View source for Advance Passenger Information System

{{Short description|System for recording US border crossings}}
'''Advance Passenger Information System'''<ref>{{cite web |title=APIS: Advance Passenger Information System |url=https://www.cbp.gov/travel/travel-industry-personnel/apis2 |publisher=U.S. Customs and Border Protection |accessdate=17 September 2019 |date=17 May 2018}}</ref> or '''APIS''' is an [[electronic data interchange]] system established by the [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection]] (CBP).<ref>[http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/apis/ US Customs and Border Protection] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814014132/http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/apis/ |date=August 14, 2013 }}</ref> 

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.<ref>[http://www.icao.int/icao/en/atb/fal/api.htm ICAO Facilitation Section: Advance Passenger Information (API)]</ref>  Required information should conform to specifications for [[EDIFACT|UN/EDIFACT]] Passenger List Message (PAXLST) formats.<ref>[http://www.icao.int/icao/en/atb/fal/fal12/documentation/fal12wp015_en.pdf FAL-12-WP-15 FACILITATION (FAL) DIVISION — TWELFTH SESSION Cairo, Egypt, 22 March to 2 April 2004 Agenda Item 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112014855/http://www.icao.int/icao/en/atb/fal/fal12/documentation/fal12wp015_en.pdf |date=12 November 2013 }}</ref>

Beginning in May 2009, private aircraft pilots must also provide the necessary information to the CBP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/pleasure_boats/private_flyers/ |title=U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Travel |accessdate=2013-11-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303172828/http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/pleasure_boats/private_flyers/ |archivedate=2012-03-03 }}</ref> The regulations were put into effect in December 2008 with a 180-day voluntary compliance period.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/apis/private_aircraft.xml |title=Reporting Requirements Begin December 18 for Private Aircraft Arriving or Departing United States - CBP.gov |accessdate=2013-11-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030221516/http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/apis/private_aircraft.xml |archivedate=2012-10-30 }}</ref>

{{Proper name|eAPIS}} (electronic APIS) is a public website which allows small commercial carriers to transmit data to the CBP electronically.<ref>[http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/apis/e_apis_information.xml eAPIS] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015082045/http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/apis/e_apis_information.xml |date=October 15, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://eapis.cbp.dhs.gov | title=Welcome to eAPIS &#124; Customs and Border Protection}}</ref>

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.<ref>[http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/APIS/apis.html aircanada.com – Travel Info – Advance Passenger Information]</ref> These countries include

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* Antigua
* Australia<ref name=airfrance>[https://www.airfrance.mu/MU/en/common/faq/preparing-for-your-trip/which-countries-require-advanced-passenger-information.htm Which countries require Advanced Passenger Information? - FAQ (Air France, read 2018-03-09)]</ref>
* Barbados
* Belgium
* Brazil
* Canada
* China
* Costa Rica
* Cuba
* Dominican Republic
* France
* Grenada
* India
* Ireland
* Jamaica
* Japan
* Maldives
* Mexico<ref name=iberia/>
* New Zealand 
* Panama
* Portugal<ref name=sef>[https://www.sef.pt/en/pages/conteudo-detalhe.aspx?nID=26 Advanced Information Passenger System] (SEF, read 2012-07-11)</ref>
* Republic of Korea
* Russian Federation
* Saint Lucia
* Spain (except for [[Schengen Area]] passengers)<ref name=iberia>[https://www.iberia.com/se/advance-passenger-information-api/ Advance information about passengers] (Iberia, read 2018-03-09)</ref>
* Taiwan<ref>[http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/asw_common/others/api/ A.P.I.(Advanced Passenger Information|ANA]</ref>
* Trinidad & Tobago
* United Kingdom<ref name=iberia/>
* United States
and some more{{which|date=November 2024}}<!-- somewhat diverging sources, fairly frequent changes-->
{{div col end}}

The required information consists of:<ref name=iberia/><ref name=airfrance/>

* 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 citizen]]s/nationals, [[legal permanent resident]]s, or alien residents of the US entering the US)