APIS

Advance Passenger Information System

For security purposes, most government authorities around the world request Advance Passenger Information (API) from all visitors before they travel.
Due to this, we are required to collect specific data from our customers on behalf of these governments:

• country where passport was issued
• passport number
• nationality
• date of birth
• gender
• passport expiry date
• last name (as it appears on the passport)
• given name (as it appears on the passport)

To help your customers save time at the airport and enjoy a more relaxing start to their trip, we recommend that they supply this information as soon as possible after making their booking.
Until this data is provided they will not be able to check-in for their flight. You can complete their APIS data details via the GDS; alternatively your customers can do this themselves via Manage My Booking on ba.com.
Failure to provide all the required information within the agreed timescales may result in your customers being unable to travel.

We will only provide each country’s Customs and Immigration Authorities with the relevant information required by them, however some governments require airlines to provide them with direct access to airline passenger bookings (PNRs) which may contain other passenger data.

In order to ensure that your customers' check-in at the airport is as smooth as possible and to avoid any additional queues, you are strongly advised to provide this information for all passengers (excluding infants) in each booking before the day of departure.

It is also important that the information is accurate so that your customers do not have any delay when they pass through Immigration on arrival in these countries. 

Full details of the Industry Standard entries can be found here.

More country specific information:

USA

APIS
For customers travelling to the US the following additional APIS information is required:

• Country of Residence
• Destination address for the 1st night stay, except for US residents or citizens
• Alien Registration Number (Green Card) for those who have US residency.

Secure Flight
The US government requests further information from travellers before they are permitted entrance to the US, the minimum Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD):

• Full name (as it appears on passport)
• Date of birth
• Gender (M or F)
• Redress Number * (if applicable).
  

This must be provided at least 72 hours prior to departure via the GDS.

Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA)
Please remember to advise your customers that they need to apply for an ESTA, which allows travellers from certain countries to enter the US under the Visa Waiver Programme. There is a $14 fee and this authorisation is valid for two years. We recommend that your customers apply at least 72 hours before departure. Approval is normally granted immediately, but may take up to 72 hours. They can apply for an ESTA at: ba.com/managemybooking or https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov

Below is a list of nations who are eligible to travel under VWP and therefore, any nationals wishing to travel under this policy must have an ESTA before arrival at the airport.

United Kingdom

Laws in force in the UK require British Airways to collect the following information from all passengers travelling to and from following countries:

In addition to the above from 10 February 2010 Advanced Passenger Information will need to be provided when travelling to and from the following countries:

• Flights to / from Warsaw (Poland)
• Flights to / from Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck (Austria)
• Flights to / from Stockholm (Sweden)

Passport or National Identity Card (only if applicable) information including: Passport/national identity card number and expiry date, country which issued passport/national identity card, given names (as they appear on passport/national identity card), surname, gender, date of birth, and nationality

Canada

Laws already in force in Canada require British Airways to collect the following information from all passengers travelling to Canada, prior to travel:

• Passport information including: passport number, country which issued passport, given names (as they appear on passport), surname, gender, date of birth, and nationality

Caribbean destinations: Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago

Laws in force in the Caribbean locations listed above require British Airways to collect the following information from all passengers prior to travel:

• Passport information including: Passport number, country which issued passport, passport expiry date, given names (as they appear on the passport), last name, gender, date of birth, nationality

China

Laws in force in China require British Airways to collect the following information from all passengers travelling to and from China (excluding Hong Kong), prior to travel:

• Passport information including passport: number, country which issued passport, given names (as they appear on passport), surname, gender, date of birth, and nationality

India

All airlines, including British Airways, will be required to collect specific information from every passenger travelling to India. This information is compulsory and is required for the purposes of ensuring aviation safety and security.

Below is a list of the information required:

• Full given name
• Surname
• Gender
•  Nationality
•  Date of birth
•  Travel document number e.g. passport number
•  Travel document expiry date
•  Travel document country of issue

Staff at check-in desks will be able to collect API data but passengers are strongly advised to supply the information prior to arrival at the airport or at self-service Check-in Kiosks where available, providing passengers hold a machine readable passport.

Jamaica

BA are obliged to collect and send APIS data for all flights to/from Jamaica on behalf of the UK authorities.

• Information to be provided is: passport number, country which issued passport, given names (as they appear on passport), surname, gender, date of birth, and nationality
• APIS must be collected for infants.

Japan

Laws in force in Japan require British Airways to collect the following information from all passengers prior to travel:

• Passport information including: Passport number, given names (as they appear on the passport), last name, gender, date of birth, nationality

 
Kenya, Syria and Iran

BA are obliged to collect details for all flights to Kenya, Syria and Iran. The Advanced Passenger Information required is the customers passport data:

• passport number, country which issued passport, given names (as they appear on passport), surname, gender, date of birth, and nationality

This information is subject to change and it is always recommended to check with the respective country's authorities for latest updates.

Mexico

Laws in force in Mexico require British Airways to collect the following information from all passengers travelling to and from Mexico, prior to travel:

• Passport information including: passport number, country which issued passport, given names (as they appear on passport), surname, gender, date of birth, and nationality

Spain

Laws in force in Mexico requires British Airways to collect the following Advance Passenger Information (API) for Spanish authorities.

This information is compulsory and is required for the purposes of ensuring aviation safety and security.

· Full given names
· Surname
· Nationality
· Date of birth
· Travel document number e.g. passport number.

UAE (Dubai only)

Laws in force in Dubai require British Airways to collect the following information from all passengers travelling to and from Dubai, prior to travel:

• Passport information including: passport number, country which issued passport, given names (as they appear on passport), surname, gender, date of birth, and nationality