On July 12 (local time), according to Xinhua, the Australian Government announced that it will deploy electronic entry cards for all international passengers in the next 18 months, ending the use of paper declaration cards that have been applied for many years.
Australian Home Secretary Tony Burke said the federal government will invest AUD 56.1 million (about USD 38.9 million) in the next 4 years to modernize passenger reception procedures at airports, with a focus on deploying electronic entry cards nationwide.
This decision was made after the Australian Traveler Declaration pilot program achieved positive results.
The electronic declaration system has been deployed since October 2024 on some Qantas flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as a replacement for paper entry cards. According to Mr. Burke, more than 450,000 passengers have participated in the system testing and responded positively about its convenience and processing speed.
A joint announcement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Trade and Tourism, the Ministry of Transport, and the Australian Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said that the program will continue to be expanded on Qantas flights to Perth and Adelaide before the end of 2026.
After that, the system will be applied at all international airports and seaports in Australia for 12 to 18 months.
With the new system, passengers can declare personal information and mandatory customs contents up to 3 days before departure time, instead of having to fill out paper forms on the plane or when just arriving in Australia.
According to Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell, digitizing entry procedures will help Australia become a more convenient and friendly destination for international tourists.
Simplifying and shortening the entry process will help tourists spend less time filling out forms and have more time to experience what Australia brings," Mr. Farrell said.
The Australian government also believes that modernizing the passenger management system will help border agencies better meet the expected sharp increase in international visitors in the coming years, especially as the country prepares to host the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
According to Australian officials, digitizing entry procedures is part of the strategy to modernize border gate infrastructure, improve border management efficiency and improve the experience of international passengers.
