All non-UK air carriers that wish to undertake commercial services to, from or within the United Kingdom are required to hold a Foreign Carrier Permit before that flight is undertaken.
United
Kingdom’s Departure from the European Union
The UK Government has agreed a Future Trade Agreement which comes into effect on 31 December 2020. After this date, all non-UK carriers, including EEA and EFTA operators, will require a Foreign Carrier Permit before operating any commercial flight to, from or within UK territory.
Isle of Man
The CAA also administers Foreign Carrier
Permits for services to and from the Isle of Man jointly with the Isle of Man
Civil Aviation Administration.
Channel
Islands and UK Overseas Territories
If you require approval to operate to the Channel Islands or
a UK Overseas Territory you should contact the Channel Islands Office of Civil
Aviation or the Government of the Overseas
Territory concerned directly.
More information on Scheduled & Charter flights
More information on Aerial Work
See
contact details for DfT.
Where a permit is
not required
Certain flights using non-UK registered
aircraft do not require any additional approval namely:
- Private
flights
- Overflights
of the UK
- State
flights undertaken on behalf of a foreign Government (for example flights
carrying Heads of State/Government Ministers
- Flights
by military-registered aircraft (‘State’ not ‘Civil’ flights)*
- Positioning
flights, ferry flights or, delivery flights
- A
flight for the purposes of undertaking repairs, alterations, maintenance,
or salvage
- Test
flights
*Note: Before undertaking a military
registered or State flight you will need to contact the UK Ministry of Defence
for approval:
Diplomatic Flight Clearance, Ministry of
Defence
Telephone: 00 44 (0) 207 218 2723
E-mail: OIpsDir-Clerk4@mod.uk
Terms and conditions when making a Foreign Carrier Permit application online.
Foreign Carrier
Permits Contact
We recommend contacting the CAA before
applying for a Foreign Carrier Permit. However, before contacting the CAA we
familiarise yourself with relevant content on the website as the information
provided may answer your queries.
Email: foreigncarrierpermits@caa.co.uk
Fax: 00 44 (0) 207
453 6322
Telephone: 00 44 (0) 33 013 83484 (office hours only)
Opening Hours
The Foreign Registered Aircraft Permits
Department is staffed weekdays between 09:00 and 17:00 Local (excluding public
holidays).
Emergencies
Outside of office hours the CAA will only
consider applications for urgent permission in emergency situations, for
example air ambulance or humanitarian flights. Applications that need to be
submitted outside of office hours should be made to the CAA Duty Office 00 44
(0) 330 022 1500.
Charges
An administration fee of £80 is payable in
respect of each permit application made.