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Foreign Pilot UAS Certification

AIM ¶ 11-5-4 — Foreign Pilot UAS Certification

AIM 11-5-4 explains how foreign nationals obtain a U.S. sUAS Part 107 certificate, TRUST for recreational flyers, and TSA security vetting requirements.

In Plain English

AIM 11-5-4 outlines how foreign nationals become certified to operate small unmanned aircraft (sUAS) in the U.S. National Airspace System.

Part 107 Operations:

  • A foreign national who already holds a U.S.-issued 14 CFR Part 61 certificate is eligible for a sUAS certificate the same way a U.S. citizen is.
  • A foreign national without a U.S. Part 61 certificate must take and pass the Initial Aeronautical Knowledge Test to obtain a sUAS Pilot Certificate.

Recreational Flyer Operations: Foreign nationals flying recreationally under 49 USC 44809 must pass TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test).

Security Vetting: All applicants, regardless of nationality, must pass a TSA Security Threat Analysis (STA) before the FAA issues a temporary or permanent Part 107 certificate.

Bilateral Agreements: The U.S. currently has no bilateral agreements that allow issuance of a U.S. sUAS certificate based on a foreign UAS pilot certificate — there is no foreign-license conversion path.

This matters because foreign drone operators can't simply use their home-country credentials in U.S. airspace; they must meet U.S. testing and security requirements directly.

AIM Source Text
FAA AIM ¶ 11-5-4
11-5-4. 11-5-4. Foreign Pilot Certification Part 107 Operations: Foreign national holding a U.S. issued 14 CFR part 61 certificate. Foreign nationals are eligible for a sUAS certificate in the same way that a U.S. citizen is eligible. Foreign national not holding a U.S. issued 14 CFR part 61 certificate. A foreign national who does not hold a U.S.-issued 14 CFR part 61 certificate, must take and pass the Initial Aeronautical Knowledge Test to obtain a sUAS Pilot Certificate in order to operate in the NAS. Recreational Flyer Operations A foreign national is required to have passed TRUST to fly a UAS recreationally under 49 USC 44809 in the United States. Security vetting. All applicants, regardless of nationality, must pass a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Threat Analysis (STA) before the FAA will issue a temporary or permanent Pilot's Certificate under part 107. Bi-lateral agreements. Currently, the United States does not have any bi-lateral agreements with any other countries that would allow the issuance of a U.S. sUAS certificate that is based on a foreign UAS Pilot's Certificate. Previous | Top | Next AIM | ATPUBS | FAA | Send your comments regarding this website.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1How can a foreign national obtain a Part 107 sUAS Pilot Certificate?
Per AIM 11-5-4, a foreign national who holds a U.S.-issued 14 CFR Part 61 certificate is eligible the same way a U.S. citizen is. Without a Part 61 certificate, the foreign national must take and pass the Initial Aeronautical Knowledge Test to obtain a sUAS Pilot Certificate to operate in the NAS.
Q2What must a foreign national do to fly a UAS recreationally in the U.S.?
Per AIM 11-5-4, a foreign national must pass TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) to fly a UAS recreationally under 49 USC 44809 in the United States.
Q3Are there any bilateral agreements that let a foreign UAS pilot certificate be converted to a U.S. sUAS certificate?
No. Per AIM 11-5-4, the United States currently has no bilateral agreements with any other country that would allow issuance of a U.S. sUAS certificate based on a foreign UAS pilot certificate. Additionally, all applicants must pass a TSA Security Threat Analysis before a Part 107 certificate is issued.
Related Paragraphs in AIM Chapter 11
11-5-1
UAS Pilot Certification
11-5-2
PAO Pilot Certification
11-5-3
UAS Pilot Certification
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AIM 11-5-4 — Foreign Pilot UAS Certification