Certification phase
This page explains the certification process for carriers that have built an interface to provide the passenger and crew data required for the e-Borders programme.
The certification phase is the validation process that each interface will undergo after completing standalone testing, to ensure it is ready to enter live service with e-Borders.
The certification process will be a collaborative effort between us and the carrier. It includes:
- test scheduling;
- test execution; and
- analysis of the results.
If the tests are successful, we will consider the tested system to be certified, and grant a connection to the e-Borders live system.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What happens if we cannot certify all of our routes at the same time? Can we phase our certification?
We plan to certify each interface and therefore will not certify routes separately. Carriers will need to provide justification if it is not possible to certify all interfaces at the same time to meet the certification date we give during our carrier engagement meetings. -
Can we certify systems rather than carriers?
Departure Control Services (DCS) supplier registration and certification has been conditionally approved. The overall process is the same for DCS suppliers as it is for carriers, except for the number of test voyages requested. DCS suppliers are requested to send 10 voyages representing 10 different routes. Testing a higher volume during DCS supplier certification provides a higher level of confidence in the interface. This is required because this certification will be valid for all subsequent routes.
Terms explained
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Carrier
A person or organisation that transports passengers or goods in and out of the United Kingdom.
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Certification
The process a carrier's interface must undergo after testing, to ensure it is ready to go into service and connect with our e-Borders system.
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Interface
An interface is a standard and secure way to transfer information from carrier systems to our e-Borders systems. Each interface will have its own method of transport and encryption.
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e-Borders
e-Borders is the name of a programme we have set up to introduce electronic border control to the United Kingdom by 2014. It will collect and analyse passenger and crew information provided electronically by carriers (airlines, rail and shipping companies) before travel starts on all journeys to and from the United Kingdom.