Guide to TSA's Alien Flight Training/Citizenship Validation Rule

Use the links and information on this page to learn how the TSA's alien flight training/citizenship validation rule affects you. Whether you are a pilot or flight instructor, U.S. citizen, or alien, this page is designed to allow you access to the information you need to know. As you read down the page, you will find information relevant to the rule including AOPA's position and TSA clarifications. Below, you will also find a series of links, which are customized to the various scenarios present in the rule. Selecting the link fitting your scenario will allow you to view the information in the rule relevant to your situation.

Outline of Rule

On September 21, 2004, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued an "interim final rule" on flight training for aliens and other designated individuals. As currently written, the rule requires every person to prove his or her citizenship status (including U.S. citizens) prior to undertaking flight training for the issuance of a new certificate or rating or the addition of a certificate or rating in an aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or less. Additionally, foreign flight students must complete a background check process with TSA.

This rule also requires flight schools and flight instructors to provide security awareness training to each ground and flight instructor and any other employee who has a direct contact with a flight school student (regardless of citizenship or nationality) and to issue and maintain records of this training.

What the Rule Means to:

U.S. citizens who are receiving flight training

  1. U.S. citizens (whether by birth or naturalization) wishing to complete training for a new or additional certificate or rating in an aircraft weighing less than 12,500 pounds must present the flight school or flight instructor with evidence of U.S. citizenship. Evidence must be shown by one of the following:
    • Valid unexpired U.S. passport.
    • Original birth certificate and government-issued picture ID.
    • Original certification of birth abroad (Form FS-545 or DS-1350) and government-issued picture ID.
    • Original certificate of U.S. citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561) and government-issued picture ID.
    The flight school or flight instructor will then make an endorsement in both the instructor's and student's logbook, or other record used by the instructor to record flight student endorsements, the following: "I certify that [insert student's name] has presented me a [insert type of document presented, such as a U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport, and the relevant control or sequential number on the document, if any] establishing that [he or she] is a U.S. citizen or national in accordance with 49 CFR 1552.3(h). [Insert date and instructor's signature and CFI number.]"
  2. Flight training can begin after the logbook endorsement is made.

Resident aliens (green-card holders) who do not have a pilot certificate

For those that do not currently hold a pilot certificate issued by the FAA or by a foreign national authority recognized by the FAA.

U.S. resident aliens must notify their flight school and the TSA that they are planning to begin training for a new certificate or rating. The notification process is as follows:

  1. The applicant registers on TSA's Web site, www.flightschoolcandidates.gov, at which point they will be given a username and password via e-mail. After receiving the e-mail, the student logs in to the site and submits the following:
    • Full name, gender, current address and five-year address history, date and country of birth, and citizenship information.
    • TSA identification number.
    • Passport and visa information — Foreign applicants are required to have a passport.
    • Training details — Basic information including the name of the school, type of aircraft, and pilot certificate or rating sought.
    • Fingerprints — A fingerprinting form is available by calling the American Association of Airport Executives at 703/797-2550. The applicant takes the form to a local law enforcement office for fingerprinting. The office completing the prints then sends the form back to the TSA to the address listed on the form. Instructions for fingerprinting can be found online at https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov/fp_instr.html.
    • $130 application processing fee — The fee must be paid by credit card on the TSA's Web site.
    • Photo — This is taken by the flight school when the student reports for training. It is then uploaded to the TSA's Web site.
  2. Final approval is not required from the TSA (for category 3) for flight training to begin. Rather, training may begin once the application process is complete, including TSA receipt of the photo, fee, and fingerprints. If the TSA determines the student is a security threat, the school or instructor will be notified, and training is to be stopped immediately.

Resident aliens (green-card holders) who do have a pilot certificate

For those who held a pilot certificate issued by the FAA or by a foreign national authority recognized by the FAA prior to October 20, 2004.

  1. If seeking training for an additional certificate or rating, applicants do not have to comply until December 20, 2004.

Visa holders who do not have a pilot certificate

For those that do not currently hold a pilot certificate issued by the FAA or by a foreign national authority recognized by the FAA.

Aliens must notify their flight school and the TSA that they are beginning training for a new certificate or rating. The notification process is as follows:

  1. The applicant registers on TSA's Web site, www.flightschoolcandidates.gov, at which point they will be given a username and password via e-mail. After receiving the e-mail, the student logs in to the site and submits the following:
    • Full name, gender, current address and five-year address history, date and country of birth, and citizenship information.
    • TSA identification number.
    • Passport and visa information — Foreign applicants are required to have a passport.
    • Training details — Basic information including the name of the school, type of aircraft, and pilot certificate or rating sought.
    • Fingerprints — A fingerprinting form is available by calling the American Association of Airport Executives at 703/797-2550. The applicant takes the form to a local law enforcement office for fingerprinting. The office completing the prints then sends the form back to the TSA to the address listed on the form. Instructions for fingerprinting can be found online at https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov/fp_instr.html.
    • $130 application processing fee — The fee must be paid by credit card on the TSA's Web site.
    • Photo — This is taken by the flight school when the student reports for training. It is then uploaded to the TSA's Web site.
  2. Final approval is not required from the TSA (for category 3) for flight training to begin. Rather, training may begin once the application process is complete, including TSA receipt of the photo, fee, and fingerprints. If the TSA determines the student is a security threat, the school or instructor will be notified, and training is to be stopped immediately.

Visa holders who do have a pilot certificate

For those that held a pilot certificate issued by the FAA or by a foreign national authority recognized by the FAA prior to October 20, 2004.

  1. If seeking training for an additional certificate or rating, applicants do not have to comply until December 20, 2004.

Flight schools and flight instructors

  1. Each flight training provider is required to determine U.S. citizenship before training is started. Evidence may be shown by one of the following:
    • Valid, unexpired U.S. passport.
    • Original birth certificate and government-issued picture ID.
    • Original certification of birth abroad (Form FS-545 or DS-1350) and government-issued picture ID.
    • Original certificate of U.S. citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561) and government-issued picture ID.
  2. Once U.S. citizenship has been verified, the following endorsement must be written in the student's and instructor's logbook: "I certify that [insert student's name] has presented me a [insert type of document presented, such as a U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport, and the relevant control or sequential number on the document, if any] establishing that [he or she] is a U.S. citizen or national in accordance with 49 CFR 1552.3(h). [Insert date and instructor's signature and CFI number.]"
  3. Flight training can begin after the logbook endorsement is made.

TSA Clarifications About the Rule

This rule only applies to training for a new or additional certificate or rating:

The TSA interprets the definition of "flight training" to including only that training that a candidate could use toward a new airman certificate or rating.

This rule does NOT apply to flight reviews, proficiency checks, or other flight training not for the purposes of a new certificate or rating:

TSA interprets the definition of "recurrent training" to NOT include any flight review, proficiency check, or other check whose purpose is to review rules, maneuvers, or procedures, or to demonstrate a pilot's exiting skills.

Flight students enrolled prior to October 20, 2004, are not subject to the requirements of this rule:

TSA has clarified that flight students who are enrolled in such flight training prior to October 20, 2004, are not subject to the regulation."
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