Advance Passenger Information System[1] or APIS is an electronic data interchange system established by the 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 which allows small commercial carriers to transmit data to the CBP electronically.[7][8]
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.[9] These countries include
- Antigua
 - Australia[10]
 - Barbados
 - Belgium
 - Brazil
 - Canada
 - China
 - Costa Rica
 - Cuba
 - Dominican Republic
 - France
 - Grenada
 - India
 - Ireland
 - Jamaica
 - Japan
 - Maldives
 - Mexico[11]
 - Panama
 - Portugal[12]
 - Republic of Korea
 - Russian Federation
 - Saint Lucia
 - Spain (except for Schengen Area passengers)[11]
 - Taiwan[13]
 - Trinidad & Tobago
 - United Kingdom[11]
 - United States
 
and some more
The required information consists of:[11][10]
- 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 travelers to the US] Address of the first night spent in the US (not required for US citizens/nationals, legal permanent residents, or alien residents of the US entering the US)
 
See also
References
- ↑ "APIS: Advance Passenger Information System". U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
 - ↑ US Customs and Border Protection Archived August 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
 - ↑ ICAO Facilitation Section: Advance Passenger Information (API)
 - ↑ FAL-12-WP-15 FACILITATION (FAL) DIVISION — TWELFTH SESSION Cairo, Egypt, 22 March to 2 April 2004 Agenda Item 2 Archived 12 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine
 - ↑ "U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Travel". Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
 - ↑ "Reporting Requirements Begin December 18 for Private Aircraft Arriving or Departing United States - CBP.gov". Archived from the original on 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
 - ↑ eAPIS Archived October 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
 - ↑ "Welcome to eAPIS | Customs and Border Protection".
 - ↑ aircanada.com – Travel Info – Advance Passenger Information
 - 1 2 Which countries require Advanced Passenger Information? - FAQ (Air France, read 2018-03-09)
 - 1 2 3 4 Advance information about passengers (Iberia, read 2018-03-09)
 - ↑ Advanced Information Passenger System (SEF, read 2012-07-11)
 - ↑ A.P.I.(Advanced Passenger Information|ANA