New APIS Rules for Bizav Start in Mexico

Revised advanced passenger information system (APIS) requirements for travel in Mexico were instituted this week. AIN confirmed that a new two-step submission process now applies to all private and charter flights into and out of the country.

According to business aviation flight data provider OpsGroup and Miami-based international ground handler CST Flight Services, the first APIS submission must be filed within two hours before departure, for both inbound and outbound flights. The second filing must be confirmation of the passengers on board, “sent after doors close and before takeoff.”

Operators can submit their APIS information three ways: through ARINC (said to be the only authorized vendor for submitting manifests); some third-party service providers who can handle the process of submission directly via their ARINC account; or a completed Excel spreadsheet can be emailed to [email protected].

However, the email option is limited to four trips to and from Mexico per year. What’s more, when using email, the submission gets forwarded to ARINC’s system, but no response is returned. “When submitting through a dedicated ARINC portal, operators receive an immediate response, either confirming that the Excel file was successfully uploaded or flagging errors that need to be corrected and resubmitted,” OpsGroup and CST noted.

Failing to comply with APIS requirements may result in fines ranging from $1,471 to $14,711, said CST. Since Mexico first issued APIS rules in 2012, the requirements have evolved several times with changes to timelines and procedures. An online guide to filling out and filing the forms is available.