1. Migration and Timeline
1.1 When will the Intermediated insurance business forms be available in APRA Connect?
The Intermediated insurance business form will be released into APRA Connect Test environment along with the GI returns in August. The first reporting will be for the 31 December 2026 reference period.
1.2 Is Form 701 required to be submitted through APRA Connect by non-APRA-regulated entities, such as underwriting agencies?
Entities that were required to report in D2A, will now be required to report in APRA Connect. APRA is investigating reporting options for other entities.
1.3 How will entities know which submissions are due each quarter in APRA Connect? Should we continue to follow our existing reporting schedules and submission patterns?
For returns still in D2A, APRA is including details of reporting requirements in reminder notices. This includes the returns that are due, the forms that are in each return and the date the return is due. Reminder notices for these returns will be sent out 30 and 7 days before the return is due.
1.4 This is related to Validation rules, as mentioned during the webinar that some of the rules may be different between D2A and APRA connect (specifically related to drop down values)
Would APRA connect be highlighting those rules during the submission process?
Will there be different/new rule ID for those rules?
In APRA Connect, the validation rules that enforce the correct enumeration key has been entered or the correct data type has been applied are in-built system errors. These rules are based on the definitions listed on the Data Types and Enumerations worksheets.
These in-built errors are not listed in the Rules worksheet of the taxonomy artefacts.
Instead, entities should refer to the Data Type and Enumerations worksheets in the relevant taxonomy artefact to identify the correct Key or data format.
1.5 The Financial Claims Scheme Upload Template for the ARF 910 is already on APRA's website; however, the webinar indicated a November 2026 release. Is the current Financial Claims Scheme Upload Template and taxonomy already finalised and available for testing, or is it subject to further changes?
The Financial Claims Scheme upload template for ARF 910 that is currently available on APRA’s website has been released to support early familiarisation and initial testing activities.
1.6 What is the timeframe for migrating Statistical reporting entities, for example non-bank lenders?
Reporting for Registered Financial Corporations (RFCs) will commence for the reference periods of 30 June 2026 for monthly returns and 30 June 2026 for quarterly returns. Returns for annual reporters will be for financial years that end on or after 30 June 2026.
1.7 Will forms be grouped in APRA Connect similarly to D2A?
The D2A collections that are migrating to APRA Connect will be grouped into the same returns currently in D2A.
2. Functionality and Features
2.1 Will APRA maintain the SBR taxonomy?
Existing SBR artefacts and the PET will remain on APRA's website but updates to the SBR taxonomy will not be made once a D2A form is migrated to APRA Connect.
2.2 Is the preferred upload format in APRA Connect the Excel templates available on the APRA website, rather than the XML format previously used in D2A?
Entities have three choices when entering data into D2A Collections migrated to APRA Connect: XML, Excel and manual entry. APRA does not prescribe a preferred format—the choice of submission method is at the discretion of each organisation, based on their systems and processes.
2.3 Do the precision setting and decimal setting interact to prevent submissions where a variance may only occur at a very small decimal level (for example, at the ninth decimal place in a total)?
Yes, if there is any difference between values being compared by APRA Connect, the validation will trigger.
2.4 How can organisations download PDF versions of their submissions in APRA Connect for audit purposes? Auditors commonly want to see these PDFs.
The APRA Connect Guide provides detailed instructions on how to create PDFs of returns. Refer to the APRA Connect support material webpage.
2.5 Form 210.5 contains multiple tabs. What should I do if not all tabs apply to my entity?
For submissions via APRA Connect, remove any reporting consolidations that do not apply to your entity. The uploaded file should only include the reporting consolidation(s) relevant to your entity.
For submissions via the ASP process, only complete the reporting consolidation(s) applicable to your entity.
2.6 Will all the D2A validations be transferred to APRA Connect for all the forms?
The validation rules associated with each collection in D2A will be implemented at the same time as the corresponding collection is migrated to APRA Connect.
The reporting taxonomy artefacts will contain a 'Rules' worksheet with the rules and the syntax for the expressions. Each taxonomy artefact will become available as per the schedule outlined in the consolidated plan.
2.7 What core functionality and submission capabilities will APRA Connect support?
For details on the features and functionality available in APRA Connect, please refer to the APRA Connect Guide.
2.8 When will the API be released in APRA Connect?
APRA is actively investigating an API solution for APRA Connect and will be reaching out to industry to provide more information towards the end of 2026.
3. Testing and Validation
3.1 Will existing D2A validation and derivation Excel files remain applicable in APRA Connect, or will new APRA validation rules be provided?
For D2A collections migrating to APRA Connect, the validation rules and derivation expressions will be listed in the relevant taxonomy artefact.
Validation rules are listed on the Rules worksheet.
Derivation expressions can be found in the Elements worksheet, in the Calculated Value column for the relevant attribute code.
For reference purposes, the original D2A validation and derivations rules will remain on the APRA website.
3.2 Will entering a credit figure in the EFS form trigger a validation error in APRA Connect? D2A allows credit figures (shown in brackets).
When negative values are allowed, entities will need to use a minus sign rather than brackets. Entities are encouraged to use the Test environment to familiarise themselves with the allowed functionality in APRA Connect.
3.3 How do cross-validations work between APRA Connect and D2A forms?
There are no cross-system validations between D2A and APRA Connect, this also includes collections that have been migrated from D2A to APRA Connect.
3.4 When can RegTech providers expect these collections to be available in the APRA Connect test environment? This will support testing and assist banks with their development activities.
Forms will be made available to RegTechs in line with industry participants. Please contact dataanalytics@apra.gov.au, for assistance.
3.5 How can we arrange a refresh of our APRA Connect test environment so that portal users match the production environment?
APRA is unable to undertake this activity. Entities are responsible for overseeing and managing this process themselves.
3.6 When testing the Large Exposures form, APRA Connect only validates some errors rather than validating the entire file. Is this the expected behaviour?
APRA Connect validates data in stages. The first stage is to ensure the structure of the data aligns with the reporting taxonomy. If the file is failing at this stage, the structural issues will need to be addressed before APRA Connect will run the plausibility validation rules.
3.7 If we submit through the APRA Connect external test environment, does that mean we do not have to submit through D2A?
The APRA Connect test environment is purely for familiarisation. You are required to continue to submit returns until they migrate to APRA Connect.
4. User Experience and Support
4.1 How will communication, training and industry engagement for this change be managed?
APRA will continue to regularly communicate with entities via email for key dates and reminders. APRA will continue to share materials such as webinar presentations via its website.
APRA will maintain engagement with industry, including RegTech providers, through information sessions and targeted engagement where needed. Training materials will be provided via recorded videos to support onboarding and ongoing user guidance.
4.2 How will notifications, reminders and submission tracking work?
Reminder notifications in APRA Connect are sent to Responsible Reporting Administrators (RRAs), while ASP reminders go to Regulatory Reporting Contacts (RRCs).
For APRA Connect submissions, reminders are issued 7 days before the due date. For ASP submissions, reminders are issued twice—30 days and 7 days before the due date. D2A submission receipts will be issued once the return has been successfully processed.
4.3 How will system performance be managed during migration?
APRA is closely monitoring system performance as new data collections are added and will make adjustments as necessary to ensure stability and reliability.
5. System Access
5.1 To access the APRA Connect test environment, do we use the same login and password as APRA Connect?
The APRA Connect test environment and production environment operate independently. Entities must set up their login credentials and access permissions separately in each environment.
5.2 If we have any issues or questions about accessing the APRA Connect test environment, who do we reach out to?
Please refer to the APRA Connect Guide for information on accessing the APRA Connect test environment. If you experience any issues or are unable to obtain access, please contact dataanalytics@apra.gov.au for assistance.
5.3 Can a person that does not have a MyID access APRA Connect?
MyID validation is a mandatory requirement for using APRA Connect.
5.4 As a foreign branch relying on external reporting software, how should we coordinate with our vendor to ensure they have access to the APRA Connect test environment and technical artefacts?
Third parties can do testing in the APRA Connect test environment. For more information, please refer to the RegTech access to APRA Connect test page on the APRA website.