Australia Travel Declaration: A Simple Guide for Travellers

Last updated: Jul 14, 2026

Key takeaways

The Australia Travel Declaration is only open to eligible Qantas passengers flying into Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne — everyone else still uses the paper Incoming Passenger Card.
It’s free, takes minutes in the Qantas app, and can be completed up to 72 hours before you fly.
A cancelled, rescheduled, or diverted flight means you’ll need to fall back to the paper card instead.
Whichever version you use, false or missing declarations can trigger biosecurity fines.

Table of Contents

What is the Australia Travel Declaration?

The Australia Travel Declaration is a digital alternative to the paper Incoming Passenger Card (IPC), the form every arriving traveller has historically had to complete on the plane or in the arrivals hall. It’s run jointly by the Australian Border Force (ABF), the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), and Qantas.

The pilot launched in October 2024 on a single Trans-Tasman route and has grown steadily since. More than 450,000 passengers have completed an ATD on eligible inbound Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.

Cost: Free — it replaces the paper card, it doesn’t add a fee.
Who runs it: Australian Border Force, DAFF, and Qantas, jointly.
Current airline: Qantas only — no other airline offers it yet.
Current airports: Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, on selected routes.

Who can use the digital declaration right now

Eligibility depends on your airline, your route, and your device — most travellers still don’t qualify. To use the ATD, you must be a Qantas app user able to complete the form in English and eligible to use SmartGates and self-service kiosks on arrival.

Coverage by airport, according to the Department of Home Affairs:

Brisbane: All eligible passengers on international Qantas flights arriving into Brisbane, including from Los Angeles.
Sydney: Eligible Qantas passengers, since August 2025.
Melbourne: Eligible passengers on QF154 from Auckland and QF178 from Queenstown, since May 2026, with more Melbourne-bound flights being added.

Those flights depart from Auckland and Queenstown airports in New Zealand.

If you’re invited to the pilot, the Qantas app will prompt you. If you’re not — because you’re flying a different airline, a different route, or don’t use the app — you’ll clear the border with the standard paper card, no action needed on your part.

The government has committed $56.1 million over four years from 2026–27 to take the ATD nationwide as a webform, starting with Perth and Adelaide before the end of 2026. All other international airports and seaports follow over the next 12 to 18 months.

How to complete your Australia Travel Declaration

If you’re invited to the pilot, you complete the whole process in the Qantas app before you fly — there’s no paperwork on the plane. Submit your declaration up to 72 hours before departure through the app’s home or trip screen.

Complete the declaration in the Qantas app (up to 72 hours before departure).
Receive a digital declaration pass with a QR code in the app and by email from the Department of Home Affairs.
Keep your phone charged — an ABF officer scans the pass on your way out of the terminal, and you may be asked to show it again near the baggage carousel.
Need to change something? Update your declaration from the Qantas app’s home or trip screen any time before you land.

Plans change, so know the fallback rules. According to the ABF’s official FAQ, a delayed flight still landing at your scheduled airport won’t affect your declaration.

A cancelled, rescheduled, or diverted flight to a different Australian airport means you’ll need a paper IPC instead. Paper cards remain available on board and in the arrivals hall as a backup if your phone or the app lets you down.

Check your flight status before you leave for the airport using Wego’s flight tracker, so you know in advance whether your declaration will still apply.

If you’re not eligible: the paper Incoming Passenger Card

Most arrivals in Australia — including everyone flying an airline other than Qantas — still complete the paper Incoming Passenger Card, and it must be filled out in English. Passengers requiring help can find printable translated samples on the ABF website in more than 40 languages.

The card asks for two sets of details, front and back:

Front: Your name, passport number, flight or vessel details, your intended Australian address, whether you intend to live in Australia for the next 12 months, and customs/quarantine declarations.
Back: Your boarding country, date of birth, occupation, nationality, and Australian and emergency contact details.

You must sign, date, and truthfully answer questions on migration, health, and criminal history. Under the Migration Act 1958, Australian citizens who refuse to complete the card can be penalised, and non-citizens risk being refused immigration clearance.

Parents, guardians, and carers can complete the card on behalf of minors or travellers who need assistance — the traveller is still considered to have completed it themselves.

Declare everything — the biosecurity fines are real

Whether you use the digital ATD or the paper IPC, the declaration questions carry legal weight under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Providing false information or failing to declare risky goods can trigger an on-the-spot fine, regardless of which format you filled out.

Fines are calculated in penalty units under the Crimes Act 1914. As of 1 July 2026, one penalty unit is $364, up from $330 previously. Fines scale with the risk of the undeclared item:

Minimum fine: 2 penalty units ($728) for a false or misleading declaration.
Higher-risk goods: 6 penalty units ($2,184) or 12 penalty units ($4,368), depending on the biosecurity risk.
Concealed goods: 20 penalty units ($7,280) for concealing conditionally non-prohibited items.
If you refuse to pay: Court-imposed penalties can reach 600 penalty units ($218,400), or 1,200 penalty units ($436,800) for concealment.

Two-penalty-unit fines must be paid at the airport before you leave, or you can request an extension before you exit. Higher fines carry a 28-day payment window.

None of this applies if you simply declare what you’re carrying. Officers won’t fine you for declaring an item — even one that turns out to be restricted — so when in doubt, tick “yes.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Australia Travel Declaration free?

Yes. It’s a free replacement for the paper Incoming Passenger Card, not an additional charge or visa product.

Can I use it on airlines other than Qantas?

Not yet. Qantas is currently the only airline in the pilot, though the government’s nationwide webform rollout is expected to open access more broadly from 2026–27.

What happens if my flight is delayed or rerouted?

A delay to your scheduled airport is fine — your declaration still works. A cancellation, reschedule, or landing at a different airport means you’ll need a paper card instead.

When will the digital declaration be available everywhere?

Perth and Adelaide are expected to join before the end of 2026. Every other international airport and seaport follows over the 12 to 18 months after that, funded by a $56.1 million government commitment.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.