Advance Passenger Information Requirements

Many countries now require airlines to send information on passengers in advance of their arrival at their destination. The UK Government is implementing its requirement for Advanced Passenger Information (API) from all passengers travelling internationally into and out of the UK. This is being rolled out on a route by route basis. Further the Governments of the countries listed below require Airlines to collect API from all passengers prior to travel and in future this information will also be passed to the UK authorities. API usually consists of data found in your Machine Readable travel documents. However, some countries require information that cannot be machine-read. In some instances, your contact details are also provided to the authorities before you travel.

It is important that the information provided is accurate so you pass through Immigration on arrival in these countries without delay. You can provide this information when you check in or, for some Airlines, in advance of going to the airport. 

UK law requires Airlines to collect the following information prior to travel from all passengers travelling to and from the countries listed below. The API required includes:

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

Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Czech Republic, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, France, Ghana, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Libya, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Switzerland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks & Caicos, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Zambia.

In addition, the following information is required for passengers travelling to the USA from the UK: