The frantic scramble to find a pen to fill out Australia’s incoming passenger card is a travel ritual many of us know all too well.

But that familiar in-flight dash is about to become a thing of the past, with the Federal Government announcing a nationwide roll-out of the Australia Travel Declaration — a digital replacement for the handwritten form.

The digital declaration has already been trialled by more than 450,000 passengers on eligible Qantas flights into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and is expected to reach Perth and Adelaide before the end of 2026.

It will then be introduced across all international airports and seaports over the following 12 to 18 months, initially through a web form, with in-app options expected later.

“Making arrivals simpler and quicker means visitors can spend less time filling out forms and more time enjoying everything Australia has to offer,” Tourism Minister Don Farrell says.

“This is a win for tourists and a win for our tourism operators, helping make Australia an even easier and more welcoming place to visit.”

Backing the overhaul is a $56.1 million investment over four years, aimed at modernising Australia’s airports as international travel continues to rebound and visitor numbers build towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.