The Australian Government has announced today that a pilot program trialling digital arrival cards, which has been running on some Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne since October 2024, will be expanded to all international airports and seaports in Australia in the next year to 18 months.
The federal government is investing $56.1 million over four years to “modernise” the experience for travellers at Australian airports.
“Making the arrival process easier is a priority for our tourism industry and the Albanese Government is delivering the necessary investment to make it happen,” said Australia’s tourism and trade minister, Don Farrell.
“Making arrivals simpler and quicker means visitors can spend less time filling out forms and more time enjoying everything Australia has to offer.
“This is a win for tourists and a win for our tourism operators, helping make Australia an even easier and more welcoming place to visit.”
The digital arrivals card will become available to passengers travelling into Perth and Adelaide before the end of the year.
“When people arrive in Australia, I want them out of the airport and experiencing the best place in the world as fast as possible,” said home affairs minister, Tony Burke.
“Traveller modernisation is essential to Australia’s prosperity and national security.
“Visitors and Australian travellers alike will be able to take advantage of a seamless border process, which integrates into everyday digital life.
“The Albanese Labor Government is investing in Australia’s border to make digital declarations a permanent part of our border.”
Over 450,000 passengers have filled out the digital Australia Travel Declaration since 2024, with the federal government citing anecdotal evidence that the trial had been a success. The pilot was a joint effort between the Australian Border Force, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Qantas.
The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) welcomed the news of a digital passenger card.
“International travellers increasingly expect a seamless digital experience and this is a sensible improvement that will make arriving in Australia easier and more efficient,” said ATEC’s managing director, Peter Shelley.
“While the arrival card is only one part of the journey, first impressions matter and a smooth and welcoming arrival experience helps reinforce Australia’s reputation as a world-class destination.
“As Australia continues rebuilding international visitation, every improvement that makes travelling here simpler and more visitor-friendly helps strengthen our competitiveness and we welcome this initiative,” he said.
Flight Centre Travel Group also expressed approval for a move to a digital arrivals card.
“It is a small piece of paperwork, but it has been one of the last bits of friction left in an otherwise fast, digital travel experience,” said the APAC director of FCM Consulting, Felicity Burke.
“No more fumbling for a pen mid-flight or balancing a customs card on a tray table mid-turbulence.
“Time is the real win here.
“Digital declarations get done before you land, which means faster movement through arrivals and shorter queues at immigration. For families starting a holiday or business travellers racing to a meeting, every minute counts.
“We have seen this shift before, from e-passports to mobile boarding passes. This is just the next step, and it brings Australia in line with places like Singapore and the UK, which have used digital arrival systems for some time.”
“With traveller volumes continuing to climb ahead of the 2032 Games in Brisbane, this kind of investment is exactly what our airports need to keep up.”
However, Burke added a warning to the endorsement of a new digital system.
“The real test is accessibility. Not every traveller is glued to an app. Families, older travellers and those without reliable data still need a simple option that works. Get that right and this is a genuine win, not just a win on paper.”
