Australia to introduce digital incoming passenger cards for travellers

Australia is on the brink of a transformative change in how international visitors step onto its shores.

Fumbling with pens and papers upon landing might soon be a thing of the past as the country took a significant leap towards a more digital approach.

This innovative step is a nod to the digital age and a move that could streamline the entire entry process for travellers.


The Australian Border Force (ABF) announced an upcoming trial in partnership with Qantas, signalling the end of the traditional Incoming Passenger Card (IPC).

This physical document has long been criticised for being time-consuming and challenging, especially for travellers not proficient in English.

The tourism industry, which has been advocating for this change, received the news with open arms.


compressed-pexels-qantas.jpeg
Select Qantas passengers will participate in a trial to test out the digital arrival cards. Image Credit: Pexels/Sohel Patel


Australian Travel Industry Association's CEO Dean Long hailed the trial as a 'really good first step'.

'Those passenger cards have had an important role to play previously, but this is really bringing us into the early 2000s with the rest of the world, where we won't need to fill in paper forms,' Mr Long stated.

The trial, set to commence later this year, will involve eligible adult passengers travelling on select Qantas flights from New Zealand to Australia.


The selected travellers will complete their declarations using the Qantas app for up to 72 hours before arrival.

The digital form will request similar information to the IPC, such as passport details, country of origin, and biosecurity risks.

Upon completion, passengers should receive a digital pass with a QR code sent to their nominated email.

The digital pass should also be accessible through the Qantas app.

This code will then be presented to ABF officers upon arrival, replacing the need for a physical card.

Transport and Tourism Forum CEO Margy Osmond expressed her support for the move, describing paper cards as 'a relic of the past'.

'These reforms will improve the airport experience for travellers when they arrive whilst prioritising border security through a more modern, efficient process,' Ms Osmond said.


The ABF indicated that the trial will expand to include other airlines as the program progresses.

The final version of the Australia Travel Declaration should be independent of any airline's ecosystem.

This ensures that all travellers, regardless of carrier, could benefit from the digital system.

As we await the full rollout of this digital arrival declaration, it's clear that Australia is embracing the future with open arms.

This change is not just about keeping up with the digital age; it's also about enhancing the travel experience for millions of residents and visitors.

It's a testament to the country's commitment to innovation and its willingness to adapt to the ever-evolving demands of global travel.
Key Takeaways

  • The Australian Border Force started a trial for a digital Australia Travel Declaration aimed to replace the physical Incoming Passenger Card (IPC).
  • The trial, conducted in partnership with Qantas, aimed to streamline the arrival process for international travellers.
  • Eligible passengers on select Qantas flights from New Zealand were asked to use the Qantas app to complete their declarations and should receive a digital pass with a QR code for border processing.
  • The trial is part of a broader movement towards improving and modernising the arrivals process, with eventual plans for a stand-alone system.
What are your thoughts on this digital shift? Are you excited about it, or do you have reservations? Share your opinions with us in the comments below!
 
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BIG BROTHER is here and it's not our government who has control over the information. It's the crimes and the government is helping them.
 
That is maybe okay for the Border Force part of the present document but what about the Quarantine section of yes and no ticks??? How is that going to show??? Also us oldies have enough problems trying to do things on a smart phone, this will cause further delays for us trying to locate where on the phone the tick has found itself a home!!!! Also always do mine on the plane as soon as receive it from cabin staff. They are also printed in many languages to assist overseas visitors who may not be proficient in English.
 
Must be a part of that paperless society I have heard so much about for the last +25yrs lol.
 
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More techno-crap to "bring us into the 21st century". Quantas, Australian Customs and Immigration; are you going to buy me a mobile phone and pay the bills to use it ? I won't be buying a new computer to keep up with Microsoft's next line of unnecessarily complex operating systems. And just wait for the next computer outage apart from hackers and scammers getting yet more insight into our lives.

What was the problem with paper forms; they took a couple of minutes to fill in. Can't you bureaucrats read?
 
Yay! Burn every paper form, book, newspaper, magazine....anything with information on it! ALA Fahrenheit 451 style!

Hang on a sec....the same dipshits who embrace this technology will be up in arms due to the contribution that burning paper will make to "global warming".
 
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"will involve eligible adult passengers travelling on select Qantas flights from New Zealand to Australia".

"The selected travellers will......"

What rubbish; "eligible passengers" and "selected passengers"? Whoever wrote that has one MBA too many.

What a gracious privilege conferred by Quantas and the Dept. of Customs and Immigration!
 
I agree with francis t. Not everyone, particularly older citizens, is up to date or possesses items with the latest technology. Is this a form of discrimmination?
 
How will this wok for people who don't have a mobile phone? Yes, there are people who don't have one.
 

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