United States Aviation Permits
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Civil Aviation Authority
- Name: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Website: https://www.faa.gov
- Contact: +1 866-835-5322 (FAA) / GAsupport@cbp.dhs.gov (CBP eAPIS support)
Estimated Processing Time
Requirements by Operation Type
No permits required for private non-revenue flights. eAPIS manifest mandatory for all international arrivals/departures.
No overflight permit. Landing requires eAPIS manifest (60 min before departure). Charter ops (Part 135) may need DOT economic authority.
No permit required. Covered by bilateral Air Transport Agreements. File ICAO flight plan with appropriate ARTCC.
Overflight Permit
- Required: No
- Authority: FAA
- Lead Time: N/A
- Validity: N/A
- Fees: N/A (no overflight permit fees; standard ATC user fees may apply to non-US operators)
No overflight permit required for any operation type. File ICAO flight plan with the appropriate ARTCC. ADIZ penetration requires two-way radio, Mode C transponder, ADS-B Out, and a filed/activated flight plan. Border overflight exemptions are now managed via the eAPIS web portal.
1. File an ICAO flight plan with the appropriate Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) 2. No additional permit application needed for any operation type 3. Ensure Mode C transponder and ADS-B Out (14 CFR 91.225/91.227) compliance 4. For ADIZ penetration: file and activate flight plan, maintain two-way radio contact 5. Border overflight exemptions can be managed via https://eapis.cbp.dhs.gov
Landing Permit
- Required: Conditional
- Authority: FAA / CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
- Lead Time: 60 minutes minimum (eAPIS manifest before departure); recommend 24-48 hours for CBP port notification
- Validity: Per arrival
- Fees: Airport-specific landing fees; CBP customs user fees (inflation-adjusted annually, FY2026 rates apply from Oct 2025)
Private non-revenue: no landing permit required but eAPIS manifest is mandatory. Charter/Part 135: may need DOT economic authority (exemption or certificate). eAPIS mandatory for ALL international arrivals and departures. Must land at a designated Airport of Entry (AOE) and contact the responsible CBP port directly to secure permission to land after eAPIS submission.
1. Register at eAPIS portal: https://eapis.cbp.dhs.gov 2. Submit eAPIS manifest (crew and passenger data) at least 60 minutes prior to departure (no maximum advance time; 24-48h recommended) 3. Contact the responsible CBP port of entry directly to secure landing permission after successful eAPIS submission 4. File ICAO flight plan with FAA 5. Land at a designated Airport of Entry (AOE) 6. Clear CBP (Customs and Border Protection) on arrival -- all persons remain with aircraft until cleared 7. For charter/Part 135 operations: verify DOT economic authority (exemption or certificate) before departure 8. For support: email GAsupport@cbp.dhs.gov
Cabotage
No (strictly enforced; 49 USC 41703 prohibits foreign aircraft from carrying passengers/cargo between US points)
General Remarks
Very favorable for private operations. eAPIS (Electronic Advance Passenger Information System) mandatory for all international flights. CBP inflation-adjusted user fees updated annually (FY2026 from Oct 2025). CANPASS-equivalent does not exist for inbound US -- all arrivals require eAPIS plus CBP clearance at an AOE.