Australia to ditch paper arrival cards for digital system

The days of filling out paper arrival cards are to end for millions of travellers arriving in Australia on international flights.

The Albanese government has announced it will roll out digital passenger cards to all Australian international airports and seaports after a “successful” trial on Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

The paper forms, which ask passengers arriving in Australia for personal information and to declare any food, plant or animal products, have long been an annoyance for travellers arriving on long-haul flights.

The government said it would spend $56.1m over four years to modernise airport systems and introduce the digital Australian travel declaration.

The trial program run by Qantas will be expanded to other capitals including Perth and Adelaide by the end of 2026.

A digital declaration will then be phased in for all airlines and at seaports over the next 12 to 18 months.

The minister for trade and tourism, Don Farrell, said a simpler and quicker arrivals process would mean “visitors can spend less time filling out forms and more time enjoying everything Australia has to offer”.

The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said the modernisation was “essential to Australia’s prosperity and national security” and would create a “seamless border process” for international visitors and Australian travellers.

Digital systems for incoming passengers operate at many airports globally, including major hubs in Japan, Singapore and New Zealand.

The Albanese government said the declaration would initially be accessible via a webform option but it aimed to work with the industry to make the form accessible through airline apps.

The Qantas trial was made available through the airline’s app, with travellers completing the form digitally before flying.

The government said the broader rollout would reduce manual processes for passengers and enable digital collection of information ahead of time.

It said it would also “increase data quality for risk assessments, allow for rapid updates and management of global risks and events, such as biosecurity outbreaks, and meet passenger expectations for a biometric-enabled, seamless digital border experience”.

Julie Collins, the agriculture minister, stressed that the government would “never compromise on biosecurity”.

“Modernising our border is an important part of maintaining that protection,” she said.

A 2024 report by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called Australia’s paper system “antiquated” and warned that it risked damaging Australia’s reputation as a desirable tourist destination.

The report called for the paper cards to be abolished and said efforts to modernise incoming and outgoing passenger systems could bring an additional $50bn to the Australian economy every year.