Particle.news
Get it on Google Play
Download on the App Store
15 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Australia to Replace Paper Arrival Cards With Travel Declaration

Officials say the change will speed processing, improve biosecurity intelligence and ease pressure on arrivals as visitor numbers rise.

Not Supplied
Passengers soon won’t have to fill in paper cards when they touch down in Perth under an Australian government push to streamline arrivals. 
Digital passenger cards will finally replace paper forms at Australia’s international airports.
A digital declaration is replacing handwritten passenger arrival cards at Australian airports. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

Overview

  • The federal government announced on Sunday that the Australia Travel Declaration will be rolled out to all international airports and seaports in a phased program expected to finish within 12 to 18 months.
  • The program is backed by A$56.1 million over four years and will expand a pilot used by more than 450,000 passengers on selected Qantas flights since October 2024.
  • Travellers will first use a webform that generates a QR code scanned by border officers, with airline app integration to follow and paper cards retained for those without digital access.
  • The rollout is being delivered with the Australian Border Force, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and industry partners such as Qantas, and some funding will improve departure and cruise clearance systems.
  • The government says collecting arrival details in advance will cut queues, give border and agriculture agencies better data for risk and biosecurity checks, and help manage forecast growth in visitors ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Games.