Advance Passenger Information System

The Advance Passenger Information System^[1] or APIS (often incorrectly called Advanced Passenger Information System) is an electronic data interchange system established by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).^[2]

APIS governs the provision of a limited number of data elements (identification details from the passport and basic flight information) from commercial airline and vessel operators to the computer system of the destination state.^[3] Required information should conform to specifications for UN/EDIFACT Passenger List Message (PAXLST) formats.^[4]

Beginning in May 2009, private aircraft pilots must also provide the necessary information to the CBP.^[5] The regulations were put into effect in December 2008 with a 180-day voluntary compliance period.^[6]

eAPIS (electronic APIS) is a public website (https://eapis.cbp.dhs.gov) which allows small commercial carriers to transmit data to the CBP electronically.^[7]

When travelling to or from certain countries, passengers are required to provide advance passenger information (API) before they check in or they will be unable to fly.^[8] These countries include

• Antigua
• Australia
• Barbados
• Canada
• China
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Dominican Republic
• Grenada
• India
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Maldives
• Mexico
• Republic of Korea
• Russian Federation
• Saint Lucia
• Spain (except for Schengen zone passengers)
• Taiwan^[9]
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Turkey^[10]
• United Kingdom
• United States

The required information consists of:

• Full name (last name, first name, middle name if applicable)
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Country of residence
• Travel document type (normally passport)
• Travel document number (expiry date and country of issue for passport)
• [For US travellers] Address of the first night spent in the US (not required for US nationals, legal permanent residents, or alien residents of the US entering the US)

See also

• Passenger name record
• Automated targeting system
• Fltplan.com
• Immigration Advisory Program

References

1. Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) – US Customs and Border Protection
2. US Customs and Border Protection
3. ICAO Facilitation Section: Advance Passenger Information (API)
4. FAL-12-WP-15 FACILITATION (FAL) DIVISION — TWELFTH SESSION Cairo, Egypt, 22 March to 2 April 2004 Agenda Item 2
5. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/pleasure_boats/private_flyers/
6. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/apis/private_aircraft.xml
7. eAPIS
8. aircanada.com – Travel Info – Advance Passenger Information
9. A.P.I.(Advanced Passenger Information|ANA
10. Air France APIS information

External links

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Travel / For Travel Industry Personnel / APIS: Advance Passenger Information System
• British Airways, Advance Passenger Information.
• eAPIS Online Transmission System (at cbp.gov)
• eAPIS UN/EDIFACT Implementation Guide (Specification – pdf)