Digital traveller declaration pilot
A digital traveller declaration system, years in the making, has expanded to one of Australia's busiest international airports, marking a significant milestone in the country's efforts to modernise border processing.
The Australian Border Force announced that the Australia Travel Declaration would expand to "eligible passengers on all Qantas flights arriving at Brisbane Airport", Australia's third busiest airport after Sydney and Melbourne. The expansion comes after six months of successful testing on select trans-Tasman flights, with 12,000 passengers already using the digital to clear border controls.
What is the Australia Travel Declaration?
The Australia Travel Declaration is a digital alternative to the paper-based incoming passenger card. It allows travellers to complete their arrival declarations through a smartphone app up to 72 hours before departure. The ATD is built directly into the existing Qantas app, eliminating the need for additional downloads.
The process is straightforward, eligible passengers:
- Complete their digital declaration
- Receive a QR-coded digital pass through both the app and email
- Present this code to Australian Border and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry officers on arrival
The system handles the same information traditionally captured on paper cards — immigration, customs and biosecurity declarations — but digitises the data for more efficient processing.
Since the pilot launched in October 2024, more than 70,000 have successfully used the ATD system to clear border controls, with positive user feedback.
Building on previous digital pilots
Australia's digital border ambitions stretch back nearly a decade.
In 2016, the Australian Border Force's 'Seamless Traveller' introduced facial recognition SmartGates but did not deliver the planned digital arrival cards. In 2021, a Digital Passenger Declaration was built as part of a broader "permissions capability platform, however, the system had to be abandoned.
How this pilot succeeded
The current Australia Travel Declaration focused on partnerships, gradual implementation and building on existing infrastructure rather than creating systems from scratch.
The Australian Border Force partnered directly with Qantas and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to develop the system collaboratively. This approach allowed for real-time feedback and adjustments during development, with Qantas's app serving as the platform rather than building a standalone application.
The pilot began with a single route — QF126 from Auckland to Brisbane — allowing teams to identify and resolve issues on a small scale before expansion..
Building the ATD into Qantas's existing app proved crucial to user adoption. Passengers didn't need to download new software or create additional accounts, removing barriers. The Trans-Tasman Seamless Travel , established to explore seamless travel between Australia and New Zealand, provided the framework for this collaborative approach.
What the expansion means for Australian travellers
The expansion to all Qantas international flights arriving at Brisbane Airport represents a significant step toward eliminating the familiar scramble for pens and flight details mid-journey. Eligible passengers can now complete their arrival declarations up to 72 hours before departure, removing the pressure of filling out forms during flight.
The pilot has also expanded beyond trans-Tasman routes to include flights from Los Angeles and is beginning trials at Sydney Airport for select New Zealand services. ABF Commissioner Gavan described the expansion as "a significant advancement in our mission to modernise border processes and enhance the traveller experience."
For biosecurity and border processing, the digital system allows officers to focus more on compliance detection and managing high-risk goods rather than processing paperwork. DAFF Deputy Secretary Justine noted that the pilot findings have "demonstrated a more seamless traveller experience while allowing biosecurity officers to increase their focus on detecting non-compliance."
Importantly, the paper-based incoming passenger card remains available for travellers who prefer the traditional method or are not eligible for the digital system. The Australian Border Force has emphasised that participation in the digital pilot is optional, ensuring no passenger is disadvantaged during the transition period.
Australia's digital border future beyond 2025
The Australia Travel Declaration pilot forms part of a broader vision for "contactless travel" that extends well beyond digital arrival cards. The Australian Border Force is working toward a system where passengers can rely on digital credentials and facial recognition technology for streamlined progression through key airport processes.
The Trans-Tasman Seamless Travel , which developed the current pilot, has ambitions that align with Australia's preparations for the Brisbane 2032 . ABF Commissioner Michael Outram noted that "as we prepare to welcome the world when Brisbane hosts the Olympics in 2032, we are continuing to collaborate with our agency partners and industry to set the global standard for traveller experience."
Expansion plans include rolling out the ATD to other Australian airports and additional airlines beyond Qantas, though the Australian Border Force has not provided specific timeframes for this broader deployment. The success of the current pilot will likely influence both the pace and scope of future expansion.
Salsa’s Digital take
The Australia Travel Declaration s success demonstrates that government digital transformation works best through partnership and incremental progress.
The collaboration between the Australian Border Force, DAFF, and Qantas allowed for real-time feedback and adjustments during development. This approach shows the positive impact when government agencies embrace user-centered design and collaborative partnerships to deliver meaningful digital services for citizens.