diff --git a/config/sync/field.field.node.document.field_document_publication_date.yml b/config/sync/field.field.node.document.field_document_publication_date.yml
index 0eed94e250..394401271c 100644
--- a/config/sync/field.field.node.document.field_document_publication_date.yml
+++ b/config/sync/field.field.node.document.field_document_publication_date.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,10 @@ label: 'Publication date'
 description: ''
 required: false
 translatable: false
-default_value: {  }
+default_value:
+  -
+    default_date_type: now
+    default_date: now
 default_value_callback: ''
 settings: {  }
 field_type: datetime
diff --git a/config/sync/field.storage.node.field_document_publication_date.yml b/config/sync/field.storage.node.field_document_publication_date.yml
index 88d67d5513..f73349dc0c 100644
--- a/config/sync/field.storage.node.field_document_publication_date.yml
+++ b/config/sync/field.storage.node.field_document_publication_date.yml
@@ -4,11 +4,7 @@ status: true
 dependencies:
   module:
     - datetime
-    - field_permissions
     - node
-third_party_settings:
-  field_permissions:
-    permission_type: public
 _core:
   default_config_hash: GZlK0SBCOEfMaprdtmTdeKKrhh_gI6XBChrBkVxi9xQ
 id: node.field_document_publication_date
diff --git a/tests/features/joinup_document/add_document.collection.feature b/tests/features/joinup_document/add_document.collection.feature
index 2fc6bc23ba..166585e859 100644
--- a/tests/features/joinup_document/add_document.collection.feature
+++ b/tests/features/joinup_document/add_document.collection.feature
@@ -84,6 +84,11 @@ Feature: "Add document" visibility options.
     When I go to the homepage of the "Hunter in the Swords" collection
     Then I should see the link "An amazing document"
 
+    # Check that the publication date field is prefilled with the current time.
+    When I go to the homepage of the "Hunter in the Swords" collection
+    And I click "Add document" in the plus button menu
+    Then I see "Publication date" filled with the current time
+
   # Regression test to ensure that no critical errors are thrown when a new
   # revision is created for a document that has a remote file attached.
   # @see https://citnet.tech.ec.europa.eu/CITnet/jira/browse/ISAICP-3670
diff --git a/tests/src/Context/JoinupContext.php b/tests/src/Context/JoinupContext.php
index b3d7e4d556..4e266b1cb1 100644
--- a/tests/src/Context/JoinupContext.php
+++ b/tests/src/Context/JoinupContext.php
@@ -914,6 +914,37 @@ public function clearDateRangeField($field, $component, $date = NULL) {
     $element->setValue('');
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Asserts that a date/time field is prefilled with the current time.
+   *
+   * @param string $field
+   *   The date/time field name.
+   *
+   * @throws \Exception
+   *   When the field is not found.
+   *
+   * @Then I see :field filled with the current time
+   */
+  public function assertDateTimeFieldValue(string $field): void {
+    $now = new \DateTimeImmutable();
+
+    $date_part = $this->findDateRangeComponent($field, 'date')->getAttribute('value');
+    $time_part = $this->findDateRangeComponent($field, 'time')->getAttribute('value');
+    if (empty($date_part) || empty($time_part)) {
+      throw new ExpectationFailedException("The '{$field}' date/time field is not filled with the current time.");
+    }
+
+    $date = new \DateTimeImmutable("{$date_part} {$time_part}");
+
+    $interval = $now->diff($date);
+    // Given that such a test cannot do an exact assertion, because of the
+    // testing environment latency, we consider 3 seconds as an acceptable
+    // fuzziness.
+    if ($interval->f > 3000) {
+      throw new ExpectationFailedException("The '{$field}' date/time field is not filled with the current time.");
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Finds a datetime field.
    *