Aussies and international travellers arriving into the country will soon be able to ditch the familiar – and unpopular – paper passenger card.
The Federal Government has confirmed digital passenger declarations will be rolled out across all Australian international airports and seaports over the next 12 to 18 months.
The move has been warmly welcomed by the travel industry and marks one of the biggest changes to Australia’s border processing system in decades, replacing the long standing orange forms that passengers have traditionally completed before landing.
More than 450,000 travellers have already taken part in trials of the digital system since October 2024 on selected Qantas flights arriving into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
The trial is expected to expand to Perth and Adelaide by the end of this year before being introduced nationwide.
The new system, known as the Australian Travel Declaration, will initially be accessible via a web page, with plans for future integration into airline apps and other digital platforms.
Travellers will be able to complete their declarations before departure, reducing paperwork during flights and potentially speeding up arrival procedures.
The Albanese Government has committed $56 million over four years to modernise border systems and support the nationwide rollout.
Officials say the digital declarations will improve data quality, strengthen biosecurity protections and enable authorities to identify potential risks more quickly.
Tourism Minister Don Farrell said simplifying the arrival process would make Australia a more attractive destination for overseas visitors.
“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.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the initiative would create a more seamless border experience while maintaining Australia’s strict security and biosecurity standards.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins added that earlier access to passenger information would help authorities better protect Australia’s agriculture sector from pests and diseases.
The changes come as Australia prepares for growing international visitor numbers in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Industry groups have long argued that Australia’s paper based arrival system was outdated and lagging behind countries such as Singapore, Thailand and the United Kingdom, which have already introduced digital entry systems.
“This is an important step towards a more seamless border experience that keeps Australia competitive, supports tourism and economic growth and helps prepare Sydney Airport to welcome 72 million passengers a year by 2045,” said Scott Charlton, Sydney Airport CEO.
“Given the growing volume of travellers, the international arrivals process is currently one of our biggest passenger pain points, so we’re pleased the Federal Government has committed to fixing this,” said Lorie Argus, Melbourne Airport CEO.
“We’re excited to work with the Federal Government to ensure a seamless rollout of the new digital arrivals process in Melbourne.”
“For decades, arriving in Australia has meant searching for a pen to fill out a paper card balanced on your tray table. It simply doesn’t make sense in 2026,” said Margy Osmond, CEO of the Tourism & Transport Forum.
“This announcement brings Australia’s border into the digital age. As digital passenger cards are rolled out at international airports across Australia over the next 18 months, we’ll see less paperwork, fewer queues and a safer, more secure arrival experience for millions of travellers.”
