If you’ve ever flown into Australia, you’ll probably remember being handed a small yellow card before landing and trying to fill it out on the tiny fold-down tray table.
Good news: that’s about to change.
The Australian Government has announced it will gradually replace paper Incoming Passenger Cards with a new digital system called the Australia Travel Declaration, making it easier for international travellers to enter the country.
What’s changing?
Over the next 12 to 18 months, Australia will phase out the paper arrival cards currently completed by everyone entering the country.
Instead, eligible travellers will complete their arrival declaration online before landing. Initially, this will be through a government website that generates a QR code to scan on arrival. In the future, the declaration is also expected to be available through airline apps.
The rollout follows a successful trial involving more than 450,000 passengers arriving on selected international Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
What does this mean for international students?
If you’re travelling to Australia to begin or continue your studies, your arrival process should become a little smoother.
Rather than filling out paperwork on the plane, you’ll eventually be able to complete your declaration before you arrive, giving you one less thing to worry about after a long flight.
The declaration will still ask for important information, including:
- Your travel and contact details
- Where you’ll be staying in Australia
- Declarations about food, plants, animal products and other items you’re bringing into the country.
You’ll still need to answer these questions honestly, as Australia’s biosecurity laws haven’t changed.
Do I need to do anything now?
Not yet.
For the moment, most international travellers will continue using the familiar paper arrival card, unless they’re part of the pilot program.
The digital declaration will be rolled out gradually across Australia’s international airports and seaports over the next one to two years, with wider availability expected from 2027.
Why is Australia making the change?
According to the Federal Government, the move is designed to:
- Make arrivals faster and more convenient
- Improve the accuracy of traveller information
- Strengthen border security and biosecurity
- Help Australia’s airports manage growing numbers of international visitors in the lead-up to major events like the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Australia is joining a growing number of countries that have replaced paper border forms with digital systems, including Singapore, Japan and New Zealand.