 business days
Australian Federal Police
Apply online, but pick the correct 'purpose of check' code. The wrong one gets the certificate rejected at the consulate. Allow longer if your name triggers a manual review.
Apostille
Same-day in person at a capital-city office; ~10–15 days by post
DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
Australia has been an Apostille Convention member for years; DFAT apostilles in capital-city offices. Some document types need notarising first.
Certified translation
1–2 weeks
NAATI-certified translator, or a sworn translator at the destination
NAATI translations are widely recognised, but some consulates still insist on a sworn translator in-country. Confirm before paying.
Health insurance proof
1 week
Private international health insurer
Schengen-compliant cover (€30k+ medical). Medicare doesn't travel, and reciprocal agreements only cover short visits, not residence.

Tax

How your Australia tax position interacts with the move

The biggest decision-anxiety driver. Most people benefit from a 30-minute specialist call before committing.

Residence-based taxation

Australia taxes residents on worldwide income. The ATO's residency tests (resides, domicile, 183-day) decide when you stop being a resident. It's not automatic on departure, and getting it wrong means the ATO keeps assessing you.

CGT on ceasing residency

Becoming a non-resident is a CGT event for certain assets ('deemed disposal'), though you can elect to defer for some. Australian real property is treated differently again. Model this before you leave.

Superannuation

Super stays in the Australian system and its tax treatment doesn't map onto European pension rules. Contributions made while abroad, and the destination's treatment of super, are worth checking.

Social security + tax treaties

Australia has International Social Security Agreements with several European DNV destinations (Italy, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Greece, the Netherlands among them) and tax treaties with all of them. Double-tax relief runs through the treaty's tie-breaker and credit rules.

Apply from

Consulates that handle European DNVs

Canberra
Embassy consular sections for nearly every country
Sydney
Largest consular network; covers NSW and often the whole east coast
Melbourne
Covers Victoria; several countries process here
Perth
Western-Australia jurisdiction for some countries; otherwise files route east

Worth knowing

Real-world quirks

Distance is the hidden cost: if your nearest consulate is interstate and the visa needs in-person biometrics, budget for flights and an overnight.
AFP 'purpose codes' matter: the wrong one gets the certificate refused. Match it to immigration / visa purposes.
DFAT apostille is fast in person at a capital-city office but slow by post. Go in person if you're near one.
Reciprocal Medicare agreements (with a few EU countries) cover visitors, not residents. Don't rely on them for the visa health-insurance requirement.

The atlas

All 22 programmes

Every operational European visa in scope, with the income threshold + official processing window for Australia citizens. Click through for the full profile.