In brief
- Digital arrival declarations will become available at Australia's airports and seaports in stages.
- The federal government will spend $56.1 million to modernise Australia's traveller arrival system.
Digital arrival cards will be rolled out across Australia, providing an alternative to paper forms for millions of international travellers.
A trial of the digital Australia Traveller Declaration has been running on selected Qantas flights since October 2024.
Following the program's success, the federal government has announced it will be expanded to all international airports and seaports over the next 12 to 18 months.
It will initially be available through a web form, before the government works with airlines to integrate it into their apps.
The federal government said it will spend $56.1 million over four years to modernise traveller arrivals systems at airports across the country.
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The pilot program involved more than 450,000 passengers arriving in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and will be expanded to other capital cities by the end of the year.
Paper forms will still be available for passengers who cannot access the digital cards.
As well as streamlining the process for passengers, the government said digital collection increased data quality for risk assessments and enabled updates to global risk events, such as biosecurity outbreaks.
Funding will also be provided to improve airport departure systems in collaboration with industry, as well as supporting border agencies, which expect a surge in travellers post-COVID and ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics.
Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell, said the program would make arrivals "simpler and quicker" for visitors who will spend less time filling out paper forms.
"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.
Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, said: "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."
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