The series is made up of both blue and yellow form No M 1312 (from July 1970) cards which are filled in by or on behalf of all persons arriving in Australia by air or sea. 

Both cards give details such as name, nationality, passport or other travel document number, country of birth, date of birth, sex, conjugal condition, usual occupation, country in which last stayed for 12 months or more, country in which intend to stay for 12 months or more, purpose of journey to Australia, intended length of stay in Australia, last permanent residence and intended address in Australia. 

In the top right hand corner of the card is the serial number which is the passenger's identification number whilst in transit. 

On the reverse side of the blue cards, details (for completion by the carrier company) are given of name of ship or flight number, first port of call in Australia, scheduled date of arrival at first port of call in Australia and the port or city at which the passenger embarked. 

In the case of the yellow cards (which gradually replaced the blue after July 1970) all passenger and travel information is given on the front of the card and on the reverse side is the name of the port of entry into Australia and the date entry was approved. 

Microfilm copies have been made of the cards May-August and September-December 1972.