Introduction to the Australian Incoming Passenger Card (Form 992)

The Australian Incoming Passenger Card, commonly referred to as Form 992, is a mandatory document for all travelers arriving in Australia by air or sea. This small but crucial card serves as both a customs declaration and an immigration document, providing the Australian Border Force (ABF) with essential information about your arrival, health status, and items you’re bringing into the country. Understanding how to complete this form accurately is vital for a smooth entry process and can help you avoid unnecessary delays, fines, or even denial of entry.

The card is typically distributed by airline staff during your flight or can be obtained at the airport before passing through immigration. It’s important to note that even if you’re a frequent traveler to Australia, you must complete a new Form 992 for each entry. The information you provide on this card is legally binding, and false or misleading information can result in serious penalties.

Structure of the Form

The Australian Incoming Passenger Card is divided into several sections, each requiring specific information. The main sections include:

  1. Personal Details: Name, date of birth, passport number, flight number, and address in Australia.
  2. Travel Details: Questions about your travel history and intentions in Australia.
  3. Health and Character Declarations: Questions about your health status and any criminal history.
  4. Customs and Biosecurity Declarations: Questions about items you’re bringing into Australia, including food, plant materials, animal products, and other restricted goods.
  5. Signature and Date: Your signature confirming the accuracy of the information provided.

Each section has specific instructions, and understanding the requirements for each question is key to completing the form correctly.

Why Accuracy Matters

Completing Form 992 accurately is not just a formality—it’s a legal requirement. The information you provide helps Australian authorities assess potential risks to the community, environment, and economy. For example, undeclared quarantine items can introduce pests and diseases that harm Australian agriculture, while undeclared cash over $10,000 AUD can facilitate money laundering. By providing accurate information, you’re not only complying with Australian law but also helping to protect the country’s unique environment and economy.

Section-by-Section Filling Guide

Section 1: Personal Details

This section collects basic identifying information. Let’s break down each field:

Family Name / Given Name(s):

  • Write your name exactly as it appears on your passport. If your passport has your name in both English and another language, use the English version.
  • Example: If your passport shows “ZHANG, San”, write “ZHANG” in the Family Name field and “San” in the Given Name(s) field.
  • Common Error: Using nicknames or abbreviations. For example, writing “Alex” instead of “Alexander” as shown on the passport.

Date of Birth:

  • Format: DD/MM/YYYY
  • Example: 15/03/1990 for March 15, 1990.
  • Common Error: Using MM/DD/YYYY format (common in the US) which would be incorrect for Australian forms.

Passport Number:

  • Enter your passport number exactly as it appears on your passport.
  • Common Error: Transposing numbers or letters, or omitting special characters if your passport number includes them.

Nationality:

  • Write your nationality as stated in your passport.
  • Example: “CHINESE” for a Chinese passport holder.
  • CommonError: Writing the country of birth instead of nationality. For example, writing “CHINA” when your passport says “NATIONALITY: CHINESE”.

Flight Number or Name of Ship:

  • Enter the flight number of your arriving flight (e2.g., QF128) or the name of the ship if arriving by sea.
  • Common Error: Writing the departure flight number instead of the arrival flight number, or writing the airline name instead of the flight number.

Address in Australia:

  • Provide the full address where you will stay for your first night in Australia. This should include street number, street name, suburb, state, and postcode.
  • Example: “123 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000”.
  • Common Error: Providing only the hotel name without the full address, or providing an address that doesn’t exist or is outside Australia.

Section 2: Travel Details

This section asks about your travel intentions and history.

Are you traveling alone?

  • Tick “Yes” or “No”. If “No”, you’ll need to provide details of your travel companions.
  • Common Error: Forgetting to tick a box or providing details of travel companions when not required.

Purpose of Visit:

  • Select the appropriate option: Holiday, Business, Visiting Family/Friends, Education, Other.
  • Common Error: Selecting “Holiday” when you’re actually coming for work (which requires a work visa) or study (which requires a student visa). This can lead to visa issues.

Length of Stay:

  • Indicate how long you plan to stay in Australia in months or years.
  • Example: “2 weeks” or “6 months”.
  • Common Error: Providing an unrealistic length ofstay that doesn’t match your visa conditions or return ticket.

Have you visited any countries in the last 6 days?

  • List all countries you’ve visited in the past 6 days, including transit countries.
  • Example: “SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA” if you transited through Singapore and Malaysia on your way to Australia.
  • Common Error: Forgetting to include transit countries or writing country names incorrectly.

Have you been in contact with farm/animal products?

  • This question relates to biosecurity. You must declare if you’ve been in contact with farm/animal products, including visiting farms, zoos, or handling livestock.
  • Common Error: Not declaring contact with animals or farms, especially if you’ve visited rural areas or petting zoos. This is important for biosecurity reasons.

Section 3: Health and Character Declarations

This section is critical for determining your eligibility to enter Australia.

Do you have any criminal convictions?

  • You must declare all criminal convictions, regardless of how long ago they occurred or whether they are considered “spent” convictions in your home country.
  • Example: “Yes, one conviction for theft in 2015”.
  • Common Error: Not declaring convictions that you think are “spent” or minor. Australian authorities have access to international databases and may find undeclared convictions, leading to denial of entry.

Do you have tuberculosis?

  • You must declare if you have tuberculosis or have had recent contact with someone with tuberculosis.
  • Common Error: Not declaring a history of tuberculosis or recent contact, which can lead to health assessments and potential entry restrictions.

Are you currently suffering from any other communicable disease?

  • Declare any other communicable diseases you have or have had recently.
  • CommonError: Not declaring diseases like COVID-19, influenza, or other infectious diseases, especially during outbreaks.

Are you pregnant?

  • If you’re pregnant, you need to declare it, especially if you’re beyond 28 weeks, as you may need a medical clearance for travel.
  • Common Error: Not declaring pregnancy beyond 28 weeks, which can lead to issues with airlines or immigration.

Section 4: Customs and Biosecurity Declarations

This is the most detailed section and where most errors occur. The questions are “Yes/No” but require you to declare specific items if you answer “Yes”.

Goods exceeding $900 AUD total value:

  • You must declare if the total value of goods you’re bringing (including gifts, souvenirs, and personal items) exceeds \(900 AUD. For permanent residents, the threshold is \)5000 AUD.
  • Example: If you’re bringing a laptop worth $1200 AUD, you must declare it.
  • Common Error: Not declaring individual items that collectively exceed the threshold, or not understanding that the threshold applies to the total value of all goods, not individual items.

Tobacco and Alcohol:

  • You can bring tobacco and alcohol duty-free within certain limits. For tobacco: 25 cigarettes or 25g of tobacco products. For alcohol: 2.25 liters total.
  • Example: If you’re bringing 50 cigarettes, you must declare them and pay duty on the excess.
  • Common Error: Not declaring tobacco/alcohol over the limit, or not understanding that the limit applies to the total amount you’re bringing, not per person if traveling in a group.

Food, Plant, Animal Products:

  • You must declare all food, plant materials, animal products, and related items, regardless of quantity or packaging.
  • Examples: Meat products, dairy, fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, wooden items, feathers, etc.
  • Common Error: Not declaring processed food items like biscuits, chips, or canned goods. Many travelers think these are “safe” but they still must be declared. Also, not declaring items like wooden souvenirs or leather goods.

Cash:

  • You must declare if you’re carrying cash (including travelers’cheques) of $10,000 AUD or more in equivalent value.
  • Example: If you’re carrying $12,000 AUD in cash, you must declare it.
  • Common Error: Not declaring cash that’s slightly over $10,000 AUD, or not understanding that “cash” includes multiple currencies converted to AUD equivalent.

Medications:

  • You must declare all medications you’re bringing into Australia, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and herbal supplements.
  • Example: If you’re bringing prescription medication, you should declare it and have a doctor’s letter or prescription.
  • Common Error: Not declaring prescription medications, especially those containing codeine or other controlled substances. Also, not declaring large quantities of medications that might suggest commercial use.

Prohibited Items:

  • You must declare any prohibited items you’re bringing, such as weapons, illegal drugs, or items that violate Australian law.
  • Common Error: Not declaring items that are legal in your home country but illegal in Australia (e.g., certain types of knives, pepper spray, or CBD products).

Section 5: Signature and Date

Signature:

  • Sign the card with your usual signature, which should match the signature on your passport.
  • Common Error: Using a printed name instead of a handwritten signature, or signing with a signature that doesn’t matches your passport.

Date:

  • Enter the date you’re completing the card, in DD/MM/YYYY format.
  • Common Error: Using the wrong date format or entering the arrival date instead of the completion date.

Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

1. Misunderstanding “Declare” vs. “Not Declare”

Many travelers are confused about what needs to be declared. The golden rule is: When in doubt, declare it. The Australian Border Force would rather inspect an item and find it harmless than have you fail to declare something that could be a risk.

Example: You’re bringing a box of herbal tea from China. You might think it’s just tea, but it contains plant materials and must be declared. If you don’t declare it and it’s found during baggage scan, you could face a fine.

How to Avoid: Before filling out the form, make a list of everything you’re bringing that could potentially be questionable: all food items (processed or unprocessed), plant/animal products, medications, large-value items, cash, etc. When in doubt, check the Australian Border Force website for specific restrictions.

2. Incomplete or Incorrect Address

Providing an incomplete address is one of the officials’ biggest frustrations. They need to know exactly where you’ll be staying.

Example: Writing “Sydney” instead of “123 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000” is insufficient. How to Avoid: Before traveling, confirm your accommodation details and write them down exactly as provided by the hotel/hostel/friend. Include street number, street name, suburb, state, and postcode.

3. Not Declaring Criminal Convictions

This is a serious error that can lead to immediate denial of entry. Australian law requires declaration of all convictions, including those that may be considered “spent” in your home country.

Example: A traveler from the UK had a conviction for shoplifting 15 years ago, which is considered “spent” under UK law. They didn’t declare it, but Australian authorities found it in their records and denied entry. How to Avoid: Declare all convictions, no matter how minor or how long ago. If you’re unsure, declare it anyway. You can provide additional details if needed.

4. Not Understanding Biosecurity Requirements

Australia has strict biosecurity laws to protect its unique agriculture and environment. Many travelers don’t realize that even processed food items must be declared.

Example: A traveler brought a bag of potato chips from Thailand. They didn’t declare it because “it’s just chips”. During baggage inspection, the chips were found and the traveler was fined $340 for failing to charge. **How