Advanced Passenger Information
For security reasons, several countries have introduced the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) for international travellers. This means that before undertaking international travel, travellers must provide the airline with certain details about themselves, their itinera
ry, and where they will be staying in their destination country. The airline passes this information on to the authorities of APIS countries.
Important notice: prior to departure
Airlines are bound by law to transmit certain passenger information (referred to as APIS) prior to departure for all flights to and from the United States, India or the United Kingdom. We advice you to provide us with this information at the time of reservation or complete your details when checking in online.
If there is no possibility to use online check in, you can complete your details at the airport. You can download the API-form prior to departure.
APIS applies to travel to and transfers in the following countries:
To prevent unnecessary delays at airports, we recommend that you complete these details online, prior to your departure. The following airlines offer you the option of completing the APIS details online:
- Air Canada
- British Airways (same procedure as Check in Online)
- Finnair (use Manage Booking to add)
- Lufthansa
- SAS (add when booking flight)
- Swiss (use Manage Booking to add)
- United Airlines (same procedure as Check in Online)
India
India introduced APIS on 1 August 2008. This means that travellers flying to India are obliged to provide additional personal details before departure. Passengers should provide the requested information themselves when they check in – either online or by means of the self-service check-in machines at Schiphol Airport. The latter option might increase your waiting time.
United Kingdom
The UK introduced APIS in 2009. All international travellers travelling via the UK are obliged to provide personal information, such as contact and passport details, prior to their journey.
At the moment, APIS is required for journeys made via Great Britain to the following countries: Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, China, India, Japan, Kenya, Malta, Mexico, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, South Africa.
United States
Passengers who hire a car or camper straight after their arrival in the United States will be required to provide an address that is as complete as possible.
Non-US citizens will be required to provide the following details about their place of residence in the US:
- Street name and house number
- Town
- State
- Postcode
- Exceptions
The following passengers will not be required to provide an address in the US:
- US residents
- Transfer passengers with a destination outside the USA (transfer time of up to 8 hours within the US): enter “Transit to Non-US Country” and provide the number of the next flight
- Cruise passengers: enter “Transit to Cruise Line” after “Address”, stating the name of the town, the code of the state where the cruise starts, and the name of the ship.