Effective immediately, airlines operating overseas from Australia will be able to issue electronic boarding passes for international flights.
Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Alan Tudge said travellers will now be able to show their boarding pass on a mobile device instead of using a paper boarding pass, while following the normal border clearance path at the airport.
Tudge said the move towards automation at the border was a key focus for the Government.
“Last financial year more than 21.4 million travellers were cleared through the border departing Australian international airports. This number will continue to rise,” Tudge said.
“These increasing volumes mean we are always looking for ways to clear legitimate travellers efficiently and seek out those of interest to law enforcement.
“This change will cut out the need to visit the check-in desk to show your passport and collect your paper boarding pass.
“Australia is a world leader in seamless travel and this move will allow travellers to move across our border smoothly.”
Mobile boarding passes will complement capabilities such as SmartGates which provide a faster, simpler border process for travellers while maintaining the security of our border.
Australia’s departure SmartGates process more than 73% of travellers departing Australia, reducing processing times and promoting ease of travel.
The Department of Home Affairs has run several successful trials allowing travellers to use mobile boarding passes for international flights.