Australian govt to roll out digital passenger cards for all arrivals
Sydney, July 13
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 56.1 million Australian dollars (38.9 million US dollars) over the next four years on traveller modernisation at airports, including a nationwide implementation of digital passenger cards.
The national rollout follows a successful trial of the digital Australia Traveller 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 trialled 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, reports Xinhua news agency.
The digital system allows travellers 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 traveller volumes ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally! Those paper forms were so tedious, especially when you're jetlagged after a long flight from India. But I hope they ensure the digital system is secure and doesn't compromise our data privacy. The Australian government needs to be transparent about how they'll handle our personal info. 😊
As an Indian student planning to study in Melbourne next year, this is great news! But I'm worried about the elderly and less tech-savvy travellers. My grandparents visit me often and they struggle with digital forms. Australia should keep a paper option for those who need it. Not everyone is comfortable with smartphones, you know?
Makes sense to digitise, but the timeline seems drawn out. 18 months for a nationwide rollout? Meanwhile, the UK and Singapore already have similar systems. Australia needs to step up its game, especially with the 2032 Olympics coming up. Still, good to see progress.
Brilliant! I remember fumbling with the paper card while trying to manage my toddler on the flight. This digital system will be a lifesaver for families. But I hope they also improve the internet connectivity at airports - what if someone can't submit the form before departure due to poor network in India? 🤔
Smart move by the Australian government. This will definitely speed up immigration queues. But I wonder about the cost - 56 million Aussie dollars seems steep. Could this money be better spent on other infrastructure? Still, as a regular traveller, I welcome the convenience. Let's hope it works as smoothly as promised. 👍
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