APIS — Advance Passenger Information System

APIS — Advance Passenger Information System

APIS is one of the core data flows in international aviation security. Airlines are obligated to share passenger identity details with the destination country's competent authority before the aircraft departs.

Why APIS Exists

APIS transforms border control from a reactive (check when the passenger arrives) to a proactive (risk assessment before departure) process. The destination country can screen passengers while the aircraft is still on the ground, enabling early detection of illegal entry attempts, lost or stolen passports and security threats.

APIS Data Fields

Core APIS data fields include: given name and surname, date of birth, gender, passport or identity document number, document country and expiry date, nationality, destination country, flight details. Interactive APIS (iAPIS) additionally includes the destination address.

Difference from PNR

APIS is passenger identity and travel document data; PNR is commercial reservation and booking data. Both are collected by the DCS at check-in but fall under different legal frameworks and are transmitted to different receiving authorities.

Transmission Timing

Most countries require APIS data to be transmitted 30–60 minutes before departure. In the United States, API (Advance Passenger Information) rules are administered by DHS. In the EU, the EU PNR Directive (2016/681) covers both PNR and APIS data flows.

Airline Obligations

Airlines that carry passengers with incomplete or incorrect APIS data face substantial fines at the destination country. For this reason, passport scanning and verification at check-in is a critical step in the APIS data flow.