Australia Replaces Paper Arrival Cards with the Digital Australia Travel Declaration

On 13 July 2026, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell announced AUD 56.1 million over four years to modernise airport processing, confirming a national rollout of the Australia Travel Declaration (ATD). The ATD is a digital replacement for the familiar orange paper Incoming Passenger Card that arriving travellers have long filled in by hand on the plane. It collects the same information — your Australian contact and flight details, plus biosecurity, customs and health declarations — through a free online form instead. Travellers can complete it up to 72 hours before departure and receive a QR-code pass by email to show border officers on arrival.

The government is expanding the system in phases after a successful pilot on Qantas flights.

For most UAE residents, nothing changes yet. The digital ATD is available only through the Qantas app on eligible inbound Qantas flights. If you fly to Australia on Emirates from Dubai or Etihad from Abu Dhabi — as most UAE residents do — you cannot use the digital declaration yet and will still complete the paper orange card on board. The government has said other airlines will be able to integrate the ATD into their own systems as the rollout expands over the next 12 to 18 months.

It is also important to understand what the declaration is not. The ATD is a customs and biosecurity arrival declaration — it is not a visa, and it does not change any Australian visa requirement. You still need a valid visa in place before you travel, regardless of whether you complete the card on paper or online.

1. 1Confirm which airline you are flying. Emirates and Etihad passengers should expect to complete the paper Incoming Passenger Card on board as usual.
2. 2If you are booked on an eligible Qantas flight into Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, you can complete the Australia Travel Declaration online at atd.homeaffairs.gov.au up to 72 hours before you fly.
3. 3Have your Australian address, flight details and passport ready before you start the form — each declaration is single-use for one journey.
4. 4Make sure your Australian visa is granted and valid before you travel — the digital declaration does not grant or replace a visa.
5. 5Check the official portal for the latest list of eligible flights and airlines as the rollout expands.
6. 6Contact OraVisa if you need help choosing and preparing the right Australian visa application for your trip.

This update is based on publicly available information from the Australian Department of Home Affairs and the media release issued by the Minister for Home Affairs and the Minister for Trade and Tourism as of 14 July 2026. The Australia Travel Declaration is currently available only on eligible inbound Qantas flights; passengers on other airlines, including flights from the UAE, continue to complete the paper Incoming Passenger Card. This analysis is provided for informational purposes to help UAE residents understand the change. It does not constitute legal advice. For the latest official information and to complete a declaration, always refer to the Australian Government at atd.homeaffairs.gov.au.