Meeting in Canberra on 27 February 2026, Australia’s state, territory and Commonwealth data ministers gave unanimous backing to a refreshed Digital ID and Verifiable Credentials Strategy. While the communiqué focused on whole-of-government service delivery, Home Affairs officials confirmed to Global Mobility News that the roadmap underpins next-generation traveller identity management at the border. The strategy will see driver licences and proof-of-age cards issued as ISO-compliant verifiable credentials, paving the way for their integration into the Australian Travel Declaration and Digital Passenger Declaration platforms. According to officials, the goal is an “opt-in, wallet-to-wallet visa and arrival declaration” that could replace paper passports for low-risk trans-Tasman travel as early as 2027. For employers, a federated Digital ID means faster right-to-work checks and potential real-time visa status alerts, reducing onboarding friction for foreign assignees – but also exposing non-compliant sponsors sooner. Privacy advocates have cautioned against mission creep, arguing that visa-linked IDs must remain voluntary and include robust redress mechanisms. The ministers also agreed to test an EU-style ‘dataspace’ model that lets agencies query, rather than copy, sensitive immigration data – a development welcomed by states that run their own skilled-migration programs and want up-to-date residence information without duplicating databases. With digital identity now a standing agenda item, border modernisation has political momentum. Mobility managers should track pilots closely: the Digital ID you use to open a bank account may soon be the same credential that boards you on an international flight.
