Digital Passenger Declaration to Replace Incoming Passenger Card

[AFF Editor]

Digital Passenger Declaration Replaces Australia Travel Declaration is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) Replaces Australia Travel Declaration for International Arrivals

The Australian government's new Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) will replace the current Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) form from Friday, 18

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can discuss this topic or leave a comment below.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I suppose we’ll have to see the details… but how do you declare the apple you brought from the plane if you’ve completed your declaration days in advance? What about extra duty free? Or do we just tick ‘yes’ to every question??

 

[Lynda2475]

Am i the only one who thinks it strange that you have to submit "between 7 days and 72 hours before departure"?

Surely would make more sense to only submit on the day of travel, 72 hours out you wont have you covid results so wont know if you can actually fly. If only a 3 or less day trip (quite common for a business trip across to NZ) you would be submitting your return declaraion before you have departed Australia on the outward leg.

Plus if need to do a last minute business or emmergency trips (say if a loved one gets ill), you wont be able to complete that far out either.

Also if you end up doing any shopping on the last few days of your trip or win big at a casino how do you edit your customs decalrations?

Im all for digital, just think the declaration should be done as part of flight check in online on the day of travel.

 

[jrfsp]

They've only been talking about doing this for 3 years......

 

[AIRwin]

They've only been talking about doing this for 3 years......

October 2020?

Digital Passenger Declaration

https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/alantudge/Pages/preparing-australia-for-reopening-to-the-world.aspx

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[sarajlo]

Am i the only one who thinks it strange that you have to submit "between 7 days and 72 hours before departure"?

Surely would make more sense to only submit on the day of travel, 72 hours out you wont have you covid results so wont know if you can actually fly. If only a 3 or eless day trip (quite common for a business trip across to NZ) you would be submitting your return declaraion before you have departed Australia on the outward leg.

Plus if need to do a last minute business or emmergency trips (say if a loved one gets ill), you wont be able to complete that far out either.

Also if you end up doing any shopping on the last few days of your trip or win big at a casino how do you edit your customs decalrations?

Im all for digital, just think the declaration should be done as part of flight check in online on the day of travel.

I am an Italian citizen, I come to visit a mother who has terminal cancer, I received a travel exemption, a visa and I was vaccinated three times. Unfortunately I did not notice that my plane landed 18.2 in the morning. So I can't fill out the travel declaration (it doesn't apply to me anymore) and nothing will be published about the Digital Passenger Declaration until February 15, when I don't have time to fill it in 72 hours in advance. Do any of you perhaps know anything about what dpd will look like at all?

 

[dajop]

Im all for digital, just think the declaration should be done as part of flight check in online on the day of travel.

I've had several trips back to Australia where I've booked flights at short notice (one only 5 hrs, when I learnt my father was being hospitalised with a serious illness). Then there are those on business trips whose plans can and do change.

It will be interesting what the wording ends up being regarding timing. If it is 72 hrs, the idiots in charge have NFI. If the digital systems can't cope with declarations up to the time of departure of the flight which is - at worst case still at least 1.5 hrs in advance of arrival (DIL-DRW/POM-CNS) then what hope is there.

 

[kyle]

I've had a survey and also been part of a focus group for this. Will be interesting to see if it's smooth sailing when it rolls out.

 

[justinbrett]

Am i the only one who thinks it strange that you have to submit "between 7 days and 72 hours before departure"?

Surely would make more sense to only submit on the day of travel, 72 hours out you wont have you covid results so wont know if you can actually fly. If only a 3 or less day trip (quite common for a business trip across to NZ) you would be submitting your return declaraion before you have departed Australia on the outward leg.

Plus if need to do a last minute business or emmergency trips (say if a loved one gets ill), you wont be able to complete that far out either.

Also if you end up doing any shopping on the last few days of your trip or win big at a casino how do you edit your customs decalrations?

Im all for digital, just think the declaration should be done as part of flight check in online on the day of travel.

The ATD just makes you certify that you agree to get a test and bring documents prior to travel. It doesn't ask for it to be uploaded. They want it 72 hours prior to travel but I've had friends complete it hours before departure. I guess if you're not an Australian citizen and you're unvaccinated or something like that, then you might need the lead time for it to be approved - but for most it's relatively instant (similar to the US ESTA).

I imagine you will be able to add/edit it once you lodge it for the reasons you mentioned above. The whole point is to give ABF (and other agencies) an early heads up.

I actually found the ATD a pretty good system so I've got no problem with this move.

 

[Mattg]

I am an Italian citizen, I come to visit a mother who has terminal cancer, I received a travel exemption, a visa and I was vaccinated three times. Unfortunately I did not notice that my plane landed 18.2 in the morning. So I can't fill out the travel declaration (it doesn't apply to me anymore) and nothing will be published about the Digital Passenger Declaration until February 15, when I don't have time to fill it in 72 hours in advance. Do any of you perhaps know anything about what dpd will look like at all?

We'll learn more on Tuesday, but I can only assume you will be allowed to submit it on/after 15 February.

I hope you have a safe trip.

 

[andye]

I had no problem submitting after check-in in December (though mrsandye did move me away from somebody who sat next to me and started coughing). You did need to have access to email for verification process

 

[Daver6]

Hopefully one will be able to create an account so you don't have to fill out the common details each time.

The article mentions a transition period, but doesn't say how long it will be. I gather this means for a period of time both the digital and paper cards will be used.

Are airlines going to ensure pax at check-in have completed one? Will this be a requirement to board? If not, my guess is there will be kiosks in arrival halls for pax to fill out the declaration.

 

[justinbrett]

Hopefully one will be able to create an account so you don't have to fill out the common details each time.

The article mentions a transition period, but doesn't say how long it will be. I gather this means for a period of time both the digital and paper cards will be used.

Are airlines going to ensure pax at check-in have completed one? Will this be a requirement to board? If not, my guess is there will be kiosks in arrival halls for pax to fill out the declaration.

As I'm fairly certain they are just going to expand/clone the ATD into this - yes. There's even a dedicated app. The annoying thing is it's multi factor authentication.

 

[Daver6]

As I'm fairly certain they are just going to expand/clone the ATD into this - yes. There's even a dedicated app. The annoying thing is it's multi factor authentication.

Pardon my ignorance, but what's ATD?

 

[OATEK]

Pardon my ignorance, but what's ATD?

Department of Home Affairs Website

Home Affairs brings together Australia's federal law enforcement, national and transport security, criminal justice, emergency management, multicultural affairs, settlement services and immigration and border-related functions, working together to keep Australia safe.

covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au

 

[AFF Editor]

I've had some clarification about this, which I've added to the article.

The DPD will come into effect from 18 February (next Friday), but the incoming passenger cards will still be used until mid-2022. Eventually the plan is for the questions on the incoming passenger card to be added to the DPD and for the paper cards to be removed, but that won't happen this week.

 

[Daver6]

People arriving in Australia on or after 18 February 2022 will need to submit a DPD prior to travel.

What happens to passengers who don't do this? Is this something the airlines will confirm is competed at check-in?

Also, how are passengers being informed about this requirement? Reason I ask this is my folks left for overseas on Thursday and are scheduled to return after the 18th February. They have no idea about this new requirement.

 

[AFF Editor]

What happens to passengers who don't do this? Is this something the airlines will confirm is competed at check-in?

I don't know the answer to this because the Department of Home Affairs hasn't given any more information yet than what is in the article. We'll find out after 10am tomorrow.

I assume that if a passenger turns up at check-in and hasn't yet completed a DPD, they may be able to do it there. This is currently the case with the ATD. But nobody really knows yet.

Also, how are passengers being informed about this requirement? Reason I ask this is my folks left for overseas on Thursday and are scheduled to return after the 18th February. They have no idea about this new requirement.

I know that some airlines have emailed passengers to advise them of the new requirement. E.g. United Airlines sent an email to affected customers late last week.

 

[unclebobl]

Am i the only one who thinks it strange that you have to submit "between 7 days and 72 hours before departure"?

Surely would make more sense to only submit on the day of travel, 72 hours out you wont have you covid results so wont know if you can actually fly. If only a 3 or less day trip (quite common for a business trip across to NZ) you would be submitting your return declaraion before you have departed Australia on the outward leg.

Plus if need to do a last minute business or emmergency trips (say if a loved one gets ill), you wont be able to complete that far out either.

Also if you end up doing any shopping on the last few days of your trip or win big at a casino how do you edit your customs decalrations?

Im all for digital, just think the declaration should be done as part of flight check in online on the day of travel.

I wouldn't be surprised if, when you purchased your duty-free it was flagged against your arrival details, although its hardly worth it nowadays as Dan is almost cheaper

 

[Lynda2475]

I wouldn't be surprised if, when you purchased your duty-free it was flagged against your arrival details, although its hardly worth it nowadays as Dan is almost cheaper

I only do duty free outgoing, to claim back GST on new phone or tablet which Ive usually already bought with a staff discount.

It was more so if you ended up buying or being gifted anything that needs to be declared for other reasons like food items, you might not have planned on 7 days out from returning.

Hopefully you will be able to amend any form submitted right up to the second you pass through immigration.