FAA’s New U.S. Agent for Service Rule for International Certificate Holders

July 2025 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has introduced a critical regulatory change that affects thousands of pilots, aircraft owners, mechanics, and drone operators who reside outside the United States. Under the new rule, individuals who hold or apply for any FAA certificate, rating, or authorization and do not have a U.S. physical address on file are now required to designate a U.S. Agent for Service of documents.

This agent will serve as the recipient of official FAA communications, including time-sensitive and legally binding documents such as enforcement notices, letters of investigation, and certification actions. The rule applies to individuals operating under 14 CFR Parts 47, 61, 63, 65, 67, and 107, encompassing a wide range of aviation roles from student pilots and airline transport pilots to drone operators and AMEs.

View the official rule here.

Why the Change?

The FAA cites delays and uncertainties in international document delivery as a risk to safety oversight and enforcement efficiency. By requiring a domestic U.S. agent for foreign-based individuals, the agency aims to ensure that critical notifications are delivered promptly, regardless of the certificate holder’s location.

These communications may include time-sensitive and critical documents such as:

Letters of Investigation
Enforcement Notices
Certificate Actions
Medical or Registration Correspondence

By ensuring every foreign certificate holder has a domestic U.S. contact, the FAA can now ensure fast, reliable communication, essential for safety and regulatory compliance.

Importantly, while the U.S. agent will receive official FAA documents, the certificate holder remains fully responsible for responding to and complying with the contents of those communications.

Compliance deadline you shouldn't miss

For existing certificate holders, the final compliance deadline is July 7, 2025. If you haven’t appointed a U.S. agent by then, your certificate and the privileges that come with it, could be suspended. Only 48 hours remain to assign your agent, do it before all your hardwork is washed away due to negligence of a simple application.

Failure to comply isn’t a slap on the wrist, it comes with real consequences:

New applications will be rejected or delayed if a U.S. agent isn’t listed.
Existing certificate holders may face suspension or inactivation of existing FAA certificates or ratings.
You may miss safety notices, medical renewals, or enforcement letters, simply because they couldn’t reach you.
Delays or denials in processing new applications
Aircraft registrations becoming legally ineffective

If you’re currently overseas and fly under an FAA license, this rule directly affects your legal standing and operational privileges.

Who Can Serve as a U.S. Agent?

The designated agent must:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a physical address in the United States (P.O. boxes and mail-forwarding addresses are not acceptable)
Consent to act as the certificate holder’s representative for service of FAA documents

Certificate holders may designate an individual (e.g., a trusted friend or relative in the U.S.) or a professional registered agent service. The designation must be submitted through the FAA’s U.S. Agent for Service (USAS) System, which can be accessed via usas.faa.gov.

You can use professional services like Valiair or AOPA, or designate a trusted friend or family member based in the U.S.

If any changes occur, such as the agent’s address or contact details,certificate holders are required to update their agent information within 30 days to remain in compliance.

Check out FAA's official advisory circular about USAS for more information.

How to Designate a U.S. Agent

Select a U.S.-based individual or organization who has a physical address (PO Boxes are not accepted). The person must be at least 18 years old and reside in the U.S.

Use the FAA’s USAS (U.S. Agent for Service) system to register and submit the agent’s contact details: name, address, phone, and email.

Keep your agent info updated. If your agent changes or their address updates, you must notify the FAA within 30 days.

Start the process on the USAS portal here.

Industry Insight & Pilot Reactions

Aviation groups like OPSGROUP and AOPA have supported the rule for its clarity but warn that many foreign pilots may miss the deadline due to lack of awareness.

“By July 7, 2025, all FAA licence holders must provide a mailing address in the United States,” wrote one aviation user on Reddit, summarizing the rule bluntly.

OPSGROUP also reported that FAA systems like MedXpress are already rejecting form submissions without a valid U.S. agent, effectively enforcing the rule ahead of time.
Read their take here

The Bottom Line

This isn’t just another bureaucratic formality, it’s a crucial step to legally stay in the air and in the loop. For international FAA certificate holders, appointing a U.S. Agent for Service is now as essential as maintaining your medical.

This rule reflects a significant administrative shift, rooted in safety, accountability, and timely communication. With the compliance deadlines fast approaching, affected individuals are strongly encouraged to act promptly to avoid disruption of their FAA privileges or delays in certification.

The clock is ticking, don’t let paperwork ground your wings.

Need help? Drop us a message and we’ll help you navigate the clouds of bureaucracy. Find us @6pistonsmedia on Instagram, X and LinkedIN.

Image credit- Aviation Pros