Great news for travellers with the Australian Travel Declaration (ATD) pilot program being expanded to include eligible passengers on selected Qantas flights arriving into Melbourne.
The latest expansion marks the third phase of the pilot program which launched in October 2024, providing eligible travellers flying into Brisbane and Sydney a streamlined, digital clearance process through border controls and biosecurity.
Eligible passengers flying into Melbourne aboard Qantas flights QF154 and QF178 from Auckland and Queenstown respectively will be invited to complete the ATD through the Qantas app.
Passengers will be able to complete the declaration up to 72 hours prior to travel.
Once completed, a digital pass containing a unique QR code is sent to their nominated email address to be presented to Australian Border Force (ABF) and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) officers upon arrival without need to fill out an incoming passenger card.
The pilot program, led by ABF in partnership with the DAFF and Qantas, has had an uptake of more than 380,000 passengers since its launch.
Additional international Qantas flights arriving in Melbourne will be added in the coming weeks and the ABF will work closely with DAFF and Melbourne Airport over the course of the pilot program.
“Getting rid of the paper arrival card on eligible flights into Sydney and Brisbane has been enormously popular with international travellers,” said Julian Hill, Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs.
“The inclusion of Melbourne in this pilot program is the next step in providing a more seamless experience at our borders for Australians and visitor alike.
“The Government is firmly committed to modernising Australia’s airport arrivals, and digitalising the incoming passenger card allows border agencies to engage with passengers prior to travel, helping to ensure security and biosecurity risks remain offshore.”
