Sydney Airport, together with Qantas, the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), have launched an upgraded digital incoming passenger card trial, making arrivals into Australia smoother for many Trans‑Tasman travellers.
From today, eligible passengers on Qantas flights QF144 from Auckland and QF122 from Queenstown can skip the paper card and complete their Australian entry declaration digitally via the Qantas app before departure.
Upon landing, travellers will receive a digital pass containing a QR code. To clear the usual arrival formalities and continue their journey, they just show this pass to border and biosecurity officers.
“We’re proud to support the digital incoming passenger card trial in partnership with Australian Border Force and Qantas,” Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said.
“Every international service brings in $130 million in annual economic benefit and supports 1,200 full-time jobs, so making our border processes more efficient is an important investment in boosting national productivity.
Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Tony Burke said the move would help elevate the visitor experience.
“When people arrive in Sydney, I want them out of the airport and experiencing the city as fast as possible,” he stated.
“Extending the trial to Australia’s busiest airport means every day, hundreds more passengers will have a more seamless travel experience.”
The first phase of the digital arrival trial kicked off in Brisbane in October 2024, with Qantas customers flying from New Zealand to Brisbane (on flight QF126) the first to enjoy a fully digital travel process.
ABF Commissioner Gav Reynolds said border agencies constantly strive for “efficient and modernised trade and travel”.
“A significant amount of collaborative work between industry and government, has gone into this pilot program,” he remarked.
“It is now entering the next phase as we continue to enhance the passenger experience, creating a seamless travel capability.”
Qantas International CEO, Cam Wallace called the initiative “a significant step forward in simplifying the arrival process into Australia”.
“The overwhelmingly positive response from our customers in Brisbane has demonstrated just how much demand there is for this innovation,” he said.
The new trial is part of the Trans‑Tasman Seamless Travel Group’s push toward fully contactless travel, including digital credentials and facial recognition.
Sydney Airport is also supporting faster arrivals through infrastructure upgrades. Eight new SmartGates have launched at Terminal 1, upping processing capacity by up to 640 passengers per hour. By early 2026, another 32 SmartGates will be deployed, doubling the terminal’s kiosk count.
