CANBERRA, JULY 13 — The Australian government on Monday announced it will launch a digital passenger card for all international arrivals within the next 18 months, ending reliance on paper cards, Xinhua reported.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Monday the federal government would spend A$56.1 million (US$38.9 million) over the next four years on modernising travellers at airports, including the implementation of digital passenger cards across the country.
The national rollout will follow the successful trial of the digital Australian Traveller Declaration, which is being offered as an alternative to paper passenger cards on some Qantas flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from October 2024.
Burke said in a joint statement with Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell, Acting Transport Minister Kristy McBain and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Julie Collins that more than 450,000 passengers have tried the digital system and it has been a significant success.
The minister said the system would be expanded to Qantas flights to Perth and Adelaide before the end of 2026, before being introduced to all international airports and ports over the next 12 to 18 months.
The digital system allows travellers to enter their mandatory personal details and customs declaration three days before their journey instead of filling out paper cards while in transit or upon arrival in Australia.
Farrell said the system would make Australia an easier and friendlier place to visit.
“Making arrival easier and faster means visitors can spend less time filling out forms and more time enjoying everything Australia has to offer,” he said.
According to the government, the modernisation initiative will help the border agency manage strong growth in traveller numbers ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
— BERNAMA-XINHUA
