Official System: Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) & Incoming Passenger Card (IPC)
2026 Quick Answer
All travelers entering Australia by air or sea, including Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, New Zealand citizens, and all foreign visa/ETA holders (every adult 18+ must submit an individual declaration; children under 18 may be included on a parent/guardian's ATD group declaration up to 4 children, or on an individual paper IPC). Travelers must submit the Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) & Incoming Passenger Card (IPC) (Up to 72 hours (3 days) before arrival in Australia). This digital declaration replaces: Paper Incoming Passenger Card (IPC — Form 15).
Follow this exact countdown schedule before arriving in Australia so your QR code is ready prior to airline check-in.
| Timing Before Arrival | Window Status | Required Traveler Action |
|---|---|---|
| Before 3-day official window | Too Early | Prepare your passport and itinerary, or pre-submit early with NomadicMart (from $29) so our queue files automatically as soon as the window opens. |
| Up to 72 hours (3 days) before arrival in Australia | Window Open | Ideal submission window. Complete your Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) & Incoming Passenger Card (IPC) with passport, transport, and accommodation details to receive your digital confirmation. |
| 24 hours to 3 hours before departure | Priority Window | Submit immediately before airline check-in closes and save a screenshot or PDF of your ATD / IPC confirmation offline. |
| At departure gate / Australia arrival | Final Cutoff | Airlines and border control officers verify ATD / IPC completion prior to boarding or at the port of entry. |
Compliance tip: Administered jointly by the Australian Border Force (ABF, Department of Home Affairs) under the Migration Act 1958 and Customs Act 1901, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
Compliance tip: Australia currently operates a dual digital/paper regime: the official ABF Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) Web Form (`v1.0.0`) went live on October 26, 2026 at Western Sydney International Airport (`WSI`) as the anchor for an AUD $56 million 12–18 month nationwide rollout across all Australian international airports and seaports, alongside the Qantas App ATD pilot at Brisbane (`BNE`), Sydney (`SYD`), and Melbourne (`MEL`), while Paper Incoming Passenger Cards (`Form 15`) remain mandatory for non-eligible flights/ports.
Compliance tip: The digital ATD can be submitted up to 72 hours (3 calendar days) prior to arrival in Australia and produces a QR code emailed to the passenger.
Compliance tip: Australia's Outgoing Passenger Card (OPC) was permanently abolished on July 1, 2017—no departure card is required when leaving Australia.
Compliance tip: For New Zealand citizens (`NZL`) who do not hold a prior Australian visa, completing the IPC / ATD legally constitutes the statutory application for a Special Category Visa (Subclass 444) at the border.
Eligible Passports: Available at all 10 major Australian international airports for ePassport holders aged 16+ (or aged 7–15 when accompanied by at least 2 adults at participating gates) from eligible nationalities including AUS, NZL, USA, GBR, CAN, SGP, JPN, KOR, CHN, HKG, MAC, TWN, MYS, THA, IDN, IND, ARE, QAT, ISR, CHE, NOR, and EU member states.
How Airport Clearance Works: Available at all 10 major Australian international airports for ePassport holders aged 16+ (or aged 7–15 when accompanied by at least 2 adults at participating gates) from eligible nationalities including AUS, NZL, USA, GBR, CAN, SGP, JPN, KOR, CHN, HKG, MAC, TWN, MYS, THA, IDN, IND, ARE, QAT, ISR, CHE, NOR, and EU member states.
| Code | Port of Entry | Mode | 2026 Operational Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| WSI | Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) | Air | Anchor airport for the official ABF Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) Web Form (`v1.0.0`) live from October 26, 2026 & SmartGates |
| BNE | Brisbane International Airport (BNE) | Air | Supports Digital ATD (Qantas pilot & progressive ABF Web ATD rollout), Paper IPC, and SmartGates |
| SYD | Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) | Air | Supports Digital ATD (Qantas pilot & progressive ABF Web ATD rollout), Paper IPC, and SmartGates |
| MEL | Melbourne Tullamarine International Airport (MEL) | Air | Supports Digital ATD (Qantas pilot & progressive ABF Web ATD rollout), Paper IPC, and SmartGates |
| PER | Perth Airport (PER), Adelaide Airport (ADL), Gold Coast Airport (OOL), Cairns Airport (CNS), Darwin Airport (DRW) & Canberra Airport (CBR) | Air | Equipped with Arrivals SmartGates; currently uses Paper IPC (Form 15) during the 2026–2027 nationwide ABF Web ATD rollout |
| AU-6 | Overseas Passenger Terminal & White Bay Cruise Terminal (Sydney), Portside Wharf / Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, Station Pier (Melbourne) & Fremantle Passenger Terminal (Perth) | Sea | Currently uses Paper Incoming Passenger Card (Form 15) with progressive ATD integration |
Fill out your passport, flight/vessel, Australian stay address, migration category (Visitor, Returning Resident, or Migrating Permanently), and all 11 Customs & Biosecurity questions within 3 days before landing.
For eligible flights and airports (WSI, BNE, SYD, MEL and expanding ports), receive your digital Australia Travel Declaration QR code by email; for non-digital ports, use your prepared answers to complete the paper Form 15 IPC in seconds.
Use the ABF Arrivals SmartGate kiosk with your ePassport, then present your digital ATD pass (or SmartGate ticket + IPC) to Australian Border Force and Biosecurity officers at the baggage hall exit.
Regional & Border Corridor Advisory (Asia-Pacific):
Administered jointly by the Australian Border Force (ABF, Department of Home Affairs) under the Migration Act 1958 and Customs Act 1901, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Australia currently operates a dual digital/paper regime: the official ABF Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) Web Form (`v1.0.0`) went live on October 26, 2026 at Western Sydney International Airport (`WSI`) as the anchor for an AUD $56 million 12–18 month nationwide rollout across all Australian international airports and seaports, alongside the Qantas App ATD pilot at Brisbane (`BNE`), Sydney (`SYD`), and Melbourne (`MEL`), while Paper Incoming Passenger Cards (`Form 15`) remain mandatory for non-eligible flights/ports. The digital ATD can be submitted up to 72 hours (3 calendar days) prior to arrival in Australia and produces a QR code emailed to the passenger. Australia's Outgoing Passenger Card (OPC) was permanently abolished on July 1, 2017—no departure card is required when leaving Australia. For New Zealand citizens (`NZL`) who do not hold a prior Australian visa, completing the IPC / ATD legally constitutes the statutory application for a Special Category Visa (Subclass 444) at the border. Non-Australian citizens (`PassportNationality !== 'AUS'`) must answer 2 mandatory health and character questions (`Immigration_Q1` Tuberculosis and `Immigration_Q2` Criminal convictions). Travelers are classified into 3 statutory migration categories (`IdentityIam`): Category A (`MIGRATING_PERMANENTLY` to Australia), Category B (`VISITOR_TEMPORARY` entrant), or Category C (`RESIDENT_RETURNING` to Australia). Australia enforces some of the world's strictest biosecurity laws under the Biosecurity Act 2015 (`Customs_Q1..Q5` and `Biosecurity_Q6..Q11`): undeclared food, plant, animal, or soiled outdoor items can result in immediate on-the-spot infringement notices up to AUD $6,600 and immediate visa cancellation.
You can submit the Australia Travel Declaration within 72 hours (3 calendar days) before your scheduled arrival in Australia.
The Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) is the digital replacement for the paper Incoming Passenger Card (IPC — Form 15). Both collect the exact same statutory customs, biosecurity, health, character, and migration questions. As the ABF rolls out the ATD Web Form across Australian airports (starting with WSI and Qantas flights into BNE, SYD, and MEL), travelers on non-participating flights still hand in the paper IPC.
Yes. Every person entering Australia—including Australian citizens, permanent residents, and New Zealand citizens—must complete an ATD or IPC. For New Zealand citizens, it also legally serves as the application for a Special Category Visa (Subclass 444).
Travelers aged 18+ may bring up to 2,250 mL (2.25 liters) of alcoholic beverages and up to 25 cigarettes (or 25 grams of tobacco products) plus one open packet. General overseas goods/gifts are duty-free up to AUD $900 per adult (AUD $450 per child under 18).
Always answer 'Yes' and declare it! If you declare an item on your ATD/IPC, a Biosecurity Officer will inspect it and you will never be fined even if the item is not permitted. Failing to declare biosecurity risk items carries immediate on-the-spot fines up to AUD $6,600 and potential visa cancellation.