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Form and Manner Specification for Carrier Passenger and Service Information (Direction 2026)

Validated finding · five-country-2010-20260922-v118-evidence-presentation-fix

CountryUnited Kingdom
Operative dateJanuary 7, 2026
CategoryBorder control
Policy toolData intake and carrier verification mandate
Affected groupCommercial international passenger carriers and incoming travelers

Policy effect

Prescribes revised mandatory technical specifications, electronic data exchange formats, and interface control documents (including Advance Passenger Information for Rail and Maritime Carriers, National Maritime Single Window Cruise Guide, and PNRGOV EDIFACT messaging via IBM MQ) for commercial air, maritime, and international rail carriers submitting passenger, crew, and service information to the Home Office, replacing the 2023 Direction. Phase scope: Universal across all international air, maritime, and rail carriers operating to or from Great Britain/UK.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

THE IMMIGRATION (FORM AND MANNER OF PASSENGER AND SERVICE INFORMATION) DIRECTION 2026 The Secretary of State makes the following Direction-in exercise of the powers conferred by paragraphs 278(8) and 27B(8A) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971.1 • 1. This Direction may be cited as the Immigration (Form and Manner of Passenger and Service Information) Direction 2026 and comes into operation on 07 January 2026. Form and Manner requirements in respect of the provision of all passenger and service information by the owner or agent of an aircraft or ship or the person operating an international rail service or their agent ("the operator")2 2, Where the owner or agent of an aircraft, is subject to a requirement under paragraph 27B of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 to provide passenger and service information specified in Schedules 1 and 2 to the Immigration and Police (Passenger, Crew and Service Information) Order 2024 ("the 2024 Order")3, that passenger and service information must be provided as specified in the UK Generic Carrier Interface Control Document (reference UK_ICD_D0081) (Version 14.2 or later). 3, Where the owner or agent of a ship (other than a cruise ship) … or the operator of an international rail service is subject to a requirement under paragraph 27B of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 to provide passenger and service information as specified in Schedules 1 and 2 to the 2024 Order, that passenger and service information must be provided electronically and securely as specified in the Advance Passenger Information (API) for Rail and Maritime Carriers Interface Control Document (reference RM_API_ICD} (Version 1.7 or later). 4. Where the owner or agent of a cruise ship is subject to a requirement under paragraph 278 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 to provide passenger and service information as specified in Schedules 1 and 2 to the 2024 Order, that passenger and service information must be provided electronically and securely as specified in the document - National Maritime Single Window - a Guide for Cruise operators (v.1 or later). 5. The owner or agent of an aircraft, ship or the operator of an international rail service must provide that information in an electronic form that is compatible with the technology used by the Home Office and by means of a system which enables the carrier to send and receive communications … service to provide the required information in accordance with paragraph 5, the owner or agent or the operator will provide the required information in an alternative form and manner with the prior agreement of an immigration officer. Form and Manner requirements in respect of Passenger Name Record Data by the owner or agent of an aircraft, ship or the operator of an international rail service 7. Where the owner or agent of an aircraft is subject to a requirement under paragraph 27B(2) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 to provide any passenger or service information specified by Schedule 3 to the 2024 Order, the owner or agent must provide that information using the PNRGOV EDIFACT message type (version 11.1 or later) and the IBM MQ transmission protocol. 8. Where the owner or agent of a ship or the operator of an international rail service is subject to a requirement under paragraph 278(2) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 to provide any passenger or service information specified by Schedule 3 to the 2024 Order, the owner or agent or the operator must provide that information as specified in the Passenger Name Record (PNR) data for Rail and Maritime Carriers Interface Control Document (reference RM_PNR_ICD) (v2.3 or later). 9. In circumstances where there has been a technical failure meaning it is not possible for the owner or agent of an aircraft, ship or the operator of an international rail service to provide the required information in accordance with paragraph 7 or 8 respectively, the owner or agent or the operator will, with prior agreement of an immigration officer, provide the information in an alternative form and manner providing the alternative form and · manner provides a level of security in relation to the protection' of personal data equivalent … to the method referred to in paragraphs 7 or 8 respectively; and 10. The Immigration (Form and Manner of Passenger and Service Information) Direction 2023 is revoked. Rt. Hon. Mike Tapp Minister for Migration and Citizenship (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State) …
UK Home OfficeThe Immigration (Form and Manner of Passenger and Service Information) Direction 2026, signed under paragraphs 27B(8) and 27B(8A) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971.Open official source
Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6992fe16492ea446ea7f444c/The_Immigration__Form_and_Manner_of_Passenger_and_Service_Information__Direction_2026.pdf

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Automated source validation is not independent human legal review. The finding should not be treated as legal advice. Record fcp5-5d5591ac2986bf96e6b2. Something wrong? Flag this record.

Other United Kingdom changes operative in 2026