# 14 CFR § 47.3: Registration required

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.3

## Section

- **Citation:** 14 CFR § 47.3
- **Heading:** Registration required
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 14—Aeronautics and Space > CHAPTER I—FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION > SUBCHAPTER C—AIRCRAFT > PART 47—AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION > Subpart A—General

## Text

(a) An aircraft may be registered under 49 U.S.C. 44103 only when the aircraft is not registered under the laws of a foreign country and is—
(1) Owned by a citizen of the United States;
(2) Owned by an individual citizen of a foreign country lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States;
(3) Owned by a corporation not a citizen of the United States when the corporation is organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or a State within the United States, and the aircraft is based and primarily used in the United States; or
(4) An aircraft of—
(i) The United States Government; or
(ii) A State, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a political subdivision of a State, territory, or possession.
(b) No person may operate an aircraft that is eligible for registration under 49 U.S.C. 44101-44104, unless the aircraft—
(1) Has been registered by its owner;
(2) Is carrying aboard the temporary authorization required by § 47.31(c); or
(3) Is an aircraft of the Armed Forces of the United States.
(c) Governmental units are those named in paragraph (a) of this section and Puerto Rico.
[Doc. No. 7190, 31 FR 4495, Mar. 17, 1966, as amended by Amdt. 47-20, 44 FR 61939, Oct. 29, 1979; Amdt. 47-27, 70 FR 244, Jan. 3, 2005; Amdt. 47-29, 75 FR 41979, July 20, 2010; Doc. No. FAA-2015-7396; Amdt. 47-30, 80 FR 78645, Dec. 16, 2015]

## Nearby sections

- [14 CFR § 47.1 § 47.1 Applicability.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.1.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.2 § 47.2 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.2.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.3 § 47.3 Registration required.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.3.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.5 § 47.5 Applicants.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.5.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.7 § 47.7 United States citizens and resident aliens.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.7.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.8 § 47.8 Voting trusts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.8.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.9 § 47.9 Corporations not U.S. citizens.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.9.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.11 § 47.11 Evidence of ownership.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.11.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.13 § 47.13 Signatures and instruments made by representatives.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.13.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.14 § 47.14 Serial numbers for unmanned aircraft.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.14.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.15 § 47.15 Registration number.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.15.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.16 § 47.16 Temporary registration numbers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.16.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.17 § 47.17 Fees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.17.md)
- [14 CFR § 47.19 § 47.19 Registry.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.19.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-14-47.3. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.