Wednesday 6 August 2025

Sydney Airport is proud to support a new digital incoming passenger card trial making it easier for passengers arriving at Australia’s premier gateway.

From today, Qantas passengers flying from Auckland (QF144) and Queenstown (QF122) to Sydney can skip the paper incoming passenger card and complete their declaration digitally through the Qantas app before they fly.

Scott Charlton, Sydney Airport CEO, said: “We’re proud to support the digital incoming passenger card trial in partnership with Australian Border Force and Qantas.

“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.

“I want to thank Minister Burke for backing this important initiative, as well as Australian Border Force, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Qantas for their collaboration and hard work bringing this trial online.”

The Australian Border Force (ABF), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and Qantas, leads the pilot program.

ABF Commissioner Gav Reynolds said having the digital incoming passenger card pilot now at Sydney Airport is a huge step forward for industry and passengers alike.

“Australia's border agencies are striving towards efficient and modernised trade and travel.

“A significant amount of collaborative work between industry and government, has gone into this pilot program. It is now entering the next phase as we continue to enhance the passenger experience, creating a seamless travel capability."

Qantas International & Freight CEO, Cam Wallace said, being the first Australian airline to introduce a digital replacement for the incoming passenger card is part of our commitment to creating a smoother travel experience for our customers.

“This is a significant step forward in simplifying the arrival process into Australia and the overwhelmingly positive response from our customers in Brisbane has demonstrated just how much demand there is for this innovation.”

Upon landing at Sydney Airport, eligible passengers will receive a digital pass with a QR code, which they can simply show to border and biosecurity officers before making their onward journey.

The trial forms part of broader efforts to improve the arrival experience at Sydney Airport, including the recent installation of eight new ABF SmartGate kiosks at T1, boosting processing capacity by 640 passengers per hour.

By early 2026, a further 32 new SmartGate kiosks will be deployed across the international precinct, doubling the total number of kiosks in the terminal. With the full network operational, passenger flows will accelerate further, freeing up frontline officers to assist travellers requiring extra assistance.

Notes to Editor

Vision and stills demonstrating the trial in the Qantas app available here.