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

Immigration authorities in many countries require airlines to provide passenger information prior to departure or arrival of flights to the country to ensure safety and security. Currently, these countries include:

Passengers traveling to the UAE from certain countries also must 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 (additional information requirements vary by country):

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

For passengers traveling to the United States of America, additional details are required.

• For Permanent Resident Card holders:
  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 you do not know the address where you will be staying the first night, you may provide the general itinerary.
    
    Example:
    Address: Touring the Grand Canyon
    City: Grand Canyon
    State: Arizona
    ZIP Code: 99999
    
  • If you are returning to your point of origin 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 that will leave the USA and your onward flight leaves more than eight hours after 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 as much detail as possible about where you expect to be staying.
  • If you are traveling 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 will not be accepted for travel at check-in. It is important that the information is accurate to avoid delays at the airports on both departure and arrival to the USA.

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

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