Flying International from Western Sydney Airport: Australian ETA, Visa Requirements, Digital Customs Declaration & Border Force — Everything UK, US & Canadian Passengers Need Before Using WSI From Day One

Western Sydney International Airport — officially named Nancy Bird Walton Airport — opens its doors to international passengers for the first time  October 25, 2026. The new airport, located at Badgerys Creek in Sydney’s rapidly growing western suburbs approximately 60 kilometres west of the CBD, is Australia’s first new international airport in 50 years and the first purpose-built international gateway in the country’s history. It has been designed from the ground up with a single ambition: to be the most seamless, most technologically advanced international aviation facility Australia has ever built. But for the hundreds of thousands of UK, US, Canadian, and other international passengers who will use Western Sydney International over the coming months — many of whom are not Australian citizens or residents — the airport’s technology and design can only work if they arrive with the correct documentation. An Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) that has not been applied for. A customs declaration that must be submitted digitally before landing. A biometric face scan at the border that replaces the traditional passport stamp. An entirely new airport code (WSI, not SYD) that affects how connecting flights are booked.

Your existing guide to Western Sydney Airport covers transport — how to get there from the CBD, the Aerotropolis Metro, bus connections, and parking. This article covers what happens when you land: the entry requirements, the electronic travel authorities, the digital customs declaration system, the Border Force technology, and every practical question that international passengers arriving at WSI for the first time need answered before they travel. If you are a UK, US, or Canadian passport holder flying to Western Sydney International — or transiting through it — this is the guide you need to read before you board.

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Published: October 23, 2026
Airport: Western Sydney International Airport — Nancy Bird Walton Airport
IATA Code: WSI
Location: Badgerys Creek, Western Sydney — approximately 60 km west of Sydney CBD
Opening Day: October 25, 2026
International Services Launching: Jetstar, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand from Day 1
Border Force Facility: New, purpose-built — SmartGate biometric processing + Digital Passenger Declaration
Australian ETA Required: ✅ YES — for UK, US, Canadian, and 34 other nationalities
Australian eVisitor Required: ✅ YES — for EU/European passport holders
ETA Processing: AUS$20 — Australian ETA app (iOS/Android) — typically processed within minutes
Digital Passenger Declaration: ✅ YES — must be submitted within 72 hours before landing
Pre-Arrival Declaration App: Australian Border Force Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) — abf.gov.au/DPD
Same Technology as SYD Kingsford Smith? Yes — SmartGate biometric system extended to WSI from Day 1
Note for Connecting Passengers: WSI and SYD are two separate airports 60 km apart — connecting itineraries must use the same airport or allow significant transfer time

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Who Needs What — Entry Requirements at Western Sydney International

The Entry Requirement Framework for Australia

Australia’s border entry system operates on a visa/travel authority framework that requires every non-citizen to hold a valid travel authority before boarding an aircraft bound for Australia — including to Western Sydney International Airport. The specific authority required depends on your passport nationality:

UK Passport Holders — Australian ETA Required

UK citizens are among the 35 nationalities eligible for the Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601). The ETA is not the same as a visa — it is an electronic travel permission linked to your passport digitally, with no label, stamp, or sticker in your passport. You cannot see it. The airline confirms it electronically at check-in. If it is not there, you will not be allowed to board.

Key facts for UK passport holders:

The Australian ETA app is the ONLY authorised way to apply. Dozens of third-party websites charge AUS$50–$100 to process Australian ETAs — they are all unnecessary intermediaries. The official app is free to download. The only cost is the AUS$20 government fee, paid within the app.

Download: Search “Australian ETA” on the Apple App Store or Google Play — it is published by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

US Passport Holders — Australian ETA Required

US citizens are also eligible for and required to hold the Australian ETA (subclass 601) before travelling to Australia — including to Western Sydney International Airport. All requirements, costs, and the application process are identical to those for UK citizens described above.

The Australian ETA is separate from ESTA. The US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a US-specific system for travel to the United States. The Australian ETA is Australia’s equivalent system — different country, different app, different process. US citizens who already hold a valid Australian ETA from a previous trip should check the expiry date carefully — the ETA is linked to a specific passport number, so if you have received a new US passport since your last Australian trip, you need a new ETA.

Canadian Passport Holders — Australian ETA Required

Canadian passport holders are also in the 35-nation ETA-eligible group. All requirements, costs, and the application process are identical to those for UK and US citizens described above.

Note for Canadian citizens also holding British citizenship: A dual UK-Canadian citizen should confirm which passport they are travelling on before applying for the ETA — the ETA is linked to the specific passport number used at application. If you have both passports, apply for the ETA using the passport you intend to present at the Australian border.

Australian eVisitor — For EU and European Passport Holders

Citizens of EU member states (France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Austria, etc.) and several other European nations (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein) are not eligible for the ETA but can apply for the Australian eVisitor (subclass 651) instead.

The eVisitor is free of charge — unlike the ETA — and is applied for online at: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au

All Other Nationalities — Tourist Visa Required

Passport holders of countries not covered by the ETA or eVisitor arrangements — including India, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and most other nationalities — require a substantive Australian Tourist Visa (subclass 600) applied for in advance through the Australian Department of Home Affairs. This visa has a processing time of days to weeks depending on the applicant’s circumstances and the time of year.

Apply at: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au → Visas → Tourist/Visitor

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The Digital Passenger Declaration — What It Is and How to Complete It

What Is the Digital Passenger Declaration?

The Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) is Australia’s replacement for the traditional paper incoming passenger card that passengers used to complete on the aircraft before landing. Every person arriving in Australia — including Australian citizens and permanent residents — must complete a Digital Passenger Declaration before landing. It replaces the paper card entirely at Western Sydney International Airport, which has been built without provision for paper declaration processing.

Complete the DPD at: abf.gov.au/DPD or download the Australian Border Force Digital Passenger Declaration app

When to Complete It

The DPD must be submitted within 72 hours before your scheduled landing time in Australia. You can complete it earlier if you prefer, but the declaration is only valid within the 72-hour window before landing. For most passengers, the ideal time to complete it is during the day before you fly, or at the airport before boarding if your flight is under 72 hours from now.

What the DPD Asks

The Digital Passenger Declaration asks passengers to confirm:

Section 1 — Identity and Travel Details:

• Full name (as on passport)
• Date of birth
• Passport number and country of issue
• Flight number and scheduled arrival date

Section 2 — Biosecurity Declarations: Australia has some of the world’s strictest biosecurity rules. The DPD requires you to declare whether you are bringing:

• Food of any kind — including sealed packaged food, fresh or dried produce, meat, dairy
• Plant material — seeds, bulbs, straw, wooden items
• Animal products — feathers, shells, animal skins, leather goods
• Soil — on shoes, camping equipment, bicycles
• Live animals or protected wildlife
• Used sports or camping equipment

Critical biosecurity note: Australian biosecurity laws are not optional. Failing to declare items is a criminal offence with penalties of up to AUS$444,000. If you are uncertain whether an item needs to be declared — declare it. The Border Force officer will assess it and either clear it or confiscate it. The fine for failure to declare a piece of fruit is the same as the fine for failing to declare anything else.

Section 3 — Customs Declarations:

• Amount of cash or monetary instruments exceeding AUS$10,000
• Goods over the passenger concession threshold (AUS$900 in total value of goods acquired overseas — excluding what you are wearing)
• Tobacco — more than 25 cigarettes or 25g of tobacco products per adult
• Alcohol — more than 2.25 litres of alcohol per adult aged 18+

Section 4 — Health and Security:

• Whether you have visited a farm, abattoir, or meat processing facility in the last 30 days
• Whether you have been in contact with animals in the last 30 days

What Happens With Your DPD Submission

When you submit your completed DPD, you receive a confirmation code. This confirmation code — or the QR code on your phone — is what you present to the Border Force SmartGate or officer at Western Sydney International on arrival. The system cross-references your declaration with your passport biometrics and your ETA/visa records automatically.

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Border Force Technology at Western Sydney International

SmartGates — Biometric Processing From Day One

Western Sydney International has been built with SmartGate biometric processing from day one — the same system used at Sydney Kingsford Smith, Melbourne, Brisbane, and all major Australian international airports. SmartGate is Australia’s automated border processing system that uses facial recognition to verify a passenger’s identity against their e-passport chip.

How SmartGate works at WSI:

1. Approach the SmartGate kiosk in the arrivals hall
2. Present your passport to the document reader — the chip is read automatically
3. Look into the camera — your face is compared against the biometric data on your passport chip
4. The system cross-references your ETA/visa status in real time
5. If all checks clear: the gate opens and you proceed to baggage claim
6. If a flag is raised (missing ETA, customs declaration issue, visa irregularity): you are directed to a Border Force officer for manual processing

Who can use SmartGates at WSI:

• All passengers holding an e-passport (the type with the gold chip symbol on the cover) from ETA-eligible and eVisitor-eligible countries
• Australian citizens and permanent residents with eligible passports
• Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult through SmartGate

Who must go to a manual processing counter:

• Passengers without e-passports
• Passengers who have not completed their Digital Passenger Declaration
• Passengers whose SmartGate check raises a flag
• Passengers on their first-ever visit to Australia (some first-time visitors to Australia are routed to manual processing for an initial entry interview)
• Passengers with visa conditions that require manual verification

Baggage X-Ray and Biosecurity Dogs

After passing through SmartGate or the manual officer, all passengers proceed through baggage claim and then through the biosecurity examination area. Western Sydney International uses:

Biosecurity detection dogs: Specially trained beagles and labrador retrievers that can detect food, plant material, and other biosecurity risk items. If a dog indicates on your bag, you will be directed to secondary examination.

X-ray screening: All checked baggage is x-rayed for biosecurity risk items. Some baggage is physically examined.

Random sampling: Australian Border Force operates random baggage examination programs — you may be selected for examination regardless of your declaration or the biosecurity dog’s response.

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Connecting Flights — The Critical Airport Code Issue

WSI and SYD Are Two Separate Airports

This is the most practically important information for any passenger booking travel through Sydney from October 25, 2026 onward: Western Sydney International (WSI) and Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) are two completely separate airports, 60 kilometres apart, with no direct rail or road connection that can be completed in under 45–60 minutes.

They are as separate as London Heathrow (LHR) and London Gatwick (LGW) — or New York JFK and New York Newark (EWR). If your inbound international flight arrives at WSI and your connecting domestic or onward international flight departs from SYD, you must allow minimum 3–4 hours for the transfer — accounting for:

• Immigration and customs processing at WSI (allow 60–90 minutes)
• Ground transport from WSI to SYD (40–60 minutes by road)
• Re-check-in and security at SYD (30–45 minutes)

If your travel agent or booking platform has combined a WSI international arrival with a SYD domestic departure on the same booking: contact your airline or agent immediately to verify that sufficient connection time has been allowed and that the booking is aware of the inter-airport transfer requirement.

If you are booking your own travel: never book a WSI arrival with a SYD departure (or vice versa) unless you have at least 3.5–4 hours between them.

Airlines at WSI From Day One

Additional airlines are expected to add WSI services through 2027 as the airport builds its schedule. Check wsyinternational.com.au for the current airline and route list.

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Practical Entry Checklist — Before You Fly to WSI

Use this checklist before every international departure to Western Sydney International Airport:

✅ At Least 72 Hours Before Flying

1. Confirm your Australian travel authority is valid:

• UK, US, Canadian passport: Australian ETA (subclass 601) — check expiry date and that it matches your travel passport number
• EU/European passport: Australian eVisitor (subclass 651) — check expiry date
• Other nationalities: Tourist Visa (subclass 600) — check expiry date and conditions

2. If you don’t have a valid ETA: Apply immediately via the Australian ETA app (iOS/Android) — AUS$20 government fee, typically processed within minutes

3. Complete your Digital Passenger Declaration: Submit your DPD at abf.gov.au/DPD or via the ABF app — do this within 72 hours before landing

4. Declare all food, plant material, and animal products you are bringing — Australian biosecurity is strict and penalties are severe

✅ At the Check-In Desk

5. Present your passport: Airlines check your ETA/eVisitor status electronically at check-in — if your authority is missing, you will not be boarded

6. Show your DPD confirmation if asked — most airlines will confirm it electronically but some ask to see the QR code at boarding

✅ At Western Sydney International on Arrival

7. Proceed to SmartGate — have your e-passport ready — look into the camera — do not cover your face

8. If directed to manual processing: present your DPD QR code and passport to the Border Force officer

9. Biosecurity declaration: If you are carrying any food, plant material, or animal products, proceed to the biosecurity declaration counters even if your DPD is clear — do not attempt to carry undeclared items through

10. Baggage claim: Collect your bags, then proceed through the biosecurity examination area

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Common Questions — Answered

Can I use my existing Australian ETA from a previous trip?

Yes, if it is still valid. The Australian ETA is valid for 12 months from grant date and allows multiple entries within that period. Check your ETA status in the Australian ETA app using the same passport number and email address used at original application.

I have a new passport since my last Australia trip. Do I need a new ETA?

Yes. The ETA is linked to a specific passport number. If you have been issued a new passport (due to expiry, loss, or name change), your old ETA is invalid and you must apply for a new one using your new passport number.

Does the Australian ETA work at WSI the same as at SYD?

Yes. The Australian ETA is a national travel authority — it grants entry to Australia at any port of entry, including Western Sydney International, Sydney Kingsford Smith, Melbourne, Brisbane, or any other Australian international gateway.

Do I need a visa to transit through WSI without entering Australia?

Transit rules: passengers who remain airside (do not pass through immigration) during a short transit at WSI may not need a visa in some circumstances. However, Australia’s transit rules are complex and depend on your nationality. Check: homeaffairs.gov.au → Transit visas. Most passengers on connecting itineraries book through-flights that do not require a separate transit visa — but this must be confirmed before travel.

What if I forget to do the Digital Passenger Declaration?

You can complete it at WSI on arrival at dedicated kiosk terminals in the arrivals hall — but this significantly increases your border processing time and may result in referral to manual processing. Complete it before you fly.

Is the AUS$20 ETA fee refundable if my trip is cancelled?

No. The AUS$20 ETA fee is a non-refundable government processing fee.

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🔑 Key Resources

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Bottom Line

Western Sydney International Airport — Nancy Bird Walton Airport — opens today, October 25, 2026, as Australia’s first new international gateway in 50 years. It is a purpose-built, biometrically-equipped, fully digital border processing facility — the most technologically advanced international airport Australia has ever opened. But its technology only works if international passengers arrive with the correct documentation.

For UK, US, and Canadian passport holders: you need an Australian ETA (subclass 601) — applied for via the Australian ETA app — before you board any flight bound for Western Sydney International. The ETA costs AUS$20. Without it, you will not be boarded. For EU passport holders: an Australian eVisitor (subclass 651), free of charge, from immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. For all passengers: a completed Digital Passenger Declaration submitted within 72 hours before landing, via abf.gov.au/DPD.

The six things every international passenger must do before flying to Western Sydney International:

1. Apply for your Australian ETA (UK/US/Canada) or eVisitor (EU) immediately — do not wait until the day before travel
2. Complete your Digital Passenger Declaration within 72 hours before landing at abf.gov.au/DPD
3. Declare all food, plant material, and animal products — Australian biosecurity penalties are up to AUS$444,000 for non-declaration
4. Check your passport matches your ETA — if you have a new passport since your last Australian trip, your old ETA is invalid
5. Know your airport code: WSI is not SYD — connecting domestic or international flights must be carefully checked for airport
6. Allow 3.5–4 hours if connecting between WSI and SYD Kingsford Smith — they are 60 km apart

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For More Resources:

• Australian ETA: Download “Australian ETA” app from App Store or Google Play
• Digital Passenger Declaration: abf.gov.au/DPD
• Department of Home Affairs: homeaffairs.gov.au
• Western Sydney International: wsyinternational.com.au

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Posted By : Vinay

As a lead contributor for Travel Tourister, Vinay is dedicated to serving our Tier 1 audience (US, UK, Canada, Australia). His mission is to deliver precise, fact-checked news and actionable, data-driven articles that empower readers to make informed decisions, minimize travel risks, and maximize their adventure without compromising safety or budget.