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The Australian government announced Monday that it will begin rolling out the Australia Travel Declaration, a digital replacement for the orange incoming passenger card, following a trial involving more than 450,000 passengers on Qantas international flights since October 2024.
Anyone entering Australia by air or sea is currently required to complete an arrival card, typically filled out by hand during a flight or upon arrival at an airport. A 2024 report by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry described Australia's paper-based arrival system as "antiquated" and warned it could undermine the country's appeal as a tourist destination.
Australia joins a growing number of countries using digital entry systems, including Japan, Singapore and New Zealand.
Under the system, travelers can submit their arrival details through the Qantas app up to three days before departure, according to ABC News.
The digital declaration will be introduced at all international airports and seaports over the next 12 to 18 months. It will initially be available through a web form before being integrated into airline and travel apps.
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Aerial view of Sydney Opera House with surrounding skyline and Harbor Bridge, in Sydney, Australia. Photo from Pexels |
The rollout comes after several unsuccessful attempts to digitize the process, including the Digital Passenger Declaration app launched in 2022, which was later abandoned, and the Seamless Traveller initiative announced in 2016, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
The government said the new platform would reduce manual processing, improve the quality of traveler information collected before arrival, and strengthen border risk assessments.
It added that the system 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," according to The Guardian.
Tourism Minister Don Farrell said the digital declaration would make entering Australia faster and more convenient.
"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," he said.
