The Immigration (Form and Manner of Passenger and Service Information) Direction 2026 sets how aircraft, ship and international rail operators must send passenger data, and has applied since 7 January 2026.
Key facts
- Who: Owners or agents of aircraft and ships, and operators of international rail services, required to provide passenger and service information to the Home Office
- From: 7 January 2026
- Source: The Immigration (Form and Manner of Passenger and Service Information) Direction 2026
Replaces The Immigration (Form and Manner of Passenger and Service Information) Direction 2023, which is revoked by paragraph 10.
The Direction was published on 23 February 2026. It was made under powers in Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 and came into operation on 7 January 2026. It covers the owner or agent of an aircraft or ship and the operator of an international rail service (or their agent), referred to as "the operator".
Passenger and service information (paragraphs 2 to 4). Information specified in Schedules 1 and 2 to the Immigration and Police (Passenger, Crew and Service Information) Order 2024 must be sent in the format set for each type of carrier:
- Aircraft: the UK Generic Carrier Interface Control Document (reference UK_ICD_D0081), Version 14.2 or later.
- Ships other than cruise ships, and international rail: the Advance Passenger Information (API) for Rail and Maritime Carriers Interface Control Document (reference RM_API_ICD), Version 1.7 or later. This must be sent electronically and securely.
- Cruise ships: the document National Maritime Single Window – a Guide for Cruise operators, v.1 or later, again electronically and securely.
Electronic form (paragraph 5). All operators must send the information in an electronic form compatible with Home Office technology, using a system that lets them send and receive communications about the information.
Technical failure (paragraph 6). Where a technical failure makes this impossible, the operator will provide the information in an alternative form and manner, with the prior agreement of an immigration officer.
Passenger Name Record (PNR) data (paragraphs 7 to 9). For information specified in Schedule 3 to the 2024 Order:
- Aircraft: the PNRGOV EDIFACT message type (version 11.1 or later) and the IBM MQ transmission protocol.
- Ships and international rail: the Passenger Name Record (PNR) data for Rail and Maritime Carriers Interface Control Document (reference RM_PNR_ICD), v2.3 or later.
- Where a technical failure prevents this, the operator will, with the prior agreement of an immigration officer, provide the information in an alternative form and manner. That alternative must give a level of security for the protection of personal data equivalent to the method in paragraph 7 or 8.
What this means for applicants
The Direction places its duties on carriers, not on individual travellers. Carriers must use the formats listed above. Where a technical failure prevents this, they must provide the information in an alternative form and manner with an immigration officer's prior agreement. The source does not set out consequences for non-compliance.
Related guide: UK electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme
Sources
- The Immigration (Form and Manner of Passenger and Service Information) Direction 2026, UK Visas and Immigration guidance, published 23 February 2026