In turn, Australia is turning the page on the paper arrival card. The country is indeed accelerating the digitalisation of its entry procedures by introducing a fully digital Australia Travel Declaration (ATD).
Like in most countries that use electronic declarations, the system is designed to streamline border checks, enhance security and improve the international traveller experience.
The project is receiving an investment of 56.1 million Australian dollars (around 33 million euros) over four years. It follows a trial conducted with Qantas and the Australian Border Force, deemed conclusive. The test involved certain international Qantas flights bound for Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
The deployment schedule for the digital arrival declaration is now set: by the end of 2026, the trial will be extended to Perth and Adelaide airports, still on flights operated by Qantas. Then, from 2027, a web version will be launched and accessible to passengers of all airlines flying to Australia. Before the end of next year, the digital declaration will be available not only at all Australian airports but also at seaports.
Eventually, the government also aims to integrate this formality directly into airlines' mobile apps. This is already the case for passengers involved in the Qantas trial.
The new declaration can be completed up to 72 hours before the flight. It will continue to include all information mandatory for a stay in Australia, such as the list of food, plant or animal products being carried, as biosecurity rules remain unchanged.
More details and access to the Australia Travel Declaration are already available on the portal of the Australian Border Force.
A challenge for the customer experience
For airlines and airports, this development is expected to reduce manual arrival operations and improve the quality of data transmitted to the authorities before departure.
The government also stresses that this digital collection will make it possible to update requirements more quickly in the event of a health crisis or biosecurity threat, while preparing for the future rollout of more automated and biometric border controls.
The reform also responds to a long-standing demand from the tourism industry. In a report published in 2024, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry described the paper card system as obsolete.
The organisation estimated that a complete modernisation of entry and exit procedures for the territory could generate up to €43.5 billion in additional economic benefits per year, thanks to smoother international travel.
