At Sydney, the digital ATD declaration is now open to all international passengers

The service will be available starting from the first international flight on Monday, October 26, 2026. The traditional paper arrival card will still be an option.

A web form open to all airlines

Previously, the ATD was only available in a pilot phase through the Qantas app, on certain flights to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The Australian government launched it in October 2024 to gradually replace the Incoming Passenger Card, the traditional orange paper form.

At Western Sydney, the declaration is now processed through a web form and is no longer tied to a specific airline: Australian ministers have confirmed that it applies to travelers arriving on any airline. It only covers flights landing at Western Sydney. The Australian Border Force (ABF) webpage is explicit: this web form is for flights to Western Sydney International only, and should not be filled out for arrivals at any other Australian airport.

What travelers declare (and when)

The ATD combines immigration, customs and biosecurity information into one form. Travelers can complete it at any time up to 72 hours before arrival. One family may fill it out together and receive a single QR code for clearance at the airport exit.

The government states that receiving this information earlier allows ABF officers and biosecurity staff to identify potential threats at source and prioritize checks accordingly, without waiting until arrival. They add that it does not remove checks upon arrival but rather advances information collection.

In other words, the web form doesn't reduce risk, it helps spot it earlier.

The paper card remains an option

According to the government, the paper arrival card remains available for travelers who cannot access the web form or a digital device, or who simply prefer the manual process. The announcement does not state the digital declaration is mandatory at Western Sydney, but rather an alternative open to all.

National rollout over 12 to 18 months

Western Sydney Airport serves as the starting point for expansion. On July 13, 2026, the government announced AUD$56.1 million in funding over four years, starting in 2026/2027, to extend the web form to all international airports and maritime ports nationwide.

Two timelines are given: a phased rollout over 12 to 18 months in the ministerial communiqué, and implementation in all international airports and maritime ports before the end of 2027 according to ABF documents. Meanwhile, the Qantas pilot will see the scheme extended to Perth and Adelaide before the end of 2026.

The government reported that, between January 1 and September 30, 2026, over 477,000 travelers submitted an ATD on more than 8,400 eligible flights, including over 118,000 biosecurity declarations.

We had already reported the launch of the pilot and the announced end of the paper form in July.