Australia will expand its digital arrival card programme over the next two years, with the Australia Travel Declaration set to become available to all international travellers arriving by air or sea.
The digital declaration has been trialled on selected Qantas flights since October 2024. It allows passengers to submit their arrival details through the Qantas app up to three days before travel. A QR code is then generated for Australian Border Force officers to scan on arrival.
The trial currently covers selected Qantas flights arriving in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. It will extend to Perth and Adelaide before the end of 2026.
From 2027, the digital declaration will be available via a web form for all travellers arriving at Australia's international airports and seaports, regardless of airline.
The government also plans to work with airlines to integrate the system into their own apps. Paper arrival cards will remain available for travellers unable to access the digital options.
The federal government will invest more than A$56 million (US$39.1 million) in traveller modernisation over the next four years. According to Tourism Research Australia, international visitor numbers are forecast to increase from 8.8 million last year to almost 11 million by 2030.
Tourism Minister Don Farrell said: "Making arrivals simpler and quicker means visitors can spend less time filling out forms and more time enjoying everything Australia has to offer."
He added: "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."
Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond described the announcement as "the beginning of a once-in-a-generation transformation" of Australia's border.