Homepage News Ultimate Guide to Living in Australia 2026 Australia Incoming Passenger Card Guide | Australia Travel Declaration (ATD), How to Fill In and What to Declare
Nov 13, 2026
Ultimate Guide to Living in Australia

2026 Australia Incoming Passenger Card Guide | Australia Travel Declaration (ATD), How to Fill In and What to Declare

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The short answer: in 2026 most travellers arriving in Australia still receive a paper Incoming Passenger Card (IPC) on board or in the arrivals terminal, and must complete it in English with a blue or black pen. Only invited travellers can use the digital Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) instead: eligible passengers on Qantas flights into Brisbane and selected flights into Sydney and Melbourne use the Qantas app, and since 26 October 2026 everyone flying into Western Sydney International Airport, on any airline, can use the ABF web form.

On 13 July 2026 the Australian Border Force (ABF) announced that the ATD will be introduced at all international airports and seaports before the end of 2027, phasing out the paper card, with $56.1 million committed over four years from 2026/27 (a package that also covers other border modernisation projects). Whether you use paper or digital, the rules for declaring food, medicines and cash are the same: if in doubt, declare. This guide is based on official ABF, Department of Home Affairs and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) pages, current at 14 November 2026.

Contents

1. What are the Incoming Passenger Card and the Australia Travel Declaration?

According to the ABF, passengers arriving in Australia are required under the Migration Act 1958 and the Migration Regulations 1994 to identify themselves and provide certain information on a passenger card. The card also serves as:

  • a record of your entry: identity, flight and address in Australia;
  • your customs and biosecurity declaration: food, plant and animal products, medicines, cash and duty-free goods;
  • a health and character declaration for non-Australian citizens (tuberculosis and criminal convictions).

Most passengers must complete one; only people listed in regulation 3.06 and schedule 9 of the Migration Regulations are exempt. The ABF notes that providing false information can affect a non-citizen's visa status.

The ATD is a digital alternative to the paper card, run by the ABF and DAFF in partnership with Qantas. It asks for the same immigration details and customs and biosecurity declarations. Once you submit it, you receive a declaration pass with a QR code to show ABF and biosecurity officers on arrival, so you don't need a paper card.

2. Where is the ATD available in 2026?

Airport / scope Format and status (at 14 November 2026)
Brisbane Qantas app; pilot began October 2024 and expanded to all international Qantas flights into Brisbane from 19 March 2025
Sydney Qantas app; selected Qantas flights since August 2025
Melbourne Qantas app; from 26 May 2026, starting with QF154 from Auckland and QF178 from Queenstown, with more flights to be added
Western Sydney International (WSI) ABF web form; from the first international flight on 26 October 2026, for travellers on any airline
Perth, Adelaide and other remaining capital cities Announced for inbound international Qantas flights before the end of 2026; at 14 November 2026, official ABF pages did not yet list these cities as live
All international airports and seaports Web-form ATD announced for rollout before the end of 2027, phasing out the paper card; $56.1 million over four years from 2026/27, including other border modernisation projects

Assistant Minister Julian Hill's release of 26 May 2026 said more than 380,000 passengers had used the pilot since launch. Minister Tony Burke's release of 22 October 2026 said more than 477,000 travellers submitted an ATD across over 8,400 eligible flights between 1 January and 30 September 2026, and that the paper card will remain an option for travellers without a digital device or who prefer it.

3. Will I be invited to use the ATD, or do I still need the paper card?

The ATD works by invitation. The ABF says anyone not invited continues to use the paper card as normal. According to the ABF ATD FAQs:

  • Qantas app: you must be a Qantas app user able to complete the declaration in English. Ineligible passengers, or those who choose not to take part, clear with a paper card.
  • Web form: all travellers flying into Western Sydney International are eligible.
  • Delays: you can still use your declaration if you land at the scheduled airport. If your flight is cancelled, rescheduled or diverted to a different Australian airport, you may need to complete a paper card instead.

If you are flying from Latin America, South Africa or elsewhere on an airline other than Qantas, and not landing at Western Sydney International, expect a paper card and use the guide in section 5.

4. How do you complete the ATD in the Qantas app or web form?

  1. Check your invitation: eligible Qantas passengers are invited to complete the declaration through the Qantas app; WSI passengers use the ATD web form.
  2. Submit within the window: the latest ABF FAQs (updated 21 October 2026) say you can submit up to 72 hours before your arrival in Australia, while the ministerial releases say up to 72 hours before travel. Because the wording differs, follow the instructions in your invitation.
  3. Answer truthfully in English: passport and flight details, address in Australia, health and character questions, and the food, plant and animal product, medicine and cash declarations.
  4. Get your QR pass: Home Affairs emails a confirmation with a copy of the pass. In the Qantas app it appears on the home and trip screens; with the web form you can download it, save it as a PDF or take a screenshot.
  5. Show it on arrival: an officer scans the pass as you are about to leave the airport, and you may also be asked to scan it near the baggage carousel. Keep your phone charged.
Item Qantas app Web form (WSI)
Who can use it Invited Qantas passengers All travellers into WSI
Changing your answers Edit from the home or trip screens Complete in one session; resubmit a new declaration to make changes
Where the pass is In the app and the confirmation email Download, PDF or screenshot, plus the confirmation email
If something goes wrong An officer will help if your pass can't be accessed; paper cards are available at the airport

The ABF says ATD personal information is handled under the Privacy Act 1988, stored in certified hosting arrangements in Australia and not commercialised.

5. How do you fill in the paper Incoming Passenger Card?

The official ABF sample card says "PLEASE COMPLETE IN ENGLISH WITH A BLUE OR BLACK PEN". The ABF also publishes translated samples, including Spanish and Portuguese, to help you understand each question; the card itself must be completed in English.

Front: personal details and declarations

Field What to write
Family/surname, Given names Exactly as in your passport
Passport number Your passport number
Flight number or name of ship The full flight number from your boarding pass (airline code plus number), not just the airline name
Intended address in Australia Where you will stay, such as a hotel, student accommodation or homestay
Do you intend to live in Australia for the next 12 months? Answer according to your actual plans: Yes if you plan to live here for the next 12 months, No for a short visit
If you are NOT an Australian citizen Tuberculosis and criminal convictions: answer truthfully
Questions 1–11 Medicines, alcohol and tobacco, goods over AUD 900, commercial goods, AUD 10,000 or more in cash, meat, seafood, eggs, dairy, fruit and vegetables, seeds, nuts, traditional medicines and wooden articles, animal products, soil, farm contact in the past 30 days, and whether you were in Africa, South/Central America or the Caribbean in the last 6 days. If unsure, tick Yes
Declaration Sign and date

Back: contact details and reason for travel

Field What to write
Your contact details in Australia Phone, email or address
Emergency contact details A family member or friend
In which country did you board this flight or ship? The country where you boarded this flight, for example your transit country if you changed planes
Usual occupation, nationality, date of birth As applicable, with nationality as shown on your passport
Tick A, B or C A migrating permanently; B visitor or temporary entrant (students, working holiday makers and tourists usually fall here, with intended length of stay, country of residence and main reason for travel); C resident returning

A parent or guardian can complete the card for a child, and a carer can complete it for a traveller with special needs. Present the completed card with your passport on arrival.

6. What food, medicines and cash do you need to declare?

The ABF's rule is that food brought into Australia must be declared on your card, even small amounts or cooking ingredients, and biosecurity officers may inspect it.

Item What the official pages say
Meat products, including biltong, jerky, salami and sausages DAFF lists meat as not permitted or subject to import conditions. DAFF's African swine fever page says jerky, biltong and other smallgoods containing pork are not permitted
Eggs and egg products, dairy Restricted, including dried or powdered eggs, egg noodles and egg-based sauces; declare
Instant noodles, black and green tea Listed by DAFF as permitted commercially packaged foods, but still declare them
Rice, seeds, spices, nuts Restricted; DAFF warns khapra beetle can spread through rice, seeds and grains
Fresh fruit and homemade food The ABF advises: don't bring
Traditional or herbal remedies Restricted if they contain herbs, animal products or dried medicinal mushrooms; declare
Prescription and over-the-counter medicines Allowed for personal use with restrictions; declare. Carrying your prescription or a doctor's letter in English is a good idea
Cash: AUD 10,000 or more (AUD or foreign equivalent) Tick Yes on question 5, and complete AUSTRAC's physical currency declaration (online) before you pass through customs, keeping your receipt
Duty-free allowance General goods AUD 900 per adult (AUD 450 per child), 2.25 litres of alcohol, 25 cigarettes or 25 g of tobacco

DAFF's advice: if you're unsure, declare it or don't bring it. Bins are available at the airport for disposing of food, plant material and animal products, and baggage may be screened by X-ray, detector dogs or physical inspection.

7. What happens if you don't declare?

  • Biosecurity breaches: DAFF's Studying in Australia page (updated 1 July 2026) says you may be given an infringement notice of up to AUD 7,280. Under section 524 of the Biosecurity Act 2015, the infringement notice amount for an individual depends on the breach, up to a maximum of 20 penalty units, and the Commonwealth penalty unit is $364 from 1 July 2026 (20 × $364 = $7,280). Some DAFF pages still show older amounts, so the actual amount depends on the breach and DAFF's latest information. You could also face civil penalty proceedings or criminal prosecution.
  • Your visa: a non-citizen's visa may be cancelled, entry refused, and return to Australia barred for up to three years.
  • Undeclared cash: AUSTRAC says failing to declare $10,000 or more can lead to fines or imprisonment.
  • Refusing to complete a card: the ABF says Australian citizens may be penalised, and non-citizens may be penalised and refused immigration clearance.

8. The arrival card is not a visa: what do you need before you fly?

The IPC and ATD are arrival declarations and do not replace a visa. Which visa you need depends on your passport and purpose: holders of eligible passports can apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) or eVisitor (subclass 651) for short visits, while passports not on those lists, including South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Colombia and Peru, generally need a Visitor visa (subclass 600) for a short visit. Study requires a Student visa (subclass 500); see the 2026 student visa changes. Check the official eligibility lists on the Home Affairs website.

FAQ

Do I still need a paper arrival card for Australia in 2026?

Most travellers do. Only travellers invited to use the ATD can declare digitally: Qantas passengers into Brisbane and on selected flights into Sydney and Melbourne via the Qantas app, and travellers into Western Sydney International via the web form. The ABF plans to roll out the ATD to all international airports and seaports before the end of 2027, but the government says the paper card will remain an option.

How early can I submit the Australia Travel Declaration?

The latest ABF FAQs say up to 72 hours before your arrival in Australia, while the ministerial releases say up to 72 hours before travel. Follow the instructions in your invitation.

What pen do I need, and do I have to write in capital letters?

The official ABF sample card asks you to complete it in English with a blue or black pen. It does not require capital letters, but clear block letters are easier to read.

How much cash do I need to declare?

AUD 10,000 or more in Australian or foreign currency. Tick Yes on question 5 and complete AUSTRAC's physical currency declaration before customs. Failing to declare can lead to fines or imprisonment.

Can I bring biltong or other dried meat?

DAFF lists meat products as not permitted or subject to import conditions, and its African swine fever page says jerky, biltong and other smallgoods containing pork are not permitted. Declare any meat product, or leave it at home.

What is the fine for not declaring food?

DAFF's Studying in Australia page (updated 1 July 2026) says you may be given an infringement notice of up to AUD 7,280; the actual amount depends on the breach and DAFF's latest information. You could also face civil or criminal proceedings. A non-citizen's visa may be cancelled, with entry refused and return barred for up to three years.

Planning to study in Australia? Level Up Studies offers free study and course counselling:

  • Melbourne Head Office: +61 3 8590 3229 | contactus@levelupstudies.com | 1/105 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
  • LINE: add our official account

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Related reading

Sources

Disclaimer: 1. This article is general information only and is not migration or legal advice. 2. We have a qualified education agent counsellor (QEAC #2822) who can help with study planning, but visa decisions rest with the Australian Government. 3. Figures and rules are as shown on official pages accessed on 2026-11-14; the ATD rollout is expanding, so check your airline and the ABF before you travel. 4. Course details, fees, start dates, and migration policies are subject to change. Please check the latest announcements from the school and the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
For personalised study or migration planning, please contact our professional advisory team.
Registered Migration Agent MARA: 2519162
Qualified Education Agent Counsellor QEAC: 2822

Last updated: 2026-11-14

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