Melbourne Airport arrivals for some international passengers just got a little easier, thanks to the rollout of the Australian Travel Declaration (ATD) pilot program at the Victorian hub.
From today, eligible international travellers arriving at Tullamarine, Australia’s busiest 24/7 airport, can now complete their arrival declaration digitally, as the ATD trial is expanded to more Qantas flights. That means fewer incoming passenger cards, a long-standing bugbear for travellers. But given the trial’s limited scope – it’s only available on select Qantas flights on certain routes – the majority of travellers will still need to complete the traditional paper declaration on arrival. So don’t pack away those pens just yet.
Third hub
The program’s expansion to Melbourne marks the third phase of the rollout. The pilot first launched in October 2024 in Brisbane, then expanded to Sydney in August 2025. More than 380,000 passengers have already used the system.
Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, Julian Hill said the trial had so far been “enormously popular with international travellers”.
“The inclusion of Melbourne in this pilot program is the next step in providing a more seamless experience at our borders for Australians and visitors alike,” he remarked.
“The Government is firmly committed to modernising Australia’s airport arrivals, and digitalising the incoming passenger card allows border agencies to engage with passengers prior to travel, helping to ensure security and biosecurity risks remain offshore.”
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said the arrivals process has been “one of our biggest passenger pain points”.
“So we’re pleased to see this trial being extended to Melbourne Airport,” she added.
“We’re committed to working with the Federal Government, its agencies and the airlines to streamline the arrivals process and deliver a seamless border experience for travellers.”
Who’s eligible?
For Melbourne-bound travellers, passengers on QF154 from Auckland and QF178 from Queenstown will be invited to complete the form via the Qantas App up to 72 hours before departure.
Once submitted, they will receive a QR code by email to present on arrival to the Australian Border Force (ABF) and biosecurity officers, replacing the traditional incoming passenger card.
The system is designed to streamline border processing while maintaining existing security and biosecurity checks.
Qantas, ABF, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry are jointly running the program, with further Melbourne-bound flights expected to join in the coming weeks.
“Melbourne is one of our busiest international ports and offering the Australia Travel Declaration here is another way we are improving the arrival experience for our customers,” Qantas Chief Technology, AI and Transformation Officer Rachel Yangoyan said.
“Since launch, we’ve now seen over 380,000 digital declaration submissions through the Qantas app, and the response has been incredibly positive.
“Qantas is the only Australian airline offering this capability and we look forward to continuing to work with the Federal Government to expand access to more flights and more ports.”
KARRYON UNPACKS: This is a useful step toward a smoother arrival experience for all, but it’s still early days. With access limited to select flights and airports, the digital shift is building gradually rather than transforming the system overnight. That said, it’s still a meaningful shift for arrivals, with less paper and lower wait times for many.
