FAA Foreign Certificate Registration: USAS & U.S. Agent Guide

Active FAA foreign certificate registration guide: who needs USAS, how to designate a U.S. Agent for Service, pricing links, and next-step checklist.

FAA Foreign Certificate Registration: USAS & U.S. Agent Guide explains FAA Agent for Service requirements for international FAA certificate holders, foreign pilots, mechanics, drone operators, aircraft owners, and aviation businesses with non-U.S. addresses.

Aero Agent provides a U.S.-based FAA Agent for Service address, FAA mail receipt, document scanning, alerts, forwarding, storage, disposal support, and secure portal access for customers outside the United States.

Use these pages to understand the compliance requirement, compare service options, read related FAA mail and address-rule guidance, and compare Aero Agent pricing when you are ready to appoint a U.S. agent.

FAA Foreign Certificate Registration: USAS & U.S. Agent Guide

Foreign pilots, aircraft mechanics, drone operators, and other FAA certificate holders with non-U.S. addresses have an active FAA requirement to designate a U.S. Agent for Service when the rule applies. If you still have not completed it, treat it as a current compliance task before relying on FAA certificate privileges.

Foreign pilots, aircraft mechanics, drone operators, and other FAA certificate holders with non-U.S. addresses have an active FAA Agent for Service requirement. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses the USAS portal (

) for covered individuals to designate a U.S. Agent for Service. If the requirement applies and you have not completed it, your FAA certificate privileges may be unavailable until you fulfill the requirement.

This guide explains who needs to register, why a U.S. agent is required, and how to complete the FAA foreign pilot registration workflow. It also links to pricing, the USAS checklist, and the Aero Agent workflow so you can move from research to compliance without hunting through multiple pages.

Best next step if you found this page from Google

Start with the FAA agent pricing page, then use the USAS checklist before submitting your designation. Aero Agent is built for international FAA certificate holders who need a U.S.-based service contact, scanned FAA mail, alerts, forwarding options, and a secure customer portal.

Who Needs to Register via USAS.faa.gov?

All foreign-based individuals holding FAA certificates with no U.S. physical address on record must register and designate an agent. This rule applies only to individuals (not companies or entities) under specific FAA certificate categories. You must register if you meet all of the following criteria:

You hold (or are applying for) an FAA certificate, rating, or authorization issued under 14 CFR Parts 47, 61, 63, 65, 67, or 107. This includes:

Pilots (private, commercial, ATP, flight instructors) – Part 61 certificate holders.

Flight Crew & Engineers (flight engineers, navigators) – Part 63 certificate holders.

Aircraft Mechanics & Technicians (A&P mechanics, repairmen, dispatchers, etc.) – Part 65 certificate holders.

Medical Certificate Holders – anyone with an FAA airman medical certificate (Part 67).

Certified Drone Operators (Remote Pilots under Part 107).

Aircraft Owners with FAA aircraft registrations (Part 47) using a foreign address.

Your address of record with the FAA is outside the United States. (You have no U.S. residential address on file.)

You are an individual person, not a corporation or other entity. (The rule does not apply to companies or organizations, only to individual certificate holders.)

In total, about 115,000 international FAA certificate holders fall under this rule. If you're an expat pilot or technician abroad, or a foreign citizen who obtained an FAA license, you must take action to remain in good standing.

Why Is a U.S. Agent for Service Required?

The FAA instituted this U.S. Agent requirement to ensure faster, reliable communication with certificate holders outside the U.S. Previously, serving legal notices or urgent safety communications to foreign addresses was slow and costly, often hindered by international treaties and procedures.

By designating a U.S. Agent for Service, you provide the FAA with a stateside point of contact authorized to receive official FAA documents on your behalf. Your U.S. Agent will receive safety-critical letters, legal notices, and other time-sensitive FAA correspondence for you. This agent could be a person or a company based in the U.S. who then forwards the documents to you promptly.

Many pilots used to list a friend's or relative's U.S. address for FAA mail – now an official agent designation is mandatory. The rule "facilitates the FAA's ability to accomplish prompt and cost-effective service of process" to individuals abroad. In short, it's about making sure important FAA communications reach you quickly, no matter where you live.

This requirement is for individuals only. Companies and entities are excluded because the FAA already has means to reach them (e.g. registered agents for businesses). The focus here is on foreign individual certificate holders who previously might be hard to contact.

Related details

• Current compliance status: the FAA Agent requirement is active
• The initial FAA compliance dates have passed. If you are a covered FAA certificate holder with a non-U.S. address and have not designated a U.S. Agent for Service, treat this as an active compliance issue rather than a future deadline.
• The FAA rule means covered individuals outside the United States must have a U.S. Agent for Service available for official FAA correspondence and service of process. Until the designation is complete, affected certificate privileges or aircraft registration activity may be limited.
• The practical next step is simple: choose a reliable U.S. agent, gather the agent details required by USAS, submit the designation, and keep a record of the confirmation.
• If you are applying now with a foreign address, expect the agent designation to be part of the certificate workflow. Complete the U.S. agent step before relying on certificate issuance or FAA follow-up mail.
• Existing certificate holders
• If you already hold an FAA certificate and live abroad, verify whether USAS shows a completed agent designation. If not, designate your agent now and keep the contact information current.
• How to Designate a U.S. Agent and Register on the FAA USAS Website
• Designating your U.S. agent and certifying it with the FAA is done online through the U.S. Agent for Service (USAS) portal. The process is straightforward, but it requires gathering some information and following the online steps carefully. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you through the FAA USAS registration process:
• 1. Choose Your U.S. Agent for Service (and Gather Their Info)
• First, identify who will serve as your U.S. Agent. You have two main options:
• Appoint an individual you trust in the U.S.
• (must be 18 or older with a U.S. address), such as a friend or relative – be sure they agree to accept this responsibility.
• Use a professional U.S. Agent service
• – a company specializing in acting as FAA agents for foreign certificate holders. For example,
• is a recommended provider that offers a dedicated U.S. address and mail forwarding for FAA purposes. Using a service ensures your agent is always available and understands FAA procedures.
• Whichever you choose, collect the agent's details in advance. You will need the agent's full name, U.S. street address (PO boxes or military boxes not allowed), and email address. You can also optionally provide a phone and fax number, but those are not required.
• If the agent is a company, get the official company name and address. Ensure your agent is ready to receive and forward mail to you. (Professional agents like Aero-Agent.com handle this by scanning and emailing your documents to you.)
• 2. Visit the FAA's USAS Portal (usas.faa.gov) and Sign In
• Go to the FAA's U.S. Agent for Service (USAS) online portal at
• Use the same name that appears on your FAA certificates so the system can match your records. Provide a valid email (you'll receive confirmation notices here).
• Password & Security Questions:
• Set up your login credentials as prompted. (Since this is an FAA system, expect typical government account security steps.)
• You might need to verify your email or agree to terms of service for the FAA portal. Once your account is set up, proceed to log in.