Travel Documents
Tickets
Ensure that you are fully aware of the terms and conditions applying to your ticket. All tickets are issued subject to the conditions of contract and the Terms and Conditions of Carriage.
E-Tickets
An e-ticket or electronic ticket is a ticket that is stored electronically rather than being printed on paper. You should carry your e-ticket receipt at all times for both international and domestic flights. Photographic identification must be produced at check in.
Passports
All passengers need a passport for international travel, regardless of the destination, valid for the duration of your trip.
When you depart from Australia you need to present your passport and boarding pass to immigration and customs.
When you arrive in Australia you need to present your passport and a completed Passenger Card to passport control.
If you have not already applied for your passport, arrange this well in advance of your departure date. Always check that your passport is valid. Some countries demand that passports be valid for a certain length of time beyond your visit.
Our country information search form can provide you with further information on passport requirements for a specific country, including Australia. If you need to apply for or renew an Australian passport visit the Passports Australia website for more details.
The Greek Embassy in Australia have advised that from midnight on 31 December 2006 all Greek passports issued before 1 January 2006 will be automatically cancelled by the Greek government. In order to avoid disruption to intended international travel, holders of Greek passports issued before 1 January 2006 who are planning international travel after 1 January 2007 are strongly advised to contact their nearest Greek Embassy or Consulate to obtain new passports.
Forms of Identification
Domestic Flights within Australia
If you have an e-ticket or paper ticket, and are travelling domestically within Australia (flights QF400 and above) bring one of the following forms of identification for booking confirmation:
- Photo identification such as a driver's licence, passport or social security card; or
- Your Qantas booking reference (printed on your e-ticket itinerary receipt); or
- Your Qantas Frequent Flyer membership card, Qantas Club membership card; or
- Credit card used for this ticket purchase.
Domestic Flights Within Australia (Flights QF001-399) departing from the International Terminal
If you are travelling domestically and departing from an international terminal (flights QF001-QF399), and are 18 years of age or over, you need to produce photographic identification that includes your full name. Your boarding pass will have a special 'D' (Domestic) sticker. You need to sign your name in the space provided and may also be required to record details of your photographic identification.
You must retain your boarding pass as you need to present it at immigration and customs clearance points at the end of your trip. This is required to comply with the Migration regulations administered by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA).
Photographic Identification
The following are the only acceptable forms of photographic identification all of which must be valid at the time of travel.
- National passport; or
- A motor vehicle driver's licence issued under a law of the Commonwealth of Australia, or of an Australian State or Territory; or
- A document that identifies you issued by:
- - the Commonwealth of Australia, or
- - an Australian State or Territory, or
- - by an authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, or an Australian State or Territory; or
- An aviation security identification card issued by the operator of the aircraft or the operator of an airport in Australia.
Children and Infants
Children and infants are subject to the same identification requirements as adults, where they have an approved form of photographic identification. Exceptions from the identification requirements are given for children and infants travelling:
- with an adult, or
- as part of an organised group.
For group travel, the adult responsible for and travelling with the group, is to present a letter from the organisation (For example, school or sporting group) that includes the purpose of the trip, name, date of birth and sex of the responsible adult plus the names, dates of birth and sex of each of the children.
- If the child is travelling with a parent or guardian their name must be recorded on the back of their parent or guardian's boarding pass.
- If the child is under 12 years of age and is travelling unaccompanied they will be escorted through the airport by airline staff.
- If the child is between 12 and 18 years of age and is travelling unaccompanied they will be escorted through the airport if they do not carry an accepted form of photographic identification.
To save any confusion or delays at the airport, ensure that you have the appropriate identification for all members of your travelling party.
Visas
A visa is permission for a non-citizen to travel to a particular country. To find out if you need a visa for travel to a particular country use our Visa and Health search form.
Australian Citizens
If you do need a visa to travel to a particular country, you need to contact the embassy of the country you are visiting. A list of embassies in Australia can be viewed on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website. Alternatively, visit VisaLink to request and process your visa application.*
Non-Australian Citizens
All non-Australian citizens travelling to Australia require a visa. You can apply for a visa online through the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). The ETA is a visa that is stored electronically, rather than a stamp or label in your passport. It will show up as part of your passport record when Customs officials check your passport details.
If you have already booked your ticket and are departing from an ETA eligible country, you can apply for your ETA online. Be sure to have your passport details ready when applying.
Generally, you can be issued a short term Tourist or Business ETA if:
- you hold an ETA eligible passport;
- you will not work in Australia if you hold a Tourist ETA;
- you will not stay in Australia for more than three months;
- you are in good health and have no criminal convictions.
If you are unable to apply online you can obtain a visa by visiting an Australian office of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, or by visiting an Australian Government office overseas where a standard visa will be issued.
Arrival Documents
For international flights, when required, arrival documents will be handed to you at check in or distributed by cabin crew during the flight. For arrival at an Australian international airport you will receive a Passenger Card that you need to complete ready for presentation with your passport at passport control.
Travel to Japan
New Immigration Control Procedure
On 24 May 2006 the Japanese Government introduced a new law, which is aimed at enhancing the security of Japan while expediting legitimate travel and trade. The new immigration procedures are:
- From 23 November 2007 all foreign nationals who travel to Japan, will be fingerprinted (both index fingers scanned using an inkless digital fingerprint reader) and have a digital photograph taken on arrival into Japan.
Travellers who refuse to be fingerprinted and photographed will likely be refused admission to Japan.
