Guide
How to Get FAA Records for Use Abroad (Aircraft & Pilot)
How to order certified FAA aircraft registry records for an export sale, and how pilots request FAA verification of their certificate for a foreign licence conversion.
Quick answer
Aircraft: order certified records from the FAA Civil Aviation Registry — registration, title, liens and, for export, a deregistration certificate. Pilots and mechanics: request a verification of your certificate or a certified airman record from the FAA’s Airmen Certification Branch. Check first whether the foreign authority requires the FAA to send it to them directly.
On this page
Aircraft records for a sale or export
List what the buyer’s authority needs
Typically registration, title and ownership, lien records, and a deregistration certificate.
Order certified copies from the Civil Aviation Registry
Registry lookups are informational only.
Plan against the closing date
Authentication and any legalization take time.
Pilot and mechanic credentials
Check the authority’s process
Some require FAA-to-authority delivery; others accept a document you can apostille.
Request verification or a certified record
From the FAA’s Airmen Certification Branch.
Gather the rest of the file
Airline files often also need an FBI background check and medical certification.
When you’ll need it abroad
- Aircraft export and international sale
- Foreign aircraft registration
- Pilot licence validation or conversion
- Airline and maintenance employment abroad
Troubleshooting
Liens are still recorded
Releases must be recorded before a clean export.
The buyer's authority wants a deregistration certificate
Request it once the sale and export are arranged.
The foreign authority wants FAA-direct delivery
An apostilled copy may not satisfy them — follow their process.
Medical certification is also needed
Plan it alongside the airman verification.
Next: getting it apostilled
Once you have the document, it needs authentication before a foreign authority will accept it. See how to apostille it. Our price is $299 per document for Hague Convention countries and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, with government fees included.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apostille an FAA registry printout?
No. Order certified records from the Civil Aviation Registry.
Do I apostille my pilot licence card?
Usually not — authorities rely on FAA verification or a certified airman record.
What's a deregistration certificate?
Confirmation the aircraft is removed from the U.S. registry, usually needed before foreign registration.
How long does the Aircraft Registry take?
It varies — allow for it in the closing timeline.
Can a broker order the records?
Yes, brokers and counsel commonly do.
Sources: U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · Hague Conference — Apostille Section · FAA — Aircraft Registry · FAA — Airmen Certification. Federal Apostille USA is a private service, not a government agency.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.