Australia's Digital Arrival Card Opens to All Airlines at Western Sydney from October 26
Updated: 3 minutes ago
SYDNEY, October 24, 2026 — Australia's long-awaited shift away from the paper incoming passenger card begins in earnest on Monday, when Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport becomes the first gateway in the country to offer the Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) to passengers on any airline.
The web-based form, announced in a joint ministerial statement on 22 October 2026, will be live for travellers arriving on the airport's first international flight — Air New Zealand's inaugural Auckland service — on Monday, 26 October. The airport itself opens to passenger flights on Sunday, 25 October, with a Jetstar domestic service to the Gold Coast.
Until now, digital declaration was effectively a Qantas passenger privilege. The national carrier's app-based pilot, running since October 2024, limited eligibility to selected travellers on Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The Western Sydney web form removes the airline requirement entirely.
What the Australia Travel Declaration Actually Does
The ATD serves as a digital replacement for the paper Incoming Passenger Card (IPC).
It collects immigration details, customs declarations and biosecurity information before arrival, issuing a single QR code — the "ATD Pass" — that officers scan at the baggage carousel or on exit.
Three practical features define it:
Feature | Detail |
Cost | Free |
Timing | Submit up to 72 hours before arrival |
Completion time | Approximately 5 to 20 minutes |
Output | QR code (ATD Pass) plus email confirmation |
Eligibility | All travellers flying into Western Sydney International Airport |
The form needs to be filled out in one session. If a traveler needs to make corrections, a new declaration must be submitted. Families, including children under 18, can declare together.
Full instructions and troubleshooting guidance are published on the Australian Border Force ATD FAQs page, with a separate web form ATD FAQ section covering the Western Sydney-specific process.
The Operational Logic
For the Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the value lies in timing.
Declaration data arriving 72 hours before landing allows biosecurity officers to identify risk passengers and target screening before the aircraft reaches the gate. The joint statement frames this explicitly: earlier information "will help streamline passenger facilitation, assist ABF and biosecurity officers to identify potential threats, target screening and update declarations rapidly to adapt to global risks and events".
The pilot data supports the case. Between 1 January and 30 September 2026, more than 477,000 travellers submitted an ATD across over 8,400 eligible flights, including more than 118,000 who made a biosecurity declaration.
The Funding and the Timeline
The government has committed more than AU$56 million over four years from 2026/27 to extend the web-form format to every international airport and seaport in the country. The rollout is described as phased over 12 to 18 months, with no detailed airport-by-airport timetable published.
The funding forms part of a broader traveller modernisation programme, which this publication has previously covered in its analysis of the digital passenger card rollout.
For now, the web form is limited to a specific location. The Australian Border Force clearly states that the form is exclusively available for flights arriving at Western Sydney International. Passengers landing at Sydney Kingsford Smith or any other Australian airport must continue to fill out a paper card, unless they qualify for the Qantas app pilot.
The Paper Card Is Not Disappearing
The ministerial statement is careful to preserve the manual option. The paper Incoming Passenger Card "will remain an option as well for those travellers who do not have access to the web-form or a digital device or who prefer the manual process".
That caveat matters for two groups in particular: older travellers who may not carry a smartphone, and passengers whose flights are diverted to a different Australian airport. The ABF FAQ confirms that if a flight is rescheduled or lands elsewhere, the ATD may not be usable and a paper card will be required.
What Travellers Should Know Before Landing at Western Sydney
Complete it within 72 hours of departure. The window opens three days out and closes at arrival. Earlier submissions are not accepted.
Have documents ready. Passport, flight number, Australian accommodation address, emergency contact details, and a list of any goods, currency, food, plant or animal items requiring declaration.
Keep the QR code accessible. The pass is scanned at the carousel or on exit. A charged phone is advisable. If the device fails, an officer can assist.
Do not use the web form for other airports. It will not be accepted at Sydney Kingsford Smith or any other gateway during this phase.
Read Also
Quick Reference Summary
Item | Detail |
Launch | 26 October 2026 |
Airport | Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) |
First International Flight | Air New Zealand, Auckland service |
Eligibility | All travellers, all airlines, arriving at WSI |
Cost | Free |
Submission Window | Up to 72 hours before arrival |
Completion Time | 5–20 minutes |
Output | QR code (ATD Pass) plus email |
Paper Card | Remains available |
Funding | AU$56 million+ over four years |
National Rollout | 12–18 months, phased |
Pilot Volume | 477,000+ declarations (Jan–Sep 2026) |
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