The Australian government has announced that paper arrival cards for incoming travellers will be replaced by a digital Australian travel declaration, following a successful trial on Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The new system will be rolled out to all international airports and seaports, with an investment of $56.1 million over four years to modernise airport systems.
Phased Rollout and Timeline
The trial program run by Qantas will be expanded to other capitals including Perth and Adelaide by the end of 2026. A digital declaration will then be phased in for all airlines and at seaports over the next 12 to 18 months. The government aims to initially offer the declaration via a webform, but eventually make it accessible through airline apps.
Benefits for Travellers and Security
The minister for trade and tourism, Don Farrell, said a simpler and quicker arrivals process would mean “visitors can spend less time filling out forms and more time enjoying everything Australia has to offer”. The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, described the modernisation as “essential to Australia’s prosperity and national security” and predicted it would create a “seamless border process” for international visitors and Australian travellers.
The digital system will reduce manual processes, enable advance collection of information, increase data quality for risk assessments, allow rapid updates for global risks such as biosecurity outbreaks, and meet passenger expectations for a biometric-enabled border experience. The agriculture minister, Julie Collins, stressed that the government would “never compromise on biosecurity”, adding that “modernising our border is an important part of maintaining that protection”.
Industry and Economic Impact
A 2024 report by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry called Australia’s paper system “antiquated” and warned it risked damaging the nation’s reputation as a tourist destination. The report urged abolition of paper cards and estimated that modernising passenger systems could bring an additional $50 billion to the Australian economy each year.
