Do I Need a FAA U.S. Agent for Service? Here's How to Check
If you hold an FAA certificate and live outside the United States, there's a regulation you need to know about: 14 CFR Part 3, Subpart C. Published as a final rule in October 2024, it requires certain FAA certificate holders with foreign addresses to designate a U.S. Agent for Service.
But does it apply to you? Let's walk through it.
## The Quick Checklist
You need to designate a U.S. Agent for Service if ALL of the following are true:
1. You have a foreign address of record on file with the FAA (i.e., your FAA records show an address outside the United States)
2. You do NOT have a U.S. physical address on file with the FAA
3. You hold or are applying for a certificate, rating, or authorization under one of these parts of 14 CFR:
- Part 47 — Aircraft Registration
- Part 61 — Pilots and Flight Instructors
- Part 63 — Flight Engineers and Flight Navigators
- Part 65 — Mechanics, Repairmen, and Aircraft Dispatchers
- Part 67 — Medical Certificates
- Part 107 — Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drone Operators)
If all three conditions apply, you are required to designate a U.S. Agent.
## Who Does This Affect in Practice?
This rule primarily affects international aviators — pilots, instructors, and mechanics who trained in the US or obtained FAA certificates but live and work outside the United States. Common examples include:
- A pilot in Singapore holding an FAA commercial pilot certificate (Part 61) with a Singapore address on file
- A drone operator in the UK with a Part 107 remote pilot certificate
- An aircraft owner in Canada with a Part 47 registration but no U.S. address
- A mechanic in the Philippines holding an FAA A&P certificate (Part 65)
If you obtained your FAA certificate while living in the US but have since moved abroad and updated your address to a foreign one, the rule applies to you.
## What Counts as a "U.S. Physical Address"?
The FAA is specific about this. A qualifying U.S. physical address must be a residential or commercial address located in:
- The 50 US states
- The District of Columbia
- US territories or possessions
The following do NOT qualify:
- PO Boxes
- Military post office boxes
- Mail drop boxes
- Commercial addresses that are not also residential addresses (e.g., a UPS Store address)
So if you were thinking about getting a PO Box or using a virtual mailbox service, that won't satisfy the requirement.
## What Are the Deadlines?
Both deadlines have now passed:
- April 2, 2025 — for new applicants
- July 7, 2025 — for existing certificate holders
If you haven't designated a U.S. Agent yet, you should do so as soon as possible.
## What Happens If I Don't Comply?
The consequences are laid out in 14 CFR 3.303:
- You may not exercise the privileges of your FAA certificate, rating, or authorization
- Aircraft owners' registration certificates will be considered ineffective
- The FAA may take enforcement action under Enforcement and Compliance Order 2150.3
- New applicants will not be issued certificates
In practical terms: flying on an FAA certificate without a designated U.S. Agent (when required) means you're operating outside the privileges of your certificate.
## How to Designate a U.S. Agent
The process is straightforward:
1. Choose a U.S. Agent for Service — this can be a trusted individual in the US or a service company like AeroTrust Agency
2. Go to the FAA USAS Portal at usas.faa.gov
3. Sign in with your FAA credentials
4. Follow the prompts to designate your agent
5. Submit — your designation is effective immediately
The entire process takes about 10 minutes.
## How AeroTrust Agency Can Help
AeroTrust Agency provides U.S. Agent for Service designation for $29.90/year — the most affordable option available. We're run by pilots who hold FAA certificates ourselves, so we understand the process from both sides.
After subscribing, you receive a complete step-by-step guide for designating us on the USAS portal, and our team is available to help if you get stuck.
Get started at aerotrustagency.com.
