Before you start
Check your airport, prepare your documents and know what to do with your QR code before arriving in Australia.
The Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) is a free digital arrival declaration you can use instead of the paper passenger card when flying into Western Sydney International (WSI). It has been available to passengers on any airline since 26 October 2026. Submit it within the 72 hours before arrival in Australia. The paper card remains an option, and the ATD does not replace a visa.
Start with the airport on your ticket: Western Sydney and Sydney Kingsford Smith are different airports. This guide explains which process applies, what to prepare and how to keep your arrival documents ready.
Original article: Victoria Bianco. Editorial update: Nōmadas editorial team.
Who can use the ATD at Western Sydney?
All international travellers flying into WSI can use the web form, whatever their airline. The Australian Border Force (ABF) says not to use this form if you are arriving at another Australian airport.
The earlier digital declaration pilot used the Qantas app. That channel has its own eligibility rules: a Qantas booking alone does not mean your flight is included.
| Your international arrival | Available option |
|---|---|
| Western Sydney International (WSI), any airline | ATD web form or paper IPC. |
| Another airport, an eligible Qantas pilot flight | ATD through the app if invited and eligible; paper remains an option. |
| Another airport, no access to the pilot | Paper IPC; do not use the WSI web form. |
For the pilot, check the ABF Qantas app FAQs and the information for your particular flight. Availability may change as the programme expands.
What the ATD covers, its cost and its limits
The ATD collects arrival, customs and biosecurity information. It is the digital alternative to the Incoming Passenger Card (IPC), normally provided on your flight or at the airport. Submitting it produces a declaration pass with a QR code.
How much does it cost?
“The ATD is free to submit.”
Australian Border Force
You do not need to pay Nōmadas or an intermediary to complete the official form.
Is it compulsory?
Using the digital format is voluntary. This does not remove the arrival declaration requirement: if you do not use a valid ATD, complete the paper card that applies to you. The Home Affairs announcement confirms that paper remains available.
Does it replace a visa?
No. For an international student, course admission, a visa and an arrival declaration are separate steps. An ATD does not grant permission to study, work or stay in Australia. Check your travel documents and conditions with Home Affairs; a QR code is not a visa approval.
How to complete the ATD: documents and steps
Submit within the 72 hours before you arrive in Australia. This is the reference used in the web form FAQs. Use the arrival date and time on your itinerary and account for time zones.
Allow about 5–20 minutes, depending on your group and declarations. Prepare your passport, flight details, accommodation address, emergency contact and an inventory of the items you are bringing. Complete the form in one session.
- Confirm that your international flight arrives at WSI. If you enter Australia elsewhere before taking a domestic connection, check the process at your international point of entry.
- Open the official ABF form. Check the domain before entering personal information.
- Enter each traveller’s details. Use passports and bookings to avoid transcription mistakes and follow each field’s instructions.
- Answer customs and biosecurity questions. Check everything in your bags, including gifts, food and outdoor equipment.
- Review and submit. Download the pass, save a PDF or take a screenshot. A copy also goes to your nominated email.
- Show the QR code when asked. Keep your passport ready and follow officers’ directions.
Timing example: if arrival is Thursday at 7am, the window begins Monday at 7am in the same arrival time zone. Convert that moment to your own local time if you are completing the form elsewhere.
An adult aged 18 or over may include accompanying children under 18 on the same flight, with the required authority or consent. This is not a shared declaration for any group of adults. Read the group declaration conditions.
Your QR code, corrections and flight changes
The pass appears after submission and is emailed to you. Download it before travelling so airport Wi-Fi is not essential. Officers may scan it near baggage collection or the exit; it does not remove passport control or baggage inspections.
- Incorrect information: submit a new web declaration to make changes.
- Inaccessible pass or flat battery: ask an officer for assistance.
- A delayed flight with the same arrival airport: ABF says you can still use the declaration.
- Cancellation, rescheduling or a different arrival airport: you may no longer be able to use it and may need a paper IPC. Follow the instructions for your revised itinerary.
These procedures come from the ABF web FAQs; do not assume the website has the app’s editing features.
Check your luggage before making a declaration
Going digital does not remove biosecurity checks. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) advises students to check their luggage before departure and keep goods for declaration accessible.
For food such as yerba mate, alfajores or dulce de leche, check the conditions for the specific product and declare as required. Sealed packaging or gift status does not guarantee admission. Also check seeds, animal products, wooden items and shoes with soil. Medicines have separate conditions; consult the health authority rather than assuming one rule covers every medicine.
Declaring allows an officer to assess an item; it does not guarantee you can keep it. Depending on the risk, goods may be returned, require treatment or export at your expense, or need to be surrendered. ABF explains how to declare or dispose of goods before inspection.
Penalties depend on the offence. DAFF’s schedule lists A$728, A$2,184, A$4,368 and A$7,280 for different infringements, based on A$364 penalty units from 1 July 2026. These are not a single charge for bringing food. Truthfully declaring and presenting goods avoids the biosecurity penalty for failing to declare them.
When will other airports offer it?
The 22 October 2026 announcement describes a phased rollout to international airports and seaports over the following 12–18 months. That is an expansion plan, not evidence that the web form is already available everywhere. Check ABF again near your departure date.
The July announcement also distinguishes expansion of the Qantas pilot from the national project. A pilot announcement does not establish web access for every airline.
Your arrival checklist
If you fly from Latin America, Europe or elsewhere with connections, check the flight that enters Australia. Your nationality and original departure airport do not determine which arrival form applies.
- Passport, entry documents and visa conditions checked.
- Arrival airport, local date and time confirmed.
- A valid ATD where applicable, or plans to use the paper card.
- Downloaded QR code, accessible email and charged phone.
- First accommodation address and emergency contact saved.
- Luggage checked and goods for declaration accessible.
- Transfer and first night arranged for the correct airport.
If you need an IPC, ABF provides translated sample cards for guidance. Complete the actual card in English.
Australia Travel Declaration FAQs
Can I use the ATD when arriving at Sydney Kingsford Smith?
The WSI web form does not apply to Sydney Kingsford Smith. Check whether your flight participates in the Qantas pilot; without access to that channel, use a paper passenger card.
Do the 72 hours run before departure or arrival?
For the web form, ABF’s FAQs specify the 72 hours before arrival in Australia. Calculate the window using the local arrival time on your itinerary.
Do I pay to receive the QR code?
No. Submitting an ATD through the official ABF form is free. It is not a paid Nōmadas service.
Can I include my children?
An adult aged 18 or over may include accompanying children under 18 on the same flight, with the required authority or consent and their passport details.
How do I correct a mistake in the web ATD?
ABF says you must submit a new declaration. If you have difficulty on arrival, speak to an officer; paper cards are available.
What if I cannot show my QR code?
Ask an officer for help. Download the pass before travelling, keep the confirmation email and charge your phone to reduce potential problems.
Do I need an ATD as well as a student visa?
They serve different purposes. An arrival declaration does not replace a visa or grant study or work rights. Check your visa conditions and use the declaration channel that applies to your flight.
Does declaring food mean I can bring it in?
No. An officer assesses the product and applicable conditions. Truthful declaration does not guarantee you can keep it; treatment, export or surrender may be required.
Your arrival is part of a bigger experience
The declaration is one of the final preparations. If you are still deciding what to study or where to live, explore our guide to studying in Australia and our Australia trip calculator.
Nōmadas can help you compare courses, cities and next steps around your dates and English level. Our guidance is free for students; course fees, insurance, visa charges, travel and other third-party expenses are separate.
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Cover photograph: airport luggage in Frankfurt, by Dimitri Karastelev / Unsplash. This is an illustrative photograph, not a picture of WSI. Dimitri Karastelev · Kelly Sikkema · Unsplash.
