Major change coming to millions of travellers as declaration become digital
Australia is rolling out digital incoming passenger cards for millions of travellers arriving at international airports.
The federal government will spend $56.1 million over four years to modernise the procedure following a successful trial for passengers arriving on the east coast.
International arrivals will be met with a quicker process. Steven Siewert
Formerly, incoming travellers would have to fill out an orange paper form to declare their visit and any biosecurity items.
But over the next 12 to 18 months, the process will be available via an online webform at every international airport in the country to better manage the 8.5 million annual visitors.
They will be required for all travellers, including tourists and returning residents, and they will be available from 72 hours before a flight.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said it will make the process easier for both travellers and the government.
“When someone lands here at the airport, we don’t want them standing in queues. We want them out enjoying the best country in the world as soon as they can,” he told reporters on Monday.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the digitisation would not compromise the country’s biosecurity.
Instead, she said it could strengthen it by providing information to authorities earlier and helping them respond to any potential risks before it reaches Australia.
The digital process will replace the orange paper form. Supplied
“They will strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system, not compromise it, and improve it and make sure that it’s as dynamic as it can be and be able to change and adapt to any biosecurity threats,” she said alongside Burke.
A trial of more than 450,000 Qantas passengers flying into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from October 2024 was reportedly a huge success.
It will continue to be rolled out to Qantas arrivals in Adelaide and Perth by the end of the year.
Monday’s announcement brings Australia in line with Japan, Bali, Singapore and New Zealand.
Following the national rollout, the federal government will work with airlines to introduce the digital declaration cards through their online apps to make the process faster and easier to manage the high number of travellers post-pandemic and ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond said the digital declaration is the first step in a broader modernisation program and called for biometric processing and smarter risk assessment.
“Australia is competing with destinations around the world that have already embraced digital borders,” she said.
“The easier we make that journey, the stronger our reputation as a world-class destination.”
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