Do you need a visa for your holiday? Use our handy travel guide for 2025

Don't get caught out without the correct paperwork.

An Australian passport. Picture by Shutterstock

By Sarah Falson

Updated April 1, 2025, first published January 9, 2025

Planning overseas travel and working out whether you need a visa can be stressful.

If you live in Australia and plan to travel abroad, some countries require a visa, some an eVisa and some can issue a visa on arrival.

Don't get caught out at customs without the right documentation - here's a list of countries that require a visa in 2025, put together by VisaGuide.World.

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But don't rely on this information alone. It is imperative that before you travel, you check SmartTraveller.gov.au for the latest information about visas as well as travel warnings and advice for your chosen destination.

Visa needed

Australian passport holders need a valid visa to enter these 15 countries. Apply for the appropriate visa through the relevant consulate or embassy before travelling.

Afghanistan
Algeria
Central African Republic
Chad
Eritrea
Liberia
Mali
Nauru
Niger
North Korea
Republic of the Congo
Russia
Sudan
Turkmenistan
Yemen

eVisa needed

Citizens of Australia can obtain eVisas for travel to 26 countries.

Azerbaijan
Benin
Bhutan
Cameroon
Chile
Cuba
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon
Guinea
India
Iran
Ivory Coast
Libya
Myanmar
Nigeria
Papua New Guinea
So Tomé and Prncipe
Somalia
South Sudan
Syria
Togo
Trkiye
Uganda
Vietnam

A plane flies off into the sunset. Picture by Shutterstock

Visa issued on arrival

If you are an Australian citizen, these 38 countries can issue a visa on arrival.

Bahrain
Bangladesh
Brunei
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Comoros
Egypt
Ethiopia
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Indonesia
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Laos
Lebanon
Madagascar
Maldives
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mozambique
Nepal
Pakistan
Palau
Saint Helena
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Sri Lanka
Tanzania
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Zimbabwe

Skyscanner research found 51 per cent of Aussies find it stressful planning travel to destinations that require a visa.

They offer a handy online tool providing information about visas for Australian, Canada, United Kingdom, India and United States passport holders.

Some countries offer Visa waiver programs allowing Australian citizens to travel to certain countries without a visa for short-term stays.

Other countries require an electronic travel authorisation which requires passport holders to register online before travelling.

Don't forget, before you travel, check SmartTraveller.gov.au for the latest information about visas as well as travel warnings and advice for your chosen destination.

Words bySarah Falson

Sarah is Explore's Digital News Editor. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!. My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life. My top travel tip is … Don’t plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what’s within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.