Home / Glossary Advance passenger information (API) Definition Electronic transmission of passenger and crew biographic, travel document and flight information by aircraft operators to border authorities before departure or arrival 1 Standard or source IATA key considerations, 2026 1
Category Passenger data Interactive API (iAPI) Definition Real-time communication between aircraft operators and border authorities during check-in, allowing board, no-board or advisory responses 1 Standard or source IATA key considerations, 2026 1
Category Passenger data Board or no-board response Definition A reply from border authorities to an airline during check-in under interactive API 1 Standard or source IATA key considerations, 2026 1
Category Passenger data Passenger name record (PNR) Definition Booking information provided by passengers and held by air carriers in reservation and departure control systems for their own commercial purposes 5 Standard or source European Commission PNR page 5
Category Passenger data Passenger information unit (PIU) Definition The body each EU Member State sets up or designates to process PNR data under the PNR Directive 3 Standard or source Directive (EU) 2016/681, Article 4 3
Category Passenger data Depersonalisation Definition Masking of PNR data elements that could directly identify a passenger, required six months after transfer 3 Standard or source Directive (EU) 2016/681, Article 12 3
Category Passenger data Passenger Data Single Window (PDSW) Definition A facility that lets parties in air passenger transport submit standardised passenger information through a single entry point 1 Standard or source IATA key considerations 1 4
Category Passenger data PAXLST Definition The UN/EDIFACT message format IATA recommends for API 1 Standard or source IATA key considerations, 2026 1
Category Passenger data PNRGOV Definition The message format IATA recommends for PNR transfers to governments 1 Standard or source IATA key considerations, 2026 1
Category Passenger data SARPs Definition Standards and Recommended Practices adopted by ICAO, such as those in Annex 9 on facilitation 4 Standard or source ICAO EUR/NAT newsletter, 2021 4
Category Standards Annex 9 (Facilitation) Definition An annex to the Convention on International Civil Aviation holding ICAO SARPs on facilitation, including passenger data exchange 6 ,4 Standard or source Council Decision (EU) 2019/2107 6
Category Standards Standard 9.7 Definition The Annex 9 Standard requiring each State to establish an API system, covering batch API 4 Standard or source ICAO Annex 9 4
Category Standards Standard 9.24 Definition The Annex 9 Standard setting the baseline commitment for States to develop the capability to collect, use, process and protect PNR data 4 Standard or source ICAO Annex 9, Amendment 28 4
Category Standards Amendment 28 Definition The Annex 9 amendment holding the PNR SARPs, adopted on 23 June 2020 and applicable from 28 February 2021 7 Standard or source ICAO Annual Report 2020 7
Category Standards Doc 9303 Definition ICAO's specifications for Machine Readable Travel Documents, published in 13 parts 8 Standard or source ICAO Publications 8
Category Documents Country Signing Certification Authority (CSCA) Definition An issuing State's key pair whose private key signs the Document Signer certificate 2 Standard or source ICAO, Basics of ePassport Cryptography 2
Category Documents Document Signer Certificate (DSC) Definition An issuing State's key pair whose private key digitally signs the ePassport 2 Standard or source ICAO, Basics of ePassport Cryptography 2
Category Documents Document Security Object Definition The structure on the ePassport chip that stores the signature and certificates 2 Standard or source ICAO, Basics of ePassport Cryptography 2
Category Documents Passive authentication Definition Validating the authenticity and integrity of the content of the chip using the issuing State's public keys 2 Standard or source ICAO, Basics of ePassport Cryptography 2
Category Documents ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD) Definition A central repository for exchanging the information required to authenticate electronic travel documents 9 Standard or source ICAO PKD page 9
Category Documents Visible Digital Seal Definition A document type covered by the ICAO PKD and by Part 13 of Doc 9303 9 ,8 Standard or source ICAO PKD page 9
Category Documents Self-service system Definition An automated system which performs all or some of the border checks that apply to a person 10 Standard or source Regulation (EU) 2017/2225 10
Category Borders E-gate Definition Infrastructure operated by electronic means where a border is actually crossed 10 Standard or source Regulation (EU) 2017/2225 10
Category Borders National facilitation programme Definition A voluntary EU Member State scheme for pre-vetted third-country nationals, with initial access of up to one year 10 Standard or source Regulation (EU) 2017/2225, Article 8d 10
Category Borders Electronic Travel Authorisation (Kenya) Definition A semi-automated system that determines eligibility to travel to Kenya, with admissibility determined at the point of entry 11 Standard or source Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya 11
Category Borders SLTD Definition INTERPOL's database of travel and identity documents reported as stolen, lost, revoked, invalid or stolen blank 12 Standard or source INTERPOL 12
Category Databases I-24/7 Definition INTERPOL's communication system through which officers access SLTD 13 Standard or source INTERPOL SLTD page 13
Category Databases I-Checkit Definition An INTERPOL screening solution that lets private sector partners check identity document information against SLTD 14 Standard or source INTERPOL 14
Category Databases goTravel Definition A UN software solution, formerly TRIP, for passenger data, given free of charge to beneficiary Member States 15 Standard or source UN Office of Counter-Terrorism 15
Category Databases Electronic Travel Authority (Australia) Definition An electronically stored authority equivalent to a visa, for tourism or business visitor activity, linked to a passport number 16 Standard or source Australian High Commission, Malaysia, 2026 16
Category Travel authorisations Group ID Definition A function in the ETA (subclass 601) application form for people travelling in a group or family group 16 Standard or source Australian High Commission, Malaysia, 2026 16
Category Travel authorisations eVisitor eligible passport Definition A passport the Australian Minister specifies under regulation 1.11C of the Migration Regulations 1994, listed in an instrument such as LIN 23/064 17 Standard or source LIN 23/064, 2023 17
Category Travel authorisations NZeTA Definition The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which some international visitors and transit passengers must have for travel from 1 October 2019 19 Standard or source MFAT 19
Category Travel authorisations International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) Definition A levy of NZD 100 that most international visitors pay when they request an NZeTA or apply for a visa, not refunded if the application is declined 18 Standard or source Immigration New Zealand 18
Category Travel authorisations K-ETA Definition The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization, for foreigners who want to enter Korea without a visa for short stays such as tourism, family visits, events or business 20 Standard or source K-ETA Application Guide 20
Category Travel authorisations K-ETA validity period Definition Three years for applications made from 3 July 2023, up from two years, and never beyond the passport expiry date 21 Standard or source K-ETA notice, 28 June 2023 21
Category Travel authorisations API router Definition A router designed, developed, hosted and technically managed by eu-LISA to transfer encrypted API data from air carriers to authorities 23 Standard or source Regulation (EU) 2025/12 22 23
Category Passenger data Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) Definition The U.S. Customs and Border Protection system to which carriers transmit electronic passenger arrival manifests 24 Standard or source 19 CFR 122.49a 24
Category Passenger data Cleared, not-cleared and selectee instructions Definition Responses CBP returns to carriers on APIS manifests. A carrier may not issue a boarding pass or load baggage for a not-cleared passenger 24 Standard or source 19 CFR 122.49a 24
Category Passenger data Interactive individual transmission Definition An APIS option in which a certified carrier sends data for each passenger as they check in, no later than the securing of the aircraft 24 Standard or source 19 CFR 122.49a 24
Category Passenger data Secure Flight Definition The TSA programme under which TSA took over watch list matching of airline passenger information from aircraft operators 25 Standard or source Secure Flight final rule, 2008 25
Category Passenger data Redress Number Definition One of the data items, with full name, sex and date of birth, that covered aircraft operators must request from passengers for Secure Flight 26 Standard or source 49 CFR 1560.101 26
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Notes Definitions are shortened from the cited source. EU terms apply under EU law only 10 Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected]
Sources IATA (industry association document): Implementation of API, iAPI and PNR programs, Key Considerations for Governments, V1 (2026) ICAO: Basics of ePassport Cryptography (accessed 24 October 2026) EUR-Lex: Directive (EU) 2016/681 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the use of passenger name record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime (27 April 2016) ICAO EUR/NAT Office: Newsletter #2 Annex 9 Facilitation Passenger Data Exchange System (2021) European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs: Travel Information, Passenger Name Record (4 August 2026) legislation.gov.uk: Council Decision (EU) 2019/2107 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization as regards the revision of Annex 9 (Facilitation) to the Convention on International Civil Aviation in respect of Standards and Recommended Practices on passenger name record data (28 November 2019) ICAO Annual Report 2020: Contribution to Global Security, Counter Terrorism and UN Security Council Resolutions (2020 report) ICAO Publications: Machine Readable Travel Documents, Doc 9303 (accessed 24 October 2026) ICAO: ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD) (accessed 24 October 2026) EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2017/2225 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards the use of the Entry/Exit System (30 November 2017) Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya: General Information, Kenya eTA (accessed 24 October 2026) INTERPOL: Our databases (accessed 24 October 2026) INTERPOL: SLTD database (travel and identity documents) (accessed 24 October 2026) INTERPOL: I-Checkit (accessed 24 October 2026) UN Office of Counter-Terrorism: Summary, Countering Terrorist Travel Programme (accessed 24 October 2026) Australian High Commission, Malaysia: Apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (13 April 2026) Federal Register of Legislation: Migration (Specification of eVisitor eligible passport) Instrument (LIN 23/064) 2023 (13 September 2023) Immigration New Zealand: How much visa applications cost and when to pay (undated) Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: New travel rules for New Zealand (undated) K-ETA: K-ETA Application Guide, eligibility (in Korean, undated) K-ETA notice (in Korean): Exemption of ages 17 and under and 65 and over from mandatory K-ETA and extension of K-ETA permit validity (28 June 2023) EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2025/12 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the collection and transfer of advance passenger information for external border checks, repealing Council Directive 2004/82/EC (19 December 2024) European Parliament Legislative Observatory: Collection and transfer of advance passenger information for enhancing and facilitating external border controls, document summary (25 April 2024) eCFR: 19 CFR 122.49a, Electronic manifest requirement for passengers onboard commercial aircraft arriving in the United States (up to date as of 16 October 2026) Federal Register, Transportation Security Administration: Secure Flight Program (28 October 2008) eCFR: 49 CFR 1560.101, Request for and transmission of information to TSA (up to date as of 16 October 2026) 