No more 'where's my pen?': How new digital entry cards will change Aussie travel for Kiwis

Author: Natasha Gordon,
Publish Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2026, 4:21pm

For Kiwis heading across the Ditch, the scramble to find a pen to sign passenger arrival cards will soon be over after the Australian Government announced a major change.

A fully digital option at all Australian international airports will be introduced over the next 12-18 months as an alternative to the handwritten arrival cards.

New Zealand replaced its paper-based passenger arrival cards in 2023 with the New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD).

The modernised change will initially be available through a web form before being integrated into airline apps.

‘Simpler and quicker’

The Australian Government said it would spend A$56.1 million ($67.6 million) over four years to upgrade its airport systems and introduce digital declarations.

Australian Tourism Minister Don Farrell said the switch would make arrivals “simpler and quicker” and would help visitors spend less time filling out paper forms.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said it was “essential to Australia’s prosperity and national security”.

Local media reported the change was also aimed at streamlining processes for arriving passengers before the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

Sydney Airport shared its support on social media for the move.

“This is a significant step towards creating a faster, more seamless arrivals experience for millions of international passengers,” it wrote on X.

The post gained support but was also met with concerns for elderly people.

“Good luck to all the elderly people ... or those who haven’t got a smartphone,” one person wrote.

What will happen to the paper cards?

Despite the move to a modernised system, ABC News reported paper forms would still be available for passengers who could not access the digital cards.

Travel Agents Association NZ (TAANZ) told the Herald the shift to a digital arrival card was a positive step for Australia’s border experience.

“Some travellers who are not digital or digitally confident can still complete the paper entry form.

“Our advice is simple – if you or a family member aren’t comfortable completing this online before you fly, make sure you carry a pen as a backup,” TAANZ said.

The spokesperson warned New Zealanders who arrived without having completed their declaration in advance, and without a pen to fill in a paper form on the spot, should expect delays at the border.

The change comes after trials on inbound Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne since October 2024.

The trials involved more than 450,000 passengers, AAP reported.