Is the Australian Landing Card Still Necessary in the Written Form?

[jakeseven7]

Did I miss the date this trial is rolling out?

I have a bunch of TT with Qantas coming up.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Did I miss the date this trial is rolling out?
I have a bunch of TT with Qantas coming up.

AU govt https://www.abf.gov.au/newsroom-sub...d-with-a-digital-incoming-passenger-card.aspx

<snip>
The ABF and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) have been working closely with Qantas to pilot the Australia Travel Declaration for immigration, customs and biosecurity status on entry to Australia.

Later this year, eligible adult passengers on select Qantas flights from New Zealand will be invited to complete the declarations through the Qantas app, up to 72 hours prior to arrival.
<snip>

 

[drron]

Sounds like NZ thought about what they were doing.

A lot of these digital systems require that the pax have a working smart device upon arrival. Often also with an available data connection.
That isn't always possible. You can't expect that everyone's devices will have power remaining when they arrive. Not all devices can even access the internet outside their home country (especially if the airport wifi is too hard to access/non existent). If the digital arrival requirements need an app, that's just another fail point. You can't expect that everyone will even be able to access said app. It is very possible that any given app will not be compatible with your device.

If you need to print something out to have on hand upon arrival, well, not everyone has access to a printer.

Yes the airport wifi is often very slow to connect.
But if it says a copy is needed I screenshot the info and save to my pictures so it can be brought up immediately. No printer or wifi needed.

 

[Himeno]

Yes the airport wifi is often very slow to connect.
But if it says a copy is needed I screenshot the info and save to my pictures so it can be brought up immediately. No printer or wifi needed.

I do that for the Visit Japan Web QR code.

 

[RealtimeY]

NZ and Japan do not force you to use the digital version. They can be completed before you depart (or even further in advance in the case of Japan), and you actually do not need internet connectivity once you land.

One benefit of a digital card is that you can emphasise the more important parts of the declaration. For example, the NZTD app steps you through the biosecurity declarations and it's harder to blindly declare no to everything - especially if there is a non-English version:

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hmmm I wonder how many people actually declare , or would even think of declaring their prescription medicines they took with them overseas and still have a few left when they come back ….

Good point, but you’re supposed to (confirmed many times by customs staff to me). Given it’s the same box a coughography the question on presenting the card to the officer is ‘prescription medication?’ to which I reply ‘yes’. Sometimes they ask what it’s for, because i guess some medications, even on prescription, might not be allowed across the border?

Anyway, they let you through once they’ve clarified the medications.

If the QF app is simply a portal to access the document I have no issues. I’m guessing the app won’t store personal information.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hmmm I wonder how many people actually declare , or would even think of declaring their prescription medicines they took with them overseas and still have a few left when they come back ….

Just following up on this … flew in today and the form is more explicit that I remember… it says ‘any medicine’ (which may be subject to control). I got a quick question to asking what the medications were for, and whether they were for personal use!

 

[p--and--t]

If the QF app is simply a portal to access the document I have no issues. I’m guessing the app won’t store personal information.

My presumption would also be this is the case. The Gov is not going to move its base processes to an airline app. The QF app more than likely a skin over the top.

 

[p--and--t]

There’s a box for coughography and drugs subject to import control… which covers just about any prescription drugs you may be carrying. Common medications for heart, cholesterol, whatever have to be declared.

Hmmm, I didn’t interpret the tick box that way and have always marked NO. Interesting.

 

[serfty]

Unless they are going to completely redesign the form, it’s not just bio-security. There’s a box for coughography and drugs subject to import control… which covers just about any prescription drugs you may be carrying. Common medications for heart, cholesterol, whatever have to be declared.

The actual question is:

1. Goods that may be prohibited or subject to restrictions, such as
   medicines, steroi_s, illegal coughography, firearms, weapons or illicit drugs?

Yes, you need to declare any.

What medicines and substances can you bring in? | abf.gov.au

 

[p--and--t]

The actual question is:Yes, you need to declare any.
What medicines and substances can you bring in? | abf.gov.au

The key to the medicine question is in this dotpoint. Therefore I do not need to declare on arrival.

• the quantity of the medicine does not exceed three months supply.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The key to the medicine question is in this dotpoint. Therefore I do not need to declare on arrival.

• the quantity of the medicine does not exceed three months supply.

You still need to declare, but it will be permitted provided you satisfy all four bullet points. The supply period is just one of the four requirements.

Other sections distinguish between items that you can bring in without declaring, and items that are allowed, but must still be declared. Medicines are in the latter category.

 

[p--and--t]

You still need to declare, but it will be permitted provided you satisfy all four bullet points. The supply period is just one of the four requirements.

Other sections distinguish between items that you can bring in without declaring, and items that are allowed, but must still be declared. Medicines are in the latter category.

Ah ha - you are correct it should be declared. My bad reading.

Been travelling overseas for 50+ years and never declared and never queried. However usually on returning I would be lucky to have 0-2 days supply left (except for Panadol/Advil) as I only pack what I need for the trip. Been lucky I guess.

Just pondering. My meds went with me from AU and coming back, so am I really "importing" them or just coming back with them. I don't buy any meds overseas. They are in a box with the AU script label on them (if there are any left when I come back).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ah ha - you are correct it should be declared. My bad reading.

Been travelling overseas for 50+ years and never declared and never queried. However usually on returning I would be lucky to have 0-2 days supply left (except for Panadol/Advil) as I only pack what I need for the trip. Been lucky I guess.

Just pondering. My meds went with me from AU and coming back, so am I really "importing" them or just coming back with them. I don't buy any meds overseas. They are in a box with the AU script label on them (if there are any left when I come back).

Yup, that’s importing them Same as if you took 3 bottles of sprits out of Australia, if you brought them straight back you’d have to declare the excess.

I doubt general and widely used medicines are ever going to be an issue. But i was told i needed to during an inspection one time. So now I do!

 

[justinbrett]

The way I read it is if it’s a controlled substance (ie “prohibited or subject to restrictions”) then declare it.

For most routine meds like hypertension etc it’s not required.

Nowhere on the TGA website does it mention the need to declare. Travelling with medicines and medical devices

Yup, that’s importing them Same as if you took 3 bottles of sprits out of Australia, if you brought them straight back you’d have to declare the excess.

I doubt general and widely used medicines are ever going to be an issue. But i was told i needed to during an inspection one time. So now I do!

The alcohol is a bad example, as if you have jewellery or electronic devices when you leave the country, you don’t need to pay duty on return if you can prove you already owned them.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The way I read it is if it’s a controlled substance (ie “prohibited or subject to restrictions”) then declare it.

For most routine meds like hypertension etc it’s not required.

Nowhere on the TGA website does it mention the need to declare. Travelling with medicines and medical devices



The alcohol is a bad example, as if you have jewellery or electronic devices when you leave the country, you don’t need to pay duty on return if you can prove you already owned them.

While the TGA page itself doesn’t mention declaring medicines, it does provide a link to the Office of Drug Control. Following that link it says all medicines, as well as other controlled substances need to be ready to be declared to border force on arrival. The same four bullets on the ABF page.

Whether they are right or not, ABF have advised that common prescription medications do need to be declared.

 

[dajop]

I still bet that 95%+ of returning travellers (who have them) do not declare their heart or blood pressure tablets.

 

[Quickstatus]

medications, even on prescription, might not be allowed across the border?

In most cases no issues unless you had a suitcase full, unidentified pills, commercial quantities, pills not in original containers

I still bet that 95%+ of returning travellers (who have them) do not declare their heart or blood pressure tablets.

I think so. I dont recall seeing someone pulled up for prescription pills on all those episodes of Border Security. Bags of oxycontin/oxycodone and pills such as pseudoephedrine /MDMA/ketamine on the other hand.....

Would i declare? - yes
Just make sure the pills are in original packaging.

QF app more than likely a skin over the top.

Yes possibly just a link to a separate webpage or another App

......
BTW have people noticed the Beagles have gone (Australian airports)?. The Labs have taken over. One Lab called Vespa is a prolific detector at Sydney Airport

 

[justinbrett]

While the TGA page itself doesn’t mention declaring medicines, it does provide a link to the Office of Drug Control. Following that link it says all medicines, as well as other controlled substances need to be ready to be declared to border force on arrival. The same four bullets on the ABF page.

Whether they are right or not, ABF have advised that common prescription medications do need to be declared.

I’m just going to continue applying common sense and abide by the exact wording on the card, that is only declare prohibited or restricted medications, which I have none.

But you do you.

 

[OZDUCK]

In most cases no issues unless you had a suitcase full, unidentified pills, commercial quantities, pills not in original containers


I think so. I dont recall seeing someone pulled up for prescription pills on all those episodes of Border Security. Bags of oxycontin/oxycodone and pills such as pseudoephedrine /MDMA/ketamine on the other hand.....

Would i declare? - yes
Just make sure the pills are in original packaging.




Yes possibly just a link to a separate webpage or another App

......
BTW have people noticed the Beagles have gone (Australian airports)?. The Labs have taken over. One Lab called Vespa is a prolific detector at Sydney Airpor

The Beagles are the Quarantine detector dogs. The Labradors are the drug/bomb detector dogs. The labs. have come from a specialised breeding program for something like 30 years.

The breeding dogs are swapped between Australia, UK and the US to avoid inbreeding. Early on donated dogs were used but the failure rate was very high.