Registration is required for Unmanned Aircraft weighing more than 0.55 pounds.

Use the new EASY streamlined online system to register small unmanned aircraft (sUAS) that weigh between 0.55 and 55 pounds::

Online sUAS Registration
Online sUAS Registration FAQ
Online sUAS Registration Questions

For assistance with online registration, email UASregistration@faa.gov.

Telephone support is available from 10am to 6pm Eastern, Monday through Friday at 877-396-4636.

Note: The online sUAS Registration System is now open for all owner types and purposes:

Traditional Aircraft Registration under 14 CFR Part 47,


Is required
  • for Unmanned Aircraft that weigh 55 pounds or more,
  • for sUA owned by a trustee under a trust agreement,
  • when the sUA owner uses a voting trust to meet U.S. Citizenship requirements,

Is available

  • for sUA that need N-number registration to operate outside the U.S.,
  • when public recording is desired for a sUA's loan, lease, or ownership documents,

Registration is required for Government UA. All Aircraft owned by agencies, offices or subdivisions of: the United States (other than aircraft of the U.S. Armed Forces), the States, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States must be registered in accordance with 14 C.F.R. Part 47 or Part 48.

Definitions:

Unmanned Aircraft (UA) - means an aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.

Small Unmanned Aircraft (sUA) - means an unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds on takeoff, including everything that is onboard or attached to the aircraft.

Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) - means a small unmanned aircraft and its associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the small unmanned aircraft) that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the small unmanned aircraft in the national airspace system.

United States Citizen - means:
  • An individual who is a citizen of the United States or one of its possessions.
  • A partnership of which each individual is a citizen of the United States.
  • A corporation or association created or organized under the laws of the United States or a State, Territory, or possession thereof, of which the president and two-thirds or more of the board of directors and other managing officers are individual U.S. citizens, and at least 75 percent of the voting interest is owned or controlled by persons who are U.S. citizens.

14 CFR Part 47 sUA and UA Registration Information

Eligibility: An aircraft is eligible for United States registration only if it is owned by:

  • a citizen of the United States;
  • an individual citizen of a foreign country lawfully admitted for permanent residence;
  • a corporation (not a U.S. citizen) lawfully organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof as long as the aircraft is based and primarily used in the U.S.; or
  • a governmental unit of the United States;
and, the aircraft is not registered under the laws of any foreign county.

Aircraft Registration Requirements and directions are provided in Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 47 . The basic steps that follow will assist most UA registration applicants.

To Register a New sUA or other Unmanned Aircraft under Part 47

A new sUA is one that came to the owner essentially new in-the-box from the manufacturer or retailer and hasn't been registered anywhere,

The owner must provide the following:

  1. A completed Aircraft Registration Application: An original Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050-1 must be used. For the online form use this link, Aircraft Registration Application. Paper application forms may be obtained from the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch or any Flight Standards District Office.

    When a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) is the applicant to register a UA it also must provide information regarding its organization, how management authority is held, and how it meets the definition of a U.S. citizen for aircraft registration. The Limited Liability Corporation Registration Information Sheet  provides instructions on meeting this requirement.

    Form AFS-750-94, Information to Aid in the Registration of U.S. Civil Aircraft, provides helpful information about eligibility, types of registration, the proper form of names, signatures, titles, and addresses plus other related issues.

  2. A Notarized Affidavit That:
    a) Establishes the required description of the UA providing the following:

    • Full Legal Name of UA Manufacturer or Builder
    • UA Model Designation
    • UA Serial Number
    • Class (Airplane, Airship, Rotorcraft, Glider, Hybrid Lift, Ornithopter)
    • UA Maximum Takeoff Weight (including all items on board or attached)
    • Number of Engines
    • Engine Type (2 or 4 Cycle Reciprocating, Electric,
      Turbo - Fan/Prop/Shaft/Jet)

    b) Establishes the ownership of the UA by the applicant:

    This may be done by filing with the affidavit an Aircraft Bill of Sale, AC Form 8050-2, or an equal transfer of ownership document for each change of ownership from the UA manufacturer, builder, or retail vendor to the owner making application for registration.

    Or, by stating in the affidavit: how, from whom, and where the UA was obtained; why a bill of sale or other equal transfer of ownership document is unavailable for filing with the affidavit; and, attaching any other evidence of the transaction(s) such as a sales receipt, invoice, etc.

    c) Establishes that the UA isn't registered in another country:

    A UA purchased from a seller located in another country is considered an import.

    If the UA has not been registered anywhere and was purchased new off-the-shelf from the manufacturer or a retail vendor, include a statement similar to the following: "I purchased this UA as a new off-the-shelf item from the; manufacturer, a retail store, catalog, or internet vendor named (show name), located in (show city, state & country) on (show date).

    If the UA was registered or operated in another country then a statement is required from the Civil Aviation Authority of the exporting country confirming that registration in that country has ended or that the UA was never registered.

    d) Includes the following statement above the signatures:

    "I affirm the information and statements provided herein are correct, the aircraft is not registered under the laws of any foreign country, and I am the owner."

    An example affidavit with sample wording is available here.

  3. An N-number to be assigned to the registered aircraft.

    If a special N-number was reserved in advance by the sUA owner for this registration, this number will be assigned if it is entered on the forms in the indicated blanks.

    A special N-number may be requested when filing the application and other documents for registration. Include a letter that lists several N-number choices, and the $10.00 special number fee. The first listed number verified as available will be assigned to the aircraft.

    A random N-number will be assigned at no cost if the indicated blanks on the registration forms are left empty, or a random number is requested.

  4. The $5.00 registration fee by check or money order made payable to the Federal Aviation Administration. This fee is waived when the applicant is a Federal, State or local government office, agency or institution.

Send your Registration documents to the FAA, Aircraft Registration Branch. Addresses for regular mail and overnight courier deliveries are available through the Contact the Aircraft Registration Branch menu item.

Useful links:
An example affidavit with sample wording
Top of Page - Register a New sUA or other Unmanned Aircraft
Register a Used sUA or other Unmanned Aircraft
Sell your U.S. registered sUA or other UA
About Aircraft Registration Renewal
Limited Liability Corporation Registration Information Sheet
Information to Aid in the Registration of U.S. Civil Aircraft
Reserve, Assign or Change Special N-number
Contact Your Flight Standards District Office
FAA UAS Integration Office webpage
14 CFR Part 47 - Aircraft Registration Regulations
Contact the Aircraft Registration Branch

To Register a Used sUA or other Unmanned Aircraft under Part 47:

A used sUA or UA is an unmanned aircraft that has been registered or operated as a civil, public, or military aircraft under the laws of the U.S or another country.

The owner must provide the following:

  1. A completed Aircraft Registration Application:

    An original Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050-1 must be used. For the online version select this link, Aircraft Registration Application. Paper application forms may be obtained from the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch or any Flight Standards District Office.

    When a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) is an applicant to register a used sUA or UA, it must provide information regarding its organization, how management authority is held, and how it meets the definition of U.S. citizen for aircraft registration. The Limited Liability Corporation Registration Information Sheet provides instructions on meeting this requirement.

    Form AFS-750-94, Information to Aid in the Registration of U.S. Civil Aircraft, provides helpful information about registration eligibility, types of registration, the form of: names, signatures, titles, addresses plus other related issues.

  2. A Notarized Affidavit That:

    a) Establishes the required description of the UA providing the following:

    • Full Legal Name of UA Manufacturer or Builder
    • UA Model Designation
    • UA Serial Number
    • Class (Airplane, Airship, Rotorcraft, Glider, Hybrid Lift, Ornithopter)
    • UA Maximum Takeoff Weight (including all items on board or attached)
    • Number of Engines
    • Engine Type (2 or 4 Cycle Reciprocating, Electric,
      Turbo - Fan/Prop/Shaft/Jet)

    b) Establishes the ownership of the UA by the applicant:

    Ownership may be established by filing, with the affidavit, an Aircraft Bill of Sale, AC Form 8050-2, or an equal transfer of ownership document for each change in ownership from the last U.S. registered, foreign, or military owner through any intervening owners to the owner making application for registration.

    If a bill of sale or other transfer document is unobtainable for one or more changes of ownership, the applicant must state as part of the affidavit how, from whom, where, and when the aircraft was obtained; why a bill of sale or equal transfer of ownership document is unavailable for filing, and attach any other evidence of the transaction(s) such as a sales receipt, invoice, etc.

    c) Establishes that the UA isn't registered in another country.

    When a used sUA or UA is purchased from a seller located in another country it is considered an import. This requires a statement from the Civil Aviation Authority of the exporting country confirming their registration for this sUA or UA has ended or that a registration was never issued in that country.

    d) Includes the following statement above the signatures,

    "I affirm the information and statements provided herein are correct, the aircraft is not registered under the laws of any foreign country, and I am the owner."

  3. An N-number to be assigned to the UA being registered.

    When a U.S. registered sUA or UA is sold to another U.S. owner, it already has an assigned N-number. The new owner should show the assigned N-number in the indicated blanks on the application and bill of sale forms. The aircraft will then be registered and a registration certificate issued using this N-number

    If a special N-number was reserved or is desired for use on this sUA or UA, include a letter requesting the assignment of the desired N-number. Use the special N-number link above for more information about requesting or changing N-numbers.

    A random N-number will be assigned at no cost to an unregistered import or former military aircraft if the indicated blanks on the registration forms are left empty, or a random number is requested.

  4. The $5.00 registration fee.

    Please pay all fees by check or money order made payable to the Federal Aviation Administration. Multiple fees may be consolidated into a single payment. Registration and N-number fees are waived when the applicant is a Federal, State or local government office, agency or institution.

Send your Registration documents to the FAA, Aircraft Registration Branch.

Addresses for regular mail and overnight courier deliveries are available through the Contact the Aircraft Registration Branch menu item.

Selling your U.S. registered sUA or UA:

  • The seller should execute a bill of sale transferring all or a specific portion of their right, title and interest in the sUA or UA to the purchaser. Provide the original signed bill of sale to the purchaser. Use the aircraft description shown on the registration certificate or the Search Aircraft Registration Information website to correctly describe the sUA or UA on the bill of sale.
  • The seller should also retain their Certificate of Aircraft Registration, AC Form 8050-3, complete the applicable items on the reverse side, and return it to the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch.
  • The purchaser should forward the bill of sale with the seller's original signature, a completed Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050-1, and the $5.00 registration fee to the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch.
  • All signatures on all forms must have the typed or printed name of the signer next to their signature in the signature block.
  • All fees should be paid by check or money order made payable to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Useful links:
An example affidavit with sample wording
Top of Page - Register a New sUA or other Unmanned Aircraft
Register a Used sUA or other Unmanned Aircraft
Sell your U.S. registered sUA or other UA
About Aircraft Registration Renewal
Limited Liability Corporation Registration Information Sheet
Information to Aid in the Registration of U.S. Civil Aircraft
Reserve, Assign or Change Special N-number
Contact Your Flight Standards District Office
FAA UAS Integration Office webpage
14 CFR Part 47 - Aircraft Registration Regulations
Contact the Aircraft Registration Branch