Australia Introduces Digital Entry Card – Paper Form to Be Phased Out

Australia is taking a significant step toward modernizing its border procedures: The traditional orange arrival card, which travelers previously had to fill out by hand during the flight, is being gradually replaced by a digital process. On July 13, 2026, the Australian government announced the phased rollout of the so-called Australia Travel Declaration—a digital alternative to the existing Incoming Passenger Card, which is distributed to travelers prior to entry.

The government is allocating a total of 56.1 million Australian dollars over four years to modernize border procedures. The goal is for millions of passengers to be able to submit their declaration digitally before arrival in the future, rather than searching for a pen on the plane or filling out a paper form at the terminal. Acting Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Kristy McBain commented that the days of frantically filling out the orange passenger card on the plane are numbered.

Rollout at All International Airports and Seaports

The Australia Travel Declaration is set to be phased in over the next 12 to 18 months at every international airport and seaport in Australia. Initially, the declaration will be available via an online form. In a subsequent step, the relevant authorities plan to work with airlines and other industry partners to develop features that can be integrated directly into mobile apps. A detailed timeline for individual airports is not yet available, so access to the new system will be expanded in phases.

Prior to the nationwide rollout, the existing pilot program—operated in collaboration with Qantas—is set to be expanded to Perth and Adelaide by the end of 2026. A trial run of the system has been underway since October 2024, during which more than 450,000 digital declarations have been successfully processed—a solid foundation for the nationwide rollout that has now been announced.

It is important for travelers and visa applicants to know that the Australia Travel Declaration pertains to the entry card, but not to the visa requirement itself. Anyone traveling to Australia will still need a valid visa, such as the eVisitor for certain nationalities or the ETA Tourist for short-term tourist or business stays. The digital entry declaration takes effect in addition to the visa and is intended to speed up the process at the airport, but it does not in any way replace the prior application for an entry permit.

Until the new digital solution is available at all airports, travelers should continue to expect to use the previous paper form, unless they are entering through an airport where the system has already been implemented. Anyone planning a trip to Australia should apply for the appropriate visa well in advance, as processing times may vary depending on nationality and visa type. The visa overview for Australia provides an overview of the various available options.

Since the exact timelines for individual airports have not yet been published, travelers are advised to check the current status of the rollout at their respective destination before departure. Regardless of whether the digital or traditional paper format is used, applying for the required visa well in advance remains the crucial first step for a smooth entry into Australia.