What is Advance Passenger Information? Why do I need to provide it?

The immigration authorities of many countries require all airlines to provide passenger passport information prior to departure of any inbound or outbound flights to ensure safety and security. Currently these countries include:

Passengers travelling to the UAE from certain countries also need to provide Advance Passenger Information. Currently these countries include: Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Yemen.

Please be aware that information requirements are subject to change at any time.

Required passenger information for all API countries (note that additional information requirements vary by country):

• Full name
• Passport number, issuing country, and expiration date
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Nationality 

If travelling to the United States of America, the following additional details are required.

• For Permanent Resident Card holders only:
  Permanent Residence Card number. 
• For non-US Citizens without a Permanent Residence Card:
  a) Country of residence
  b) Destination address in the USA, including street, city, state and zip code.
  • If you are staying at a hotel, provide the complete hotel name as well as the street, city, state and zip code.
    
    Example: 
    Address: Downtown Hilton Hotel– (be as specific as possible)
    City: Houston
    State: Texas
    ZIP Code: 99999
    If you are not sure of the correct ZIP Code, you may enter 99999.
    
  • If you are transferring to a cruise ship on the day you arrive in the USA, provide the name of the cruise ship and your port of embarkation.
    
    Example: 
    Address: Transit to MV Princess of the Seas 
    City: New York 
    State: New York
    ZIP Code: 99999
    
  • If you are planning to pick up a rental car and if the address of the first night stay is not known, you may provide the general itinerary.
    
    Example:
    Address: Touring the Grand Canyon 
    City: Grand Canyon
    State: Arizona 
    ZIP Code: 99999
    
  • If you are returning on the same day, provide the address of a location where you will be spending time during your visit to the USA.
  • If you are transferring to another flight in the USA that goes outside the USA and your onward flight leaves beyond eight hours of your arrival, provide your flight number and departure airport address.
    
    Example:
    Address: AA121
    City: Houston
    State: Texas
    ZIP Code: 99999
    
  • If you are backpacking, indicate where you will spend your first night.
  • If you do not have an address for the first night, provide information about where you expect to be staying in as much detail as possible.
  • If you are travelling with children and infants, you must provide a US address for each of them. 

Passengers who refuse to supply this information prior to travel will not be allowed entry to the USA and therefore will not be accepted for travel at check-in. It is important that the information is accurate to avoid delays at the airports both on departure and arrival into the USA.

US Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs), transit passengers and departing passengers are exempt from the U.S. address requirement.

In addition to the Advance Passenger Information above, the USA requires your next of kin contact details, in case of an emergency. This will include the person's name and the telephone number.