online travel declaration australia

Australia’s yellow international arrival cards are getting a COVID-era digital makeover. Here are 5 key questions

online travel declaration australia

Lecturer in Information and Communication Technologies, CQUniversity Australia

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As Australia prepares to lift the ban on international travel, the federal government has awarded Irish-based IT multinational Accenture a A$75 million contract to develop a Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) system.

These new digital passes, announced this week , will replace two current documents: the physical incoming passenger cards filled in by all international arrivals to Australia, and the online COVID-19 Australian Travel Declaration , which details travellers’ COVID vaccination status.

With international travel restrictions set to be lifted for vaccinated Australians once the nation reaches 80% vaccination, it is not yet clear whether unvaccinated foreign travellers will be allowed into Australia once the international border opens, or whether unvaccinated Australians will be allowed to travel overseas and return.

It is also not yet clear how the new system will interact with the COVID “ vaccine passports ” the government has pledged to make available to Australians from next month, allowing them to prove their vaccination status using either a digital or printed document.

The federal government says the new DPD system will also be able to share details of international travellers’ health and vaccination status with state and territory health authorities.

And Stuart Robert, the federal minister responsible for digital data policy, said the program could be extended in future to cover visas, import permits, licences, registrations and other government-issued documents.

While many of the details remain to be confirmed, the announcement prompts a range of questions about how the new digital passenger declarations will work in practice.

Is the new document a ‘vaccine passport’?

online travel declaration australia

Not really — it’s more than that, because it also replaces the yellow arrival cards that will be familiar to anyone who has travelled to Australia on an international flight in recent years.

Besides this, the system will also allow passengers to digitally upload their COVID vaccination certificate. It’s not yet clear whether this will be the same document as the “vaccine passports” set to be issued by the federal government from next month.

The vaccine passports can be shown to immigration officials in other countries, whereas the information in the DPD is purely for collection by Australian officials. It’s also not clear what documents foreign arrivals will be able to use to declare their COVID vaccination status to Australian authorities via the DPD system.

Read more: Vaccine passports are coming to Australia. How will they work and what will you need them for?

How will privacy and security concerns be addressed?

Arriving travellers completing an incoming passenger card disclose lots of personal information, such as their full name, passport number, intended address in Australia, and declarations relating to customs and quarantine.

The new proposed DPD system will capture all these details, as well as the traveller’s COVID vaccination status. This raises several questions about how these data will be collected, transmitted, stored, accessed and shared.

A digital-based system comes with increased cybersecurity risks, and cyber criminals will doubtless be on the lookout for any vulnerability. There will also need to be clear policies detailing which federal, state and territory agencies are granted access to the data.

Will it be mandatory for overseas arrivals to declare their vaccination status, and will they be refused entry if they can’t prove they have been vaccinated? We don’t know yet.

Will authorities determine who needs to quarantine based on their vaccination status? Will Australia implement a traffic-light system, similar to other nations such as the United Kingdom, to identify which countries pose their biggest risk from unvaccinated travellers?

It is also unclear whether the system will be offered in languages besides English , and whether alternatives will be provided to those with accessibility needs or who lack access to a digital device.

How will travellers’ vaccination status be verified?

Recently, federal trade minister Dan Tehan told ABC radio the government is working with the International Civil Aviation Organisation on a QR-based system that would allow Australian vaccine certificates to be internationally recognised.

However, it is unclear at this stage whether the new DPD system will use the same system to verify the vaccination status of Australians returning home, and whether it will be able to verify foreign travellers’ vaccination status without further checks.

At the same time, Qantas is investigating ways to integrate yet another system, the IATA Travel Pass , into its own app. This system, developed by the International Air Transport Association and already used by airlines in several countries, allows passengers to securely store and present their COVID vaccination certificate, and to find information on testing and vaccine requirements for their journey.

online travel declaration australia

Why isn’t there a globally unified approach?

European Union residents can already use the EU Digital COVID Certificate app to travel freely between member nations, and to other participating countries such as Norway. The app uses a QR code signed with a digital signature to ensure authenticity without needing to collect extra personal details from the holder.

online travel declaration australia

New York state, meanwhile, has adopted a blockchain-based app called Excelsior Pass , which provides digital proof of COVID vaccination or negative test results. It works by searching the state’s health department records, using special cryptographic signatures to ensure COVID certificates and health data are genuine.

For the time being at least, international passengers will likely need to use several different apps to prove their vaccination status in various parts of the world. There are obvious issues with this beyond simple inconvenience, such as data and privacy protection.

Will the system discriminate unfairly?

My research shows that the absence of a unified approach to COVID-19 contact-tracing apps was the main driver behind their failures worldwide. Similar problems are now arising with the rapid proliferation of national and international COVID certificates, travel passes and vaccine passports.

One issue is compatibility. The Excelsior Pass app, for instance, only works on devices running Apple iOS version 13 or later, or Android version 7 or later.

But more importantly, people should have the right to prove their vaccination status without needing to carry a smart phone. Even in a rich country like Australia, only about 80% of the population owns a smart phone , and the rate is lower in developing nations. A system that relies solely on apps would disproportionately deny freedom of movement to poorer people.

Other issues go beyond the choice of technology involved. Legislation will be needed to ensure people with a valid reason for not having been vaccinated do not face discrimination as Australia and the world gradually open up their borders.

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Joint media release with the Hon Stuart Robert - New digital platform to support reopening of the international border

​​​The Morrison Government h​as taken the next step in preparation for reopening Australia to international travel at scale, with the appointment of Accenture to deliver the Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD).

​​The DPD will replace the physical incoming passenger card and the COVID-19 Australian Travel Declaration web form, capturing essential information including passengers’ vaccination status up to 72 hours prior to boarding. Passengers coming into Australia will be able to complete the DPD on their mobile device or computer.

Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said all Australians looked forward to once more welcoming international travellers across the border, and that the Government was taking proactive steps to ensure the safe reopening of the border at scale when supported by health advice. 

​​“The DPD will support the safe re-opening of Australia’s international borders, by providing digitally-verified COVID-19 vaccination details,” Minister Andrews said.

​​“This will help us to welcome home increasing numbers of Australians, and welcome the tourists, travellers, international students, skilled workers, and overseas friends and family we’ve all been missing during the pandemic.”

​Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business and Minister responsible for data and digital policy, Stuart Robert said that, following the implementation of the DPD, the Government will consider how the same technolog​y the DPD is based on can be reused to deliver a suite of digital upgrades to other government services.

​“The overarching digitisation program could include visas, import permits, personnel identity cards, licenses, registrations, and other documents, making previously cumbersome processes easier, safer and more transparent,” Minister Robert said.

Accenture was awarded the work through a competitive tender process run independently by the Department of Home Affairs. Accenture will work closely with the Department to deliver the initial operating capability of the DPD later in the year. 

The DPD will also provide the capacity to collect, verify and share any Australian Government-approved and digitally-verified travel, health and vaccine status information of international travellers with State and Territory public health authorities. 

The DPD will now move into a testing phase before being deployed, at scale, throughout major Australian airports.​​​

Need a hand?

Australian Government Travel Declaration - entry to Australia

The Australian Government has introduced an online travel declaration that needs to be completed by all travellers entering Australia. This is separate to the Australian Border Force (ABF) travel exemption approval.  

The purpose of the declaration is to collect the travellers contact details in Australia, flight details, quarantine requirements and their health status. This information helps the Australian Government determine quarantine arrangements (if required) and allows the relevant health department to contact the traveller if there is a positive test for COVID 19.  

Travellers must complete and submit the travel declaration online at least 72 hours before their return to Australia.

For more information please refer the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs . 

online travel declaration australia

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International arrivals must now declare COVID-19 infections, vaccine brand, and third doses

A graphic shows how the design of a new travel declaration form including COVID-19 questions might look.

In yet another sign that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is your ticket out and back into the country, people flying into Australia now have to declare their vaccination status. 

Key points:

  • The Prime Minister says the states will get the information to help them determine how to manage arrivals
  • It is expected vaccination history will eventually determine what sort of quarantine travellers complete
  • At the moment, anyone who flies in from overseas must spend two weeks at Howard Springs in the NT or in hotel quarantine

The Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) form has been updated to include additional questions. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the states would get the information to help them determine how to manage arrivals in the future. 

"The states will be in a position then potentially to look at how they're managing quarantine operations in their state … to look at ways that vaccinated and non-vaccinated travellers can be treated in the quarantine program," he said last week. 

"Obviously, those who are vaccinated have a much lower risk of infection than those who are not vaccinated." 

Here are the questions you will have to answer (when you get the chance to fly): 

A screenshot shows several questions including whether you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or vaccinated against it.

Returning Australians, as well as visitors, will be asked if they have ever been diagnosed with COVID-19.

If the answer is yes, there are further questions to be filled out, such as the time and place they were infected. 

A screenshot shows several questions including the time and place you were diagnosed with COVID-19.

At the moment, anyone who flies in from overseas must spend two weeks at Howard Springs facility in the Northern Territory or a hotel quarantine in other states. 

However it is expected that travellers vaccination history will eventually determine what sort of quarantine they complete, and that is why the questions have been added. 

It comes ahead of a trial in South Australia that will allow a group of people to quarantine in their own homes if they are fully vaccinated. 

If successful, other state governments are expected to roll out the program. 

The updated form asks travellers if they have ever received a COVID-19 vaccine and requests evidence. 

In Australia, your immunisations are recorded and you can either carry proof on your phone or get a copy if you log into your myGov account.

There is a particular form to fill out if you have had just one dose. 

A screenshot shows several questions including whether you have been vaccinated and the date it happened.

But if you have had more doses, you will need to fill out a longer form, with yet another form offered if you have had three doses, in a sign that authorities are expecting people to get booster shots. 

A screenshot shows several questions including first and second vaccination dose dates and locations.

The questions on all forms include whether you have had one or two doses, the dates, type of vaccine and where.

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Australia takes major step towards vaccine passports for international travel

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The Morrison government has taken a major step towards establishing a vaccine passport for international travel, awarding a contract to international IT company Accenture for new digital passenger declarations.

The declarations will replace incoming passenger cards and Covid-19 travel declarations, capturing information including vaccination status to facilitate international travel at scale into Australia.

Last week the government suggested it will have a system in place within weeks to enable recognition of vaccination status for international travel as vaccination rates rise.

On Monday the tourism minister, Dan Tehan, confirmed the system will allow Australians to use MyGov to upload proof of vaccination to a QR code linked to their passport.

“Where you’re required to prove you’re vaccinated – when you’re travelling overseas to get entry into countries – that QR code will be able to demonstrate you are vaccinated,” Tehan told Radio National.

The separate digital passenger declaration will record incoming passengers’ vaccination status up to 72 hours prior to boarding and be completed by mobile device or computer. Tehan confirmed information on the declaration could be shared with contact tracers.

On Monday the home affairs minister, Karen Andrews, said the declaration “will support the safe reopening of Australia’s international borders, by providing digitally verified Covid-19 vaccination details.”

​​“This will help us to welcome home increasing numbers of Australians, and welcome the tourists, travellers, international students, skilled workers, and overseas friends and family we’ve all been missing during the pandemic,” she said.

The government services minister, Stuart Robert, said the same technology could later be rolled out to deliver “visas, import permits, personnel identity cards, licenses, registrations, and other documents”.

The national cabinet has established a working group to consider potential exemptions to public health orders for fully vaccinated people, but is yet to agree to differentiated rules that would require people to demonstrate their vaccination status.

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While the New South Wales and Victorian governments have indicated vaccine passports will probably be required for pubs, clubs and major events, the Australian Capital Territory has indicated it will probably not require them .

On Thursday the ACT chief minister Andrew Barr raised technical difficulties, noting that while the NSW, Victoria and South Australian check-in apps verify their users’ identity and could eventually be used as vaccine passports, the ACT and other jurisdictions’ apps did not and could at best download a vaccine certificate.

Even if vaccine passports are not mandated by state or territory governments, Scott Morrison has indicated that individual businesses may be able to ask customers to prove they have been vaccinated. In early August, Morrison revealed that legal advice suggested to do so was “unlikely” to be in breach of discrimination laws.

The Australian Human Rights Commission has been more circumspect, warning businesses they “should be cautious about imposing a blanket rule requiring vaccination as a condition of entry”.

On Monday the Community and Public Sector Union assistant national secretary, Michael Tull, was critical of the decision to award the passenger declaration contract to Accenture.

“This new platform is critical digital infrastructure that should be built in-house by the public service, so it is publicly owned and controlled by parliament,” Tull said in a statement.

“Public assets like visa gateways should never be handed over to multinational corporations, and certainly never in a circumstance where major questions about what is being built, how much it will cost are yet to be answered.”

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On Wednesday Tehan said that “when we hit that 70% or 80% vaccination mark Australians will be able to travel overseas again and also Australians will be able to return home in greater numbers.”

“We’ll also be able to start welcoming international students, those who want to come here to work, ultimately tourists again,” he said.

The four-phase plan for reopening Australia unveiled by Morrison at the end of July suggests vaccinated Australians would be able to head overseas again more freely when at least 80% of the over-16 population had been fully vaccinated.

Under “Phase C” of the plan, governments would abolish caps on vaccinated Australians returning from overseas, and lift all restrictions on outbound travel for vaccinated Australians.

The triggers are linked to vaccination rates rather than a fixed date, although the NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has been signalling international travel will probably resume in the state in time for Christmas.

Tehan said the government was working to develop a QR code with the International Civil Aviation Organisation so the vaccine certificates would be internationally recognised.

Similarly, QR codes would be integrated with state check-in apps to allow Australians to demonstrate their vaccination status to attend events including sport and theatre, he said.

National cabinet – which includes Morrison, the premiers and the chief ministers – received an update earlier in September from former health chief Jane Halton on a review of quarantine arrangements.

That included the “need for risk based approaches to quarantine and South Australian home quarantine trial”, according to Morrison’s statement after the meeting last week.

“Both pieces of work will assist national cabinet’s consideration of modifications to Australia’s quarantine systems at Phase B and C of the national plan.”

Over the past few weeks, the federal government has been campaigning hard for all states and territories to proceed to the next stages of the opening up plan when the next two thresholds are met: 70% and 80% of over-16s fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

But many observers and state and territory leaders have pointed out the plan is more nuanced than how some federal government figures have presented it. The plan, agreed by national cabinet in July, was always “subject to change if required”.

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Home » News » New online declaration to replace paper arrival cards ahead of Australia’s big reopening

New online declaration to replace paper arrival cards ahead of Australia’s big reopening

online travel declaration australia

The federal government has launched a new digital arrivals declaration to replace paper arrival cards ahead of Australia’s inbound travel reopening.

The Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) will replace the existing Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) form, which will be phased out on 21 February and the paper-based incoming passenger card, which will be phased out in mid-2022.

Travellers arriving in Australia on or after 18 February will need to show their DPD when they check-in for their flight.

The DPD will allow travellers to quickly and securely supply the information needed to meet health requirements for entry into Australia, including travel history, most recent COVID-19 test result and COVID-19 vaccination status.

On Monday, Michael Pezzullo secretary to the Department of Home Affairs said the DPD will be a “key tool” in Australia’s re-opening.

The new form can be filled out seven days prior to flying into Australia and needs to be submitted 72 hours prior to departure.

Featured image: iStock/AlexBrylov

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Entering or leaving Australia

Australia welcomes millions of overseas visitors each year. Anyone who is not an Australian citizen needs a valid visa to enter the country.

International passenger caps have been removed for all international passenger arrivals into Australia.

All travellers should be aware that: People entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status People entering Australia do not need to complete the Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration People leaving Australia will not be asked to provide evidence of their vaccination status Unvaccinated visa holders do not ​ need a travel exemption to travel to Australia Mask wearing on international flights to Australia is no longer mandatory . It is important to remember that airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have specific requirements that travellers need to comply with.

Australian Citizens

All Australian citizens must enter and exit Australia on an Australian passport. Your Australian passport must be valid (not expired) on the day of your arrival in Australia. It does not need to have six months remaining validity to enter Australia unless you are passing through a third country that requires it. Citizens are not entitled to a visa, even if you are also a citizen of another country. Please see the  Department of Home Affairs website  for more information. 

Immigration and Visas

All foreign travellers, except New Zealand citizens, must obtain a visa or travel authority before travelling to Australia.

»    Immigration and visas

If you have a specific question, please contact the Department of Home Affairs .

You will also need to know what you can and cannot bring into Australia, knowing the duty-free concession limits and what to experience when travelling through Australian airports and seaports.

Please visit the Department of Home Affairs website for more information.

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There’s an app for that: How to fill out your Australian travel declaration

Here’s everything you need to know about filling out your Australian Travel Declaration (ATD).

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Here’s everything you need to know about filling out your Australian Travel Declaration (ATD).

It goes without saying, but when it comes to filling out your Australian travel declaration, don’t do what Novak Djokovic did. (Ooph, too soon?).

Late last year, Australia finally lifted international travel restrictions for its citizens and permanent residents. New measures put in place since the pandemic means that anyone returning to Australia must now must complete an online travel declaration at least 72 hours before their international flight.

They also need to provide proof of vaccination and a negative PCR test within 72 hours before their departure. Yes it’s all very confusing, but having travelled to Fiji last month, I’ve been through the entire process and made it out unscathed.

Here’s what you need to know.

See also:   How has Covid affected frequent flyer points?

See also:   The grossest places in the airport you never want to touch

Where do I find the form?

The Australian Travel Declaration is a digital form that you can fill out either via the Australian Travel Declaration app (which has a dismal rating of just 1.5 stars), or at this link if you’re having trouble on that platform, atd.homeaffairs.gov.au . 

It currently doesn’t replace the Incoming Passenger Card or the customs declaration form, I still needed to fill these out on the plane (a digital version of the Incoming Passenger Card is expected to be rolled out in 2022). 

I had trouble logging in and had my Macbook with me so I found it easier to use that, however, those that do use the app will be pleased that you’re able to do it on the fly, as long as you’re connected to Wifi or have data.

Before you fill out your form, you’ll need to create an account.

I’m having trouble with the Australian Travel Declaration login, what do I do?

Before you fill out your form, you’ll need to create an account. I had done this, but couldn’t remember my password. After trying for 30 minutes to login on both the app and the desktop to no avail, I found some pointers in the Australian Travel Declaration FAQs here , under the heading ‘I can’t create an account’. 

It was a bit like groundhog day, every time I requested to change my password, I got sent a code and was asked to enter my email over and over again. The trick here, as the fine print points out, is that you need to verify your email twice, this inevitably means you’ll also need to enter two different codes. Don’t give up.

What information do I need?

From here, it’s quite straightforward, but you will require a lot of information for returning to Australia, and in my case, re-entry into NSW. 

You’ll need to upload a copy of your passport, and conveniently for those using the app, all you have to do is scan it. You’ll also need your flight number and departure port and as well as answer whether you’ve travelled anywhere else in the 14 days prior to your flight to Australia (ahem, Novak), plus provide your phone number, email address and state whether you intend on travelling to another state when you arrive.

You will require a lot of information for returning to Australia.

Will I need to prove that I’m vaccinated?

Yes, and the detail around this is quite specific. You’ll need to declare whether you’ve ever had COVID, as well as clarify how many does of a COVID vaccine you’ve received, the brand of vaccine (ie Pfizer), the dates you had both the first and second dose, and the country you received them in. 

From here, you’re required to upload your vaccination certificate, so make sure you have it on file, either as a PDF on your mobile or on your laptop.

How will I know if I’m able to board my flight?

You’ll receive an email from the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs that will either have a green tick indicating you’re eligible for quarantine-free arrival, a blue hourglass indicating your requirement to quarantine or a red cross indicating you’re not allowed to travel to Australia. 

I received a green tick within half an hour of filling out the form and then completely forgot about it, as my ATD was not checked by airline staff in Fiji or border control on arrival. In my experience, it was all very smooth. 

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online travel declaration australia

Travelling to Australia? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to complete your Australian Travel Declaration form

australia travel declaration

Are you an international student scheduled to return to Australia? If so, you will need to complete the Australian Travel Declaration (ATD) form. 

It’s important to note that each state or territory can have different entry requirements and quarantine measures . International travellers entering Victoria, for example, would also need to complete a Border Permit. You can check the Australian government’s website for state or territory-specific travel information.

One of the most requested topics from the students was “How to complete the Australian Travel Declaration and Victorian Border Permit?” So here is a step-by-step guide for students arriving in Australia: https://t.co/rZUOTGKvnK pic.twitter.com/vufILo0bRf — OVERSEAS STUDENTS AU (@ovstudentaus) December 14, 2021

Australian Travel Declaration form: where can I get it? 

You can complete your Australian Travel Declaration form online via desktop , or you can download the ATD app fro m Apple Store or Google Play . The form is free of charge. 

When do I need to complete the ATD form? 

The ATD form must be completed at least 72 hours before your departure flight to Australia . As critical health information is detailed in the form, you need to produce evidence that your health information was completed before boarding your flight. 

Completing the Australian Travel Declaration form: A step-by-step guide

There are five steps in total in order to get your ATD form: 

1. Sign up or log in to your account

You will have to first log in, or sign up for an account at the ATD form app or website. For new users, a verification code will be sent to your email to activate your account.

Next, create a strong password for your account. Another verification code will be sent to your email to confirm your password, after which you can proceed with the form. 

2. Fill out your passport or travel document details

The first detail you have to fill in is your passport or any other travel document you’re using to enter Australia. You can either fill this in manually, use an existing document that has been uploaded to your account, or upload a new one onto the page. 

3. Complete your travel details

The next step requires you to complete your departure and arrival dates, country of departure, flight number and arrival port. 

For multiple flights, your departure country should be the last country of your transit before arriving in Australia. Your flight number should be entered in the correct format as listed on the website. 

4. Complete the questionnaire

This is the most important step in the ATD form, as it is where you’ll declare your health and vaccination information. You’ll also need to state if you’re travelling to another state in Australia 14 days after arrival, or 14 days after leaving quarantine. 

Here, you will complete your vaccination information, and must upload proof of vaccination. Your latest dose has to be taken at least seven days before your flight to Australia. You can check the list of Australian approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine list here . 

As an international student, you can enter the duration of your study visa in the “intended length of stay” section. 

Keep in mind that before travelling to Australia, you must produce evidence that you have tested negative for COVID-19, unless exempted. The PCR test must be taken 72 hours before your departure. 

5. Check and submit

Once everything has been filled up, you can check your information for accuracy at the Summary page. If there are no edits to be made, you can submit your declaration. The ATD form will be sent to your email. 

Victorian Border Permit: where to apply

For international travels into Victoria, you will also need to obtain an additional Border Permit in addition to your ATD. You can apply for the permit here . 

To check the latest updates on the ATD form, click here .

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New Zealand Traveller Declaration Whakapuakanga Tangata Haere ki Aotearoa

The New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) collects travel, customs, immigration and biosecurity information. It is free and everyone travelling into New Zealand needs to complete a declaration.

nz mountains clouds

What you need to know

  • Everyone travelling into New Zealand needs to complete a declaration.
  • It is free and you can do it on the online form or the NZTD app.
  • A declaration needs to be completed for each traveller, including babies and children.
  • You can start your digital declaration at a time that suits you. The earliest time you can submit your declaration depends on whether you are travelling by air or sea.
  • Your declaration is linked to your passport and is checked when you arrive at the eGate or by a border officer.
  • There is a paper declaration form available for travellers who cannot complete it online.
  • If you are a New Zealand visa or NZeTA holder, you still need to complete an NZTD as well.

When you can submit your declaration

Travelling by air.

The earliest you can submit your declaration is 24 hours before you start your trip to New Zealand. It needs to be submitted by the time you reach passport control in New Zealand.

Long-haul journeys and stopovers

Travelling by sea

The earliest you can submit your declaration is 24 hours before departing the vessel’s last foreign port prior to arriving in New Zealand. It needs to be submitted by the time the vessel has berthed at its first port in New Zealand.

Travelling by different vessel types

Welcoming you to Aotearoa New Zealand

Kia ora, nau mai haere mai.  Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand.  We want to help you understand what you need to do to travel here.  Our home is precious – a taonga. Please help to keep our tangata and our whenua – our people and our land – safe.   We ask everyone travelling to, or returning to New Zealand, to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration.  You can do this on our website travellerdeclaration.govt.nz or by downloading the NZTD app.  You’ll be asked some questions about your trip and what’s in your bags. Some items can’t be brought into New Zealand. If in doubt, declare it for inspection. Please answer the questions honestly, otherwise you could be fined. We look forward to welcoming you to Aotearoa New Zealand.   Ka kite anō

Support and resources in other languages .

About the NZTD

YouTube video with te reo Māori subtitles

What you will need to complete your digital declaration

Passport details

Contact details in New Zealand

Travel history from the last 30 days

Travel details

What you need to declare

Visa or NZeTA, if you need one

travelling by sea image

Travellers arriving by sea on any maritime vessel can complete a digital New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD):

  • Recreational vessel, yacht or small craft
  • Diplomatically-cleared
  • New Zealand Defence Force

COMMENTS

  1. Incoming Passenger Card

    An Incoming Passenger Card (IPC) is to be completed by passengers entering Australia. IPCs will be provided to travellers on board their flight or ship before arrival or by the Australian Border Force in the arrival terminal. Passenger cards also serve as: a declaration in relation to health and character requirements for non-Australian citizens.

  2. COVID-19 and the border

    COVID-19 and the border. Updates to Australia's immigration and border arrangements during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Latest updates. From 12:01am on Saturday 11 March 2023, people travelling to Australia from China, including Hong Kong and Macau, will not be required to show evidence of a negative pre-departure test for COVID-19. For ...

  3. PDF COVID-19 Declaration card

    Signature: Date: /. /. This card is issued under section 44 of the Biosecurity Act 2015. It is an offence to provide false and misleading information. The collection of information on this form is authorised under the Biosecurity Act 2015. As well as being required for public health purposes, it may be used and disclosed to administer ...

  4. Australia's yellow international arrival cards are getting a

    Travellers arriving in Australia, both Australian and foreign nationals, have previously been required to fill in a physical declaration card.

  5. Joint media release with the Hon Stuart Robert

    The Morrison Government h as taken the next step in preparation for reopening Australia to international travel at scale, with the appointment of Accenture to deliver the Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD). The DPD will replace the physical incoming passenger card and the COVID-19 Australian Travel Declaration web form, capturing essential ...

  6. Australian Government Travel Declaration

    16 Dec 2020. The Australian Government has introduced an online travel declaration that needs to be completed by all travellers entering Australia. This is separate to the Australian Border Force (ABF) travel exemption approval. The purpose of the declaration is to collect the travellers contact details in Australia, flight details, quarantine ...

  7. International arrivals must now declare COVID-19 infections, vaccine

    The new Australia Travel Declaration will ask for details and evidence of any positive COVID-19 result.(Supplied)At the moment, anyone who flies in from overseas must spend two weeks at Howard ...

  8. Australia takes major step towards reopening international travel with

    The declarations will replace incoming passenger cards and Covid-19 travel declarations, capturing information including vaccination status to facilitate international travel at scale into Australia.

  9. Crossing the border Overview

    Overview. At the border. Passenger movement. Military personnel. Non-citizen indigenous Australians. When you arrive or depart Australia, there are things you need to know and things you need to do. You may also be able to access information the Department of Home Affairs collects and holds about your travel movements.

  10. Entering Australia Crossing the border

    The Crew Travel Authority allows international airline crew to be checked through the Advance Passenger Processing system before your flight to Australia. Learn more about the Crew Travel Authority. Maritime crew require a visa to travel to and enter Australia. There are also procedures for your arrival into Australia seaports for maritime crew.

  11. New online declaration to replace paper arrival cards ahead of

    The Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) will replace the existing Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) form, which will be phased out on 21 February and the paper-based incoming passenger card ...

  12. Entering or leaving Australia

    Australian Citizens. All Australian citizens must enter and exit Australia on an Australian passport. Your Australian passport must be valid (not expired) on the day of your arrival in Australia. It does not need to have six months remaining validity to enter Australia unless you are passing through a third country that requires it.

  13. Entering Australia Entering Australia

    Entering Australia. What to expect at the border and what you can bring into the country. Know what to expect when you enter Australia. Depending on your circumstances, you might want to find out more about: visas and our requirements for entry. what to expect when you cross the border. how to enter Australia as air or sea crew, an offshore ...

  14. Australia's Digital Passenger Declaration for overseas travel

    Travelling to Australia comes with new paperwork from this month, with the Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) taking off from 18 February. Replacing the current Australia Travel Declaration, it'll be mandatory for all inbound international travellers.. Here's everything you need to know about the DPD, to keep your journey running smoothly.

  15. How to complete DPD (Digital Passenger Declaration) Australia

    From 18th February 2022, Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) has replaced the Australia Travel Declaration (ATD). In this video, we are giving you a guide on...

  16. How to fill out your Australian travel declaration

    The Australian Travel Declaration is a digital form that you can fill out either via the Australian Travel Declaration app (which has a dismal rating of just 1.5 stars), or at this link if you're having trouble on that platform, atd.homeaffairs.gov.au . It currently doesn't replace the Incoming Passenger Card or the customs declaration form ...

  17. Travelling to Australia? Here's a step-by-step guide on how to complete

    2. Fill out your passport or travel document details. The first detail you have to fill in is your passport or any other travel document you're using to enter Australia. You can either fill this in manually, use an existing document that has been uploaded to your account, or upload a new one onto the page. 3. Complete your travel details

  18. Homepage

    If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. Read our advice, and download the CHOICE travel insurance guide before you go. View details. CHOICE travel insurance buying guide 2023 (PDF 3.52 MB) News and updates. 04 Apr 2024. ... 1300 555 135 from within Australia.

  19. Declaring items when travelling to Australia

    You will not be penalised under the Biosecurity Act 2015 if you declare all goods, even if they are not allowed into Australia. For more information visit the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's Travelling or sending goods to Australia page or call 1800 900 090 (+61 3 8318 6700 from outside Australia).

  20. Home

    Everyone travelling into New Zealand needs to complete a declaration. A declaration needs to be completed for each traveller, including babies and children. You can start your digital declaration at a time that suits you. The earliest time you can submit your declaration depends on whether you are travelling by air or sea.

  21. PDF 15

    Incoming passenger card • Australia PLEASE 5 AND ANSWER EVERY QUESTION - IF UNSURE, Yes 5. PLEASE COMPLETE IN ENGLISH WITH A BLUE OR BLACK PEN Are you bringing into Australia: 1. Goods that may be prohibited or subject to restrictions, such as. Family/surname medicines, steroids, illegal pornography, firearms, weapons or illicit drugs?