How to Register an Aircraft With the FAA: Forms, Fees, Pink Copy and Renewal
This guide is for a new owner putting an aircraft into their own name, or their LLC's, after a purchase. It walks through the FAA registration filing itself: who qualifies, which forms to sign, what it costs, how long it takes, and how to keep the registration current.
Who can register an aircraft with the FAA?
An aircraft may be registered "only by and in the legal name of its owner" (14 CFR 47.5), and only if the owner meets one of the eligibility categories in 14 CFR Part 47. The registration type you check on AC Form 8050-1 has to match how you actually hold title.
| Owner type | Eligibility test | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | U.S. citizen, or a lawful permanent resident (resident alien) | Resident aliens provide their alien registration number |
| Co-owners | Each co-owner must be eligible | Every person who shares title signs the application (14 CFR 47.13) |
| Partnership | Every partner is an individual U.S. citizen | A single non-citizen partner disqualifies the partnership |
| Corporation or LLC | Organized in the U.S.; president and at least two-thirds of the board and managing officers are citizens; under citizen control; at least 75% of voting interest held by citizens | The Registry may ask for documents showing who controls the entity |
| Non-citizen corporation | Organized and doing business under U.S. or state law, with the aircraft based and primarily used in the U.S. | "Primarily used" means at least 60% of flight hours are flown in the U.S. (14 CFR 47.9) |
| Government unit | Federal, state, territorial or local government | Rare in private purchases |
A foreign individual who is not a permanent resident cannot register an aircraft in their own name. Some use an owner trust with an eligible trustee, but trust registrations carry their own FAA requirements and should be set up by an aviation attorney.
What documents do you need to register an aircraft?
| Document | Who signs | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| AC Form 8050-1, Aircraft Registration Application | The new owner (every co-owner; an authorized officer or manager for an entity) | Name must match the bill of sale exactly; print or type the name next to each signature; non-digital signatures in ink |
| AC Form 8050-2, Aircraft Bill of Sale (or other evidence of ownership) | The seller, exactly as the seller appears in the FAA record | Must connect the last registered owner to you; a gap needs more documents |
| $5 registration fee | Paid by the applicant | Payable to the FAA; the bill of sale filed with the application records at no extra charge (14 CFR 49.15) |
| Entity or trust documents, if requested | Entity officers or trustee | Proves the citizenship tests above |
| AC Form 8050-88, Affidavit of Ownership (amateur-built only) | The builder | Used instead of a bill of sale for a first registration of a homebuilt |
How to register an aircraft, step by step
- Decide who will own the aircraft. Individual, co-owners or an LLC. The owner on the bill of sale, the registration, the insurance policy and any loan documents should be the same legal person or entity. Changing it later means a new bill of sale and a new registration, and a lender's consent if the aircraft is financed.
- Check the aircraft record before you pay. Confirm the seller is the registered owner and that old liens are released. The FAA does not do title searches for you; see how to run and read an aircraft lien search.
- Get the bill of sale signed correctly. The seller's name must match the FAA record character for character. If the record says "Robert J. Hale" and the seller signs "Bob Hale", expect a rejection. Entity sellers sign through an authorized officer and show the title.
- Complete AC Form 8050-1. Enter the N-number, make, model and serial number from the aircraft data plate and FAA record. Pick the registration type that fits (Individual, Partnership, Corporation, Co-Owner, Government, LLC, or the non-citizen options). Use the name and address you want on the certificate.
- Pay the fee. $5 for the registration, plus $10 if you are also requesting a special N-number.
- File it. In a financed or escrowed purchase, the escrow agent usually files the bill of sale and application at closing, in the same package as the seller's lien release and your lender's security agreement. Otherwise, file online through CARES or by mail (see below).
- Put the signed copy of your application in the aircraft. Once the application, evidence of ownership and fee are on file with the Registry, that copy is your temporary authority to fly within the U.S.
- Check the certificate when it arrives. Verify the name, address, N-number and serial number, and note the expiration date. Keep the certificate in the aircraft; 14 CFR 91.203 requires an effective registration aboard.
Paper or online: filing through CARES
The FAA's Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services (CARES) lets individuals, corporations and LLCs complete and digitally sign a registration application, upload documents, request N-numbers and pay online. The FAA still accepts paper filings. The current AC Form 8050-1 says any ink-signed form must be sent as the original, and the courier address is 6425 S. Denning Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73169 (mail goes to P.O. Box 25504, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0504). Rules adopted in January 2025 also let the Registry issue certificates electronically, with paper available on request. Print whatever the Registry issues and carry it in the aircraft unless the FAA confirms a digital copy satisfies the carriage rule.
How the pink copy (temporary authority) works
The "pink copy" name dates from the old multi-part paper form. Legally, it is the copy of your signed registration application, and its limits are set by 14 CFR 47.31(c). Many older articles still say it lasts 90 or 120 days. That has not been true since January 23, 2023.
| Question | Rule |
|---|---|
| When does it start? | After the application, evidence of ownership and fee have been submitted to the Registry |
| Where is it valid? | Within the United States only |
| When does it end? | When you receive the certificate, when the FAA denies the application, or once 12 months have passed since the first application after the ownership transfer, whichever comes first |
| Can it be extended? | No. The Registry stopped issuing extension letters on January 23, 2023 |
| Does it work for an aircraft with no N-number assigned? | No (14 CFR 47.31(c)(3)); an imported aircraft needs its registration sorted out before flight |
Example: your escrow agent files your application on January 15, 2026. If the certificate still has not arrived by January 15, 2027, you lose temporary authority and the aircraft is grounded until it does. If you are still waiting at about the nine-month mark, call the Aircraft Registration Branch at (866) 762-9434 to find out what is holding up the file.
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How long does FAA registration take?
Filing is quick. The examination is not. In late September 2026 the FAA's registration FAQ said the Registry was processing documents received around June 16, 2026, about three months behind. Build that into your plans:
- Domestic flying can start as soon as your application is on file and you carry the signed copy.
- International flying waits for the certificate.
- A rejected application restarts part of the wait, so errors are expensive. See the rejection list below.
Keeping, choosing or changing an N-number
Most buyers keep the aircraft's existing N-number, which costs nothing extra. To pick a different one, you request a special number for $10. A reservation lasts no more than one year and can be renewed each year for another $10 (14 CFR 47.15). U.S. N-numbers run one to five characters after the "N", start with a digit other than zero, can end in up to two letters, and never use the letters I or O. Once the new marks are on the aircraft, you return the FAA's assignment form (AC Form 8050-64) so the Registry can reissue the certificate under the new number. Change the number before or well after a financed closing, not during it, so the lender's documents and the registration describe the same aircraft.
Why registration applications get rejected
14 CFR 47.31(b) lets the FAA return an application that is incomplete or inconsistent. The common causes:
- The seller's name on the bill of sale doesn't match the FAA record (missing middle initial, nickname, old corporate name).
- The buyer's name differs between the bill of sale and the application ("Hale Aviation LLC" vs. "Hale Aviation, L.L.C.").
- No printed or typed name next to a signature, or a co-owner didn't sign.
- A gap in the chain of title: the seller bought from someone who never registered.
- Serial number or model designation that doesn't match the aircraft record.
- An entity signer without a title, or without authority shown.
- Missing fee.
Keeping registration current: renewal every seven years
Under 14 CFR 47.40, a certificate expires seven years after the last day of the month in which it was issued. You may renew during the six months before expiration on AC Form 8050-1B, with the $5 fee.
Worked example: a certificate issued March 10, 2026 expires March 31, 2033. The renewal window opens about October 1, 2032. Put a reminder in your calendar for September 2032 rather than relying on mail reaching an address you may have left by then.
A registration also ends early, under 14 CFR 47.41, when:
- the aircraft is registered in another country;
- it is totally destroyed or scrapped;
- the owner loses U.S. citizenship, or a resident-alien owner loses permanent-resident status without becoming a citizen;
- 30 days have passed since the registered owner's death;
- a non-citizen corporation stops qualifying, or a trustee stops qualifying and is not replaced.
The seller's registration never carries over to a buyer. Registration is issued only in the owner's name, so the aircraft needs your own application on file before you fly it.
Address changes: notify the Registry in writing within 30 days of moving (14 CFR 47.45). If an entity owns the aircraft, update the address when the company's mailing address changes, not just when you move house.
What does FAA registration cost?
| Item | FAA fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Aircraft Registration | $5 | 14 CFR 47.17 |
| Renewal (every 7 years) | $5 | 14 CFR 47.17 |
| Replacement certificate | $2 | 14 CFR 47.17 |
| Special N-number (and each yearly reservation renewal) | $10 | 14 CFR 47.15, 47.17 |
| Recording the bill of sale filed with your application | No fee | 14 CFR 49.15 |
| Recording a lender's security agreement | $5 per collateral item | 14 CFR 49.15 |
The FAA's charges are small. The real costs of a purchase are private: title search, escrow, inspection, insurance and sales tax. Those are itemized in aircraft closing costs.
How registration fits into a financed purchase
If you borrow, the lender files its security agreement with the Registry in the same package as your bill of sale and application, so its lien attaches the moment you become the owner of record. Lenders generally want the registered owner to match the borrower on the loan. Security agreements typically require you to keep the registration current, so a lapse can put the loan in default. How that recording protects the lender is covered in FAA lien recording.
How this guide differs from related guides
This page covers the registration filing only. To check the record before you buy, see aircraft lien searches. To pick the agent who files everything at closing, see aircraft escrow and title agents. For the whole purchase schedule, see the buyer's closing timeline. For every FAA touchpoint in one place, including airworthiness certificates, ADs and Form 337, see the FAA's role in aircraft ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long is FAA aircraft registration valid?
Seven years. Under 14 CFR 47.40, a Certificate of Aircraft Registration expires seven years after the last day of the month in which it was issued. You can renew during the six months before it expires using AC Form 8050-1B, and the renewal fee is $5. The old three-year cycle ended on January 23, 2023. An expired registration means the aircraft cannot legally fly.
How much does it cost to register an aircraft with the FAA?
The FAA charges $5 for a Certificate of Aircraft Registration, $5 for a renewal, $2 for a replacement certificate and $10 for a special N-number (14 CFR 47.17). There is no separate fee to record the bill of sale that accompanies your application. If you finance, recording the lender's security agreement costs $5 per collateral item. Title search and escrow fees are private charges on top.
What is the pink copy, and how long can I fly on it?
The pink copy is the copy of your signed AC Form 8050-1 that you carry in the aircraft after the application, evidence of ownership and fee have gone to the Registry. It authorizes flight within the United States until your certificate arrives or the FAA denies the application. It stops working once 12 months have passed since the first application after the ownership transfer. There is no 90- or 120-day limit.
Can I fly to Canada, Mexico or the Bahamas on a pink copy?
No. Under 14 CFR 47.31(c), temporary authority is valid only for operation within the United States. If an international trip is planned soon after a purchase, you need the actual Certificate of Aircraft Registration first. Given the Registry's processing backlog as of September 2026, plan international flying for several months after closing.
Who is eligible to register an aircraft in the United States?
U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, U.S. partnerships whose partners are all citizens, and U.S. corporations or LLCs that meet the citizenship tests (citizen president, two-thirds citizen board and managing officers, 75% citizen voting interest) can register. A U.S.-organized corporation that is not a citizen may register if the aircraft is based and primarily used in the U.S., meaning at least 60% of flight hours are flown here.
How long does the FAA take to issue a registration certificate?
It varies with the Registry's backlog. In late September 2026 the FAA's registration FAQ said it was processing documents received around June 16, 2026, roughly three months behind. Your temporary authority covers flying within the U.S. while you wait, for up to 12 months after the first application following the transfer.
Do I have to tell the FAA if I move?
Yes. Under 14 CFR 47.45 the registered owner must notify the Registry in writing within 30 days after any change in mailing address. Renewal reminders and other FAA correspondence go to the address on file, so a missed notice is a common reason owners discover an expired registration too late. A lender may also treat an out-of-date registration as a covenant problem.
General information, not legal advice. Registration rules are in 14 CFR Part 47. Confirm entity, trust and non-citizen situations with an aviation attorney.