1 1 New Zealand’s Experience in Implementing API in a ‘Visa Free’ Environment Advance Passenger Screening Presentation to : APEC Business Mobility Group Brendan Quirk Chief Operating Officer New Zealand Immigration Service 14/15 August 2003

2 2 Our Vision To keep New Zealand a desirable and safe place to live and visit Our Objectives To facilitate genuine visitors’ travel to NZ To improve border and airline security Advance Passenger Screening

3 3 7 million travel movements per annum - ‘in and out’ 7% growth per annum over the past 10 years 60% travel is between NZ and Australia 55% travellers are visa free NZ or Australian passport holders 35% travellers are Visa Free visitors 10% travellers are Visa Required visitors or hold resident, student or work visas New Zealand Air Travel

4 4 Reduces the chance of “risk” travellers entering NZ Check passports, visas & alerts before a passenger boards a flight to New Zealand Provide Airlines with an electronic directive to “Board” or “Do Not Board” a passenger Provide accurate advance passenger information (API) for profiling to determine if intervention at the border is necessary.e.g., customs, police. Advance Passenger Processing system

5 5 How the NZ APP System Works Departure Control System Airport check-in agent NZIS systems NZ APP Application Processor NZpassports NZ visas NZ alerts Person location expected movements boarding requests validation requests, biodata requests visas, alerts, person locations boarding directives Comms Gateway [SYD] [ATL] [Auckland] Not yet implemented Australian government approval is underway NZ Customs EDIFACT AU APP Application Processor AUpassports AU visas [SYD] Near-real time XML messages

6 6 NZ APP complies – with a ‘Visa Free’ orientation Standard data elements ( plus PNR locator ) Accesses government databases for verification Interactive API ( Board / Do Not Board directives ) Legislation and policy requirements – NZ & Australia Advance data used to facilitate genuine passengers Platform for Immigration, Customs & Quarantine Builds on airlines’ implementation of Australia’s APP APEC API Standards & Principles

7 7 From concept to reality… Government decision to implement (January 2002) Funding agreed (May 2002) Solution model defined (July 2002) Contract negotiated (February 2003) Pilot commenced with Air New Zealand (July 2003) Official launch August 2003 Advance Passenger Screening

8 8 Results of the pilot 46 flights processed – out of Melbourne, Australia Some false “Do Not Board” directives – but passengers cleared for boarding after checks with NZ Immigration support Initial problems fixed – airline staff now seeking special clearance for 1-2 passengers per flight, and expect this to reduce further 3 passengers stopped from boarding - – no visa, no outwards ticket No people incorrectly allowed to board Advance Passenger Screening

9 9 Proposed between NZ and Australia Verification requests – passports and visas Document alerts ( lost & stolen passports ) People alerts ( shared intelligence ) Future opportunities Global lost & stolen passports ( APEC / ICAO initiatives ) Verification against passport databases Pre-flight registration ( IATA initiative ) Information Sharing

10 New Zealand aims to balance individual’s rights to privacy and to live freely & safely NZ privacy legislation – based on OECD model Airline conditions of carriage – advise passengers that their details will be provided to border control authorities Verification requests – limited to specific data fields, and only when the passenger requests to travel Trans-national organised crime legislation – enables controlled information sharing by agreement Border security legislation – introduced Privacy

11 APP platform – a foundation for future facilitation initiatives Airlines – consistency of approach by Governments will help compliance with API systems, and are a critical alliance. Data quality and timeliness of data updates critical Physical support team – needed 24 x 7 to handle exceptions Advance Passenger Information – enables a more targeted approach to border control, enhancing facilitation & risk response Information sharing – vital for countries with “visa free” arrangements New Zealand’s learning to date

12 Questions and Discussion