Australia Further Eases International Travel Rules As Infections Subside

Effective from April 18, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to provide pre-departure COVID-19 testing results to enter Australia. Moreover,the government recently replaced the Australia Traveller Declaration (ATD) with the Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD). The DPD can be done online at Australia Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) (homeaffairs.gov.au) or by using the free mobile app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play store.

Changes to pre-departure COVID testing requirements from 18 April

If you are travelling to Australia on or before April 17, you must still undergo a pre-departure Covid-19 test. Login to your DPD account after you get your test results to upload them and submit your DPD.

However, if you are travelling to Australia on or after April 18, you will no longer be required to provide a pre-departure Covid-19 test.

While the DPD system is switching to these new arrangements, you must select I am exempt from Australia’s COVID testing requirements under the DPD’s health section.

This will produce the outcome confirmation required at check-in. Don’t be concerned about this outcome – you will be processed as meeting the Covid-19 health requirements for boarding as long as you can show evidence of your Covid-19 vaccination record or acceptable proof that you cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons documentation at check-in.

Digital Passenger Declaration

The Australia Travel Declaration has been replaced by the new Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD).

All travellers arriving in Australia by flight should fill out the DPD. One can begin your DPD seven days before their journey and finish it 72 hours before your flight to Australia.

This is due to the fact that travellers must present their health information and declaration (vaccination status and COVID-19 test result) 72 hours before their travel.

When filling out the DPD, you will need to:

• provide your contact details, including a contact phone number in Australia
• make a legally binding declaration in relation to your vaccination status
• make a declaration about your travel history in the last 14 days
• make a declaration that you are aware of the quarantine and testing requirements that apply when coming to Australia and in the state or territory you are landing and the penalties for non-compliance.

Note: Before you complete your DPD, check all other travel requirements for Australia. For a list of all documents, you need before you travel see the information for Vaccinated travellers and Unvaccinated travellers.