A digital alternative to incoming passenger cards filled out by everyone entering Australia is set to be rolled out more widely over the next two years.
The digital Australia Traveller Declaration has been trialled on some Qantas flights since October 2024, and the federal government says it has so far been a success.
Anyone arriving in Australia by air or sea is required to fill out an arrivals card — currently an orange form filled out by hand, usually either during a flight or on arrival at the airport.
The digital system allows passengers to fill out their arrival details through the Qantas app up to three days in advance of their trip.
The app then generates a digital pass with a unique QR code, which is scanned by Australian Border Force officers on arrival.
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The pilot program is currently only available on some Qantas flights landing in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
It will be expanded to include Perth and Adelaide before the end of 2026.
From next year, the program will be expanded further to include all Australian international airports and seaports, and will become available to all travellers — not just those flying Qantas — through a webform.
The government says it will keep working with airlines to eventually integrate the form into their apps, similar to the current trial system being run with Qantas.
Travellers who cannot access the webform or apps will still be able to use the existing paper forms.
Tourism lobby groups have been urging the federal government to invest in upgrades at Australia’s borders, particularly to help manage a forecast surge in tourism ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
Airports have frequently labelled the paper process “outdated” and complained of congestion in arrivals areas as passengers fill out the written cards.
Data from government body Tourism Research Australia suggests international traveller numbers will grow from 8.8 million last year to nearly 11 million by 2030.
Experts are advising travellers to check the fine print of their insurance policies before leaving the country. (Reuters: Nicolas Economou)
$56.1 million will be spent on “traveller modernisation” efforts by the federal government over the next four years.
Tourism minister Don Farrell said the changes will hopefully ensure people spend less time at the airport once they arrive in Australia.
“Making arrivals simpler and quicker means visitors can spend less time filling out forms and more time enjoying everything Australia has to offer,” he said.
“This is a win for tourists and a win for our tourism operators, helping make Australia an even easier and more welcoming place to visit.”
