Australia is set to phase out handwritten passenger arrival cards at all international airports, replacing them with a digital system designed to speed up border processing and modernise the country's airport operations.
According to a report by AAP, the Australian federal government has committed AU$56.1 million (NZ$67.6 million) over the next four years to introduce digital passenger arrival cards nationwide. The initiative aims to simplify the arrival process, improve data collection and enhance border security.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the move would eliminate the hassle travellers often face after long international flights.
"A lot of us have been in the situation at the end of a flight when the cards get handed out, and you're you're not always at your best at the end of a flight," he told ABC News Breakfast, AAP has quoted.
"People are scrambling around, 'Who's got a pen? What's the name of this flight again? What's the address of the hotel that I'm meant to be staying at?', as quoted by AAP.
"And then the fact that you're dealing with pieces of cardboard just slows the process down," AAP has quoted.
The digital declaration follows successful trials involving more than 450,000 passengers arriving on Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne since October 2024.
According to a report by 1News, the new digital Australian travel declaration will be introduced across other capital city airports before the end of the year, with all remaining international airports and seaports expected to adopt the system within the next 12 to 18 months.
Passengers arriving in Australia, including returning citizens, are required to declare information about imported goods, criminal convictions and other travel-related details. Initially, the digital declaration will be available through a web-based form while the government works with industry partners to develop additional options.
The upgrade is part of Australia's preparations for increasing international travel ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. Authorities also expect the digital system to improve data accuracy and allow faster responses during disease outbreaks or biosecurity threats.
Industry leaders have welcomed the transition, saying it will improve the first impression for international visitors.
Australian Airports Association chief executive Simon Westaway said the paper-based system had remained largely unchanged for decades.
"Seamless travel upgrades like this help ensure that Australia keeps pace with leading international border systems and add to the positive experience for both tourists and residents," he said, as quoted by AAP.
The announcement comes as Melbourne Airport recorded its busiest year on record for international travel, with nearly 37 million passengers passing through during the past financial year, including around 12 million international travellers.
Tourism Minister Don Farrell said the digital system would make entering Australia more efficient.
"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," he said, as quoted by AAP.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins added that the digital declaration would also strengthen Australia's biosecurity by enabling authorities to identify and respond to potential risks before they enter the country.
Australia's move follows a similar transition in New Zealand, which replaced its paper passenger arrival cards with the digital New Zealand Traveller Declaration in 2023.