General Aviation Processing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Yes.

From a desktop computer:

• Navigate to www.cbp.gov
• Click on "Travel" at the top of the page
• Click on one of three options:
  • "General Aviation Processing" (Home Page)
  • "General Aviation Airport Fact Sheets" (Airport Fact Sheet Catalog)
  • "General Aviation Processing FAQs" (FAQ Library)

From a Mobile Device:

• Navigate to www.cbp.gov
• Click on "Travel"
• Scroll down the page and click on one of three options:
  • "General Aviation Processing" (Home Page)
  • "General Aviation Airport Fact Sheets" (Airport Fact Sheet Catalog)
  • "General Aviation Processing FAQs" (FAQ Library)

No.

The “U.S. Customs Guide for Private Flyers” has not been a valid document for over fifteen years.  The document – in printed or electronic form – was always obsolete after live publication because things in GA just change too much.  While it still may be available from some non-CBP websites, it should not be relied upon for any current/accurate information.

Public information outreach is now available through updates to the General Aviation Page on cbp.gov instead of a static document.
 

Yes! The CBP General Aviation office conducts a “Coffee with Customs” webinar the last Tuesday of the month. For more information about our next webinar, contact us at GAsupport@cbp.dhs.gov.

You should contact CBP at the airport of arrival or departure to get your questions answered. If you still have questions you can send an email message to GAsupport@cbp.dhs.gov.

“APIS” is the Advance Passenger Information System. APIS manifest transmissions are required for all private aircraft, commercial aircraft, and commercial vessel operations arriving into and departing from the United States.

“eAPIS” refers to the CBP web portal which can be used to fulfill APIS requirements. While APIS is required by all operators of private aircraft, commercial aircraft, and commercial vessel operators, not everyone uses eAPIS to fulfill the manifest transmission requirements.

It is helpful to understand the distinction and differences between “APIS” and “eAPIS”; and important to use the terms correctly.

You can regain access to your eAPIS account by resetting your password.

The official CBP link to eAPIS is https://eapis.cbp.dhs.gov.

No.  After transmitting an APIS manifest, you need explicit permission to land from the port of arrival.  You’ll need to call and get that from them before departing from the foreign area.

Additionally, you’ll need to ensure you have purchased a current Private Aircraft User Fee decal from the Decal and Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS) website, https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov .

These are some basic requirements that apply to all private aircraft operators.  Please reach out to the local CBP port for an Airport Fact Sheet and more specific information that may apply to your specific plans and configuration.
 

No.  APIS manifest requirements apply to both arrivals and departures from the United States.  Additionally, you need to ensure you have received permission to land for arrivals and permission to depart for departures.

For arrivals, permission to land is explicit permission to land from the port of arrival.  You’ll need to call and get that from them before departing from the foreign area.

For departures, permission to depart is explicit permission to depart from CBP.  Private aircraft departure permissions to depart (clearances) are routinely granted systematically after the transmission of the APIS manifest.  Commercial aircraft departure permissions to depart (clearances) are granted by the CBP airport associated with the commercial aircraft departure.  Contact the CBP port associated with your commercial aircraft departure directly within 72 hours of the anticipated departure.  

There are no APIS requirements for you if you are a passenger aboard a commercial airline (or a charter or private aircraft). The airline (or the charter operator or the private aircraft pilot) is responsible for transmitting the required information – not the passenger.

For security reasons you need access to the email address associated with your eAPIS Sender ID. If you have lost access to that email address, you’ll need to create a new eAPIS account.

You can cancel manifests by contacting the CBP port associated with your flight, directly.

These medical personnel should be listed as passengers (for arrival and departure manifests and processing).  CBP would not consider these personnel crew members because they are not performing duties in furtherance of the flight itself.

No, there is not an established national traveler limit for General Aviation aircraft.  We assess each permission to land request on a case-by-case basis considering the totality of circumstances and CBP resources available – the decision is not solely based on the number of travelers on board. 

Many CBP locations are not equipped or staffed to process large numbers of travelers.  Please contact CBP at the anticipated airport of arrival well in advance of your flight to discuss the feasibility of your plans.

Great question!

1)    You’ll need to transmit an APIS manifest of the conveyance and all travelers aboard both ways.

2)    On the departure, you need to receive an email clearance from us telling you you’re good to go.

3)    And on the arrival into the U.S., you need explicit permission to land from the port of arrival.  You’ll need to call and get that from them before departing from the foreign area.

4)    Additionally, you’ll need to ensure you have purchased a current Private Aircraft User Fee decal from the Decal and Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS) website, https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov .

These are some basic requirements that apply to all private aircraft operators.  Please reach out to the local CBP port for an Airport Fact Sheet and more specific information that may apply to your specific plans and configuration.
 

No.  After transmitting an APIS manifest, you need explicit permission to land from the port of arrival.  You’ll need to call and get that from them before departing from the foreign area.

Additionally, you’ll need to ensure you have purchased a current Private Aircraft User Fee decal from the Decal and Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS) website, https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov .

These are some basic requirements that apply to all private aircraft operators.  Please reach out to the local CBP port for an Airport Fact Sheet and more specific information that may apply to your specific plans and configuration.
 

No.  APIS manifest requirements apply to both arrivals and departures from the United States.  Additionally, you need to ensure you have received permission to land for arrivals and permission to depart for departures.

For arrivals, permission to land is explicit permission to land from the port of arrival.  You’ll need to call and get that from them before departing from the foreign area.

For departures, permission to depart is explicit permission to depart from CBP.  Private aircraft departure permissions to depart (clearances) are routinely granted systematically after the transmission of the APIS manifest.  Commercial aircraft departure permissions to depart (clearances) are granted by the CBP airport associated with the commercial aircraft departure.  Contact the CBP port associated with your commercial aircraft departure directly within 72 hours of the anticipated departure.  

Yes, there is no regulatory basis requiring pilots and travelers to remain onboard an arriving aircraft awaiting formal or direct permission to deplane. Such practices can be detrimental to personal, aircraft, and aviation safety – especially in cases of inclement weather and extreme temperatures. Any traveler movement outside the immediate aircraft area or interactions with other individuals, though, is not permitted without specific and direct CBP authorization. In all cases, especially where health and safety concerns present or exist, please exercise reasonable and responsible judgement.

For GA aircraft with an APU exhaust configured less than 8 feet off the ground, the APU must be powered down during CBP inspection and processing.

For GA aircraft equipped with an APU exhaust located on the fuselage 8 feet or higher from the ground, the APU may

• at the discretion of the operator – remain powered and any electrical systems served by the APU (navigational, comfort, safety, etc.) may remain powered.

Any crew supervision of the aircraft while the APU is running that is required for aviation safety and security will be accommodated by CBP. In cases involving CBP enforcement actions, however, CBP officers will require an APU shutdown, as necessary.

The utilization of a Ground Power Unit (GPU):

• at the discretion of the operator
• is acceptable for all GA aircraft regardless of APU configuration.

While private aircraft operators generally do not require a CBP bond, in some cases (generally ad-hoc cargo-processing operations), CBP Bond requirements and conditions set forth in 19 CFR Parts 113 and 122 may apply. For commercial GA operations, however, CBP bond requirements routinely apply to the transportation of commercial passengers and/or cargo.

An oral declaration may be permitted by the CBP Officer processing the flight. At the discretion of the CBP Officer, a written declaration on CBP Form 6059B for passengers or CBP Form 5129 for crewmembers may be required. Please refer to 19 CFR 148 Subpart B and Subpart G.

The Decal/Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS) website lets you place orders and pay online for Annual User Fees (Commercial Vehicles, Private Vessels, and Private Aircraft) and Single Crossing Fees (Commercial Vehicles) associated with crossing the border into the United States. Transponders are used for commercial vehicles while decals are used for private aircraft and private vessels (30 ft.+). Single crossing fees apply only to commercial vehicles.

The current cost for a Private User Fee Decal is $35.98 (effective October 1, 2024).

The cost typically increases on October 1st of each year.

For more information, contact the Decal and Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS) website.

You may purchase a current Private Aircraft User Fee decal from the Decal and Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS) website.

If you purchased a Private Aircraft User Fee decal, but the decal has not yet been received, upon arrival, you can demonstrate compliance to the inspecting CBP officer by providing:

•    an electronic or printed order history (available to the operator after the application has been made) or
•    an electronic or printed order receipt (available after the order has been processed by DTOPS).

In cases when you have purchased a decal, but the decal has not yet been received, please enter “receipt” in the decal number field in your APIS transmission and advise CBP port personnel of your circumstances when securing permission to land.

You can update your Private Aircraft User Fee decal the next time you transmit a manifest.  eAPIS stores the most recent information associated with the last manifested aircraft information.

The process is a few simple steps.

1)    Once you’ve logged into eAPIS, choose to either create a new “Notice of Departure” or a “Notice of Arrival” from the Traveler Options section of the Manifest Options Page.  (These directions will demonstrate a Notice of Departure choice.)

2)    After choosing to create a “Notice of Departure”, you’ll see the first page of the manifest transmission page.  After entering or reviewing the aircraft tail number, city pairs, contact information, and traveler counts, click the NEXT button on the bottom right of the page.