Movement records
Arrival and departure records of travellers to and from Australia dating from 1981, are contained in the Movements Reconstruction database. These 'movement records' may include the traveller's:
- name
- date of birth
- gender and relationship status
- country of birth
- departure and/or arrival date
- travel document number and country
- port code and flight/vessel details
- visa subclass and expiry date
- number of movements.
The department also maintains non-electronic movement records information including:
- microfilm records of passenger cards from 1965
- ship manifests (1924 to 1964)
- Alien’s cards (1947 to 1979)
Movements Reconstruction database protections
Section 488 of the
Migration Act 1958 sets strict guidelines on accessing and disclosing movement records stored in the Movements Reconstruction database. Only authorised officers can access the information, and the legislation prescribes the purposes movement records can be disclosed. A breach of this provision is punishable by two years’ imprisonment.
Information sharing
To support whole-of government initiatives, the department has various movement records information sharing arrangements in place. Those initiatives involve:
- border security
- law enforcement
- entitlement and identity verification
- validations actions
- eligibility determinations
- various notifications.
The storage, use and disclosure by government departments of movement records and passenger card information are governed by migration legislation and the
Privacy Act 1988.
Section 488 of the
Migration Act 1958, and
Part 6 s.42 (2) of the Australian Border Force Act 2015 (Cth), authorises and other government agencies to access a person’s:
- movement records
- passenger cards
- Onshore/Offshore status.
For more information, see
Form 1442i (168KB PDF) and
Incoming Passenger Card.
Requesting access to your own movement records
Access to your own movement records is available under section 488 of the
Migration Act 1958 and the
Freedom of Information Act 1982.
For more information, see
Request for travel records.
Law enforcement and other government agencies requesting access to movement records
Law enforcement and other government agencies with enforcement functions can request the following information to support official work duties:
- Movement records after 1973
- Passenger cards after 1973
- Onshore/Offshore status enquiries
- A court statement, affidavit or mutual assistance with the above information.
Note: For movements before January 1973, you will need to contact the National Archives of Australia.
Law enforcement and other government agencies seeking the above information can submit the form
Requests for travel records – Law enforcement and other government agencies
