Australia Opens Online Arrival Declaration for All Airlines at Western Sydney Airport.
Australia will implement a web-based Travel Declaration at Western Sydney Airport beginning October 26, 2026, allowing passengers on all flights to input arrival information online.
Australia has opened its digital arrival declaration system to passengers flying on any airline into Western Sydney International Airport, eliminating the need for qualified travelers to utilize the Qantas app.
The web-based Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) is available on October 26, 2026, coinciding with the start of international flights at the new airport. Air New Zealand is set to fly the first international flight from Auckland.
For international travelers, the move provides a simpler way to input arrival information when flying into Western Sydney. However, it does not yet apply to passengers arriving at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, Australia's current international gateway.
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How to Complete Australia's Digital Arrival Declaration.
Travelers traveling at Western Sydney International Airport can fill out a free online form on the Australian Border Force website up to 72 hours before arrival.
The process takes approximately 5 to 20 minutes. Passengers must provide:
Passport and personal information.
Flight details and arrival date.
Contact information, accomodation address, and emergency contact.
Declarations for cash, food, plants, animal goods, and other customs or biosecurity needs.
Following submission, travelers receive an ATD Pass with a QR code. They can download it as an image or PDF and receive a copy via email. Authorities may scan the code at baggage claim or when people depart the airport.
Families can file a joint declaration, which includes children under the age of 18 traveling with their parents. If the information needs to be amended or updated, submit a new declaration.
Paper arrival cards remain available.
The digital declaration is optional. Australia will continue to accept the conventional Incoming Passenger Card from travelers who prefer paper forms, do not have access to a digital device, or experience technical difficulties.
The new web form is presently limited to arrivals at Western Sydney International Airport. Passengers arriving at other Australian airports must continue to use paper cards unless they qualify for the current Qantas app-based trial.
This distinction is important for Indians traveling to Sydney: Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) and Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) are distinct airports. The new online form does not apply to all flights landing at SYD.
Australia plans a wider digital rollout.
The Australian government intends to spread the ATD to international airports and seaports over the next 12 to 18 months, though no specific timeline for individual locations has been specified.
Between January 1 and September 30, 2026, over 477,000 digital declarations were filed for 8,400 qualified flights.
The broader trend indicates that Australia intends to collect customs and biosecurity information before passengers arrive, rather than relying solely on paper forms at the border.
Travunited Take:
This is a practical improvement for Indians arriving in Western Sydney, however due to restricted airport coverage, travelers must still check their arrival airport before selecting the digital declaration.
