CANBERRA - The Australian government on Monday announced it will roll out digital passenger cards for all international arrivals over the next 18 months, ending the reliance on paper cards.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Monday that the federal government will spend A$56.1 million (US$38.9 million) over the next four years on traveler modernisation at airports, including a nationwide implementation of digital passenger cards.
The national rollout follows a successful trial of the digital Australia Traveler Declaration, which has been offered as an alternative to paper passenger cards on some Qantas flights into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane since October 2024.
Burke said in a joint statement with Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, Acting Transport Minister Kristy McBain and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins, that more than 450,000 passengers have trialed the digital system and it has been a significant success.
They said it would be expanded to Qantas flights into Perth and Adelaide before the end of 2026, before being introduced to all international airports and seaports over the next 12 to 18 months.
The digital system allows travelers to enter their mandatory personal details and customs declarations up to three days before their trip rather than filling in paper cards while in transit or on arrival in Australia.
Farrell said that the system would make Australia an easier and more welcoming place to visit.
"Making arrivals simpler and quicker means visitors can spend less time filling out forms and more time enjoying everything Australia has to offer," he said.
The government said that the modernisation initiative would help border agencies manage strong growth in traveler volumes ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. - BERNAMA