Australia has begun rolling out a digital travel declaration system that will gradually replace the paper Incoming Passenger Card completed by international travellers upon arrival.
The initiative is part of the Australian government’s broader effort to modernise border processing, strengthen biosecurity checks and improve the travel experience at airports and seaports.
Backed by an investment of A$56.1 million over four years, the new Australia Travel Declaration is expected to be implemented nationwide within the next 12 to 18 months.
The digital declaration will enable travellers to submit customs, travel and biosecurity information online before departure, reducing paperwork on arrival and allowing border authorities to process passenger information more efficiently.
Under the current pilot programme, eligible passengers receive an invitation through the Qantas mobile app and can complete the declaration up to 72 hours before departure. Once submitted, travellers receive a QR code to present to border officials upon arrival in Australia.
Australian authorities plan to integrate the declaration into airline applications in the future, allowing passengers to complete the process seamlessly as part of their travel preparations.
A nationwide rollout schedule has not yet been announced, and a public portal for all international travellers is still under development.
Australian officials stressed that the new digital declaration does not replace visa requirements.
Travellers will still need to obtain the appropriate Australian visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) before travelling. The digital declaration simply replaces the paper arrival card traditionally completed during flights or upon arrival.
The system will collect information relating to customs, travel history and biosecurity compliance, enabling authorities to assess potential risks before passengers enter the country.
The digital declaration has already undergone extensive testing ahead of its national rollout.
Pilot trials began in October 2024 on selected Qantas flights from New Zealand before expanding to Australia’s major international gateways, including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
According to Australian authorities, more than 450,000 passengers have successfully completed the digital declaration during the testing phase, providing confidence for its wider implementation.
The programme is expected to expand to Perth and Adelaide before the end of 2026.
The digital declaration is the latest in a series of immigration and border reforms introduced by Australia.
Earlier this year, the government increased the minimum salary threshold for employer-sponsored visas to A$76,515, aligning migrant workers’ wages with domestic pay standards.
Australia also allocated 20,350 places under its 2025/2026 skilled migration programme through the Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) and Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) visa categories as part of efforts to address ongoing labour shortages.
The introduction of the digital travel declaration marks another step in Australia’s drive to modernise border management, improve passenger convenience and strengthen national biosecurity through digital technology.
