Key facts
- Australia is replacing paper arrival cards with a digital passenger declaration system.
- The government will invest $56.1 million over four years for the modernization.
- The digital system aims to create a seamless border process for international and Australian travellers.
- The rollout will occur at all Australian international airports and seaports.
- The agriculture minister stated biosecurity will not be compromised by the new system.
Australia is set to eliminate paper arrival cards for international travellers, transitioning to a digital passenger declaration system. The Albanese government announced the initiative, which follows a successful trial on Qantas flights. This move aims to modernize airport and seaport systems, enhance national security, and improve the travel experience for millions of visitors.
The government will allocate $56.1 million over four years to implement the digital Australian travel declaration. The trial, initially conducted on Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, will be expanded to other major cities like Perth and Adelaide by the end of 2026. Subsequently, the digital declaration will be phased in for all airlines and at seaports over the next 12 to 18 months.
Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell, stated that a simpler arrivals process would allow visitors to "spend less time filling out forms and more time enjoying everything Australia has to offer." Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized the modernization's importance for "Australia’s prosperity and national security," promising a "seamless border process."
Initially, the digital declaration will be available via a webform, with plans to collaborate with the industry to make it accessible through airline applications. The government highlighted that the digital system would reduce manual processes, enable pre-arrival information collection, increase data quality for risk assessments, and allow for rapid management of global risks like biosecurity outbreaks. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins assured that biosecurity standards would not be compromised.
A 2024 report by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry had previously described Australia's paper system as "antiquated" and a potential risk to the country's reputation as a tourist destination. The report suggested that modernizing passenger systems could contribute an additional $50 billion annually to the Australian economy.