Beaverton, Oregon – May 1, 2025 – DFA –Designated FAA Agent, an online aviation compliance service, today announced the launch of its new user portal that enables foreign pilots and aircraft owners to designate a U.S. agent for service of process in minutes. The service is designed to help international certificate holders comply with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) latest requirements under Advisory Circular AC 3-1, which mandate appointing a U.S. agent by the upcoming July 7, 2025 deadline.
Under a final rule adopted by the FAA in late 2024, any individual with a foreign address who holds or applies for an FAA certificate, rating, or authorization must designate a U.S. agent to receive official FAA documents on their behalf. This rule affects an estimated 115,000 aviation professionals, including pilots, mechanics, and aircraft owners living outside the U.S.DFA’s platform is designed for fast, affordable compliance:
- Users can register in minutes through a clean, intuitive dashboard
- Real-time email alerts ensure no FAA correspondence is missed
- Pricing is competitive, with users able to receive $10 credit for every successful subscription using their unique referral code
“Many international pilots and aircraft owners are not aware of this new FAA requirement let alone how to comply with the new requirement” Nicholas Bradley, Marketing Manager of Designated FAA Agent. “Our goal with DFA is to remove the hassle and uncertainty. We’ve built a streamlined portal where you can secure a U.S. agent in minutes and receive instant confirmation and alerts.”
For more information or to register, visit https://www.designatedfaaagent.com
In October 2024, the FAA released Advisory Circular (AC) 3-1, providing important guidance for pilots and other certificate holders who reside outside the United States. The circular outlines new requirements for individuals with no U.S. physical address on file but who hold or apply for FAA-issued certificates, ratings, or authorizations.
AC 3-1 explains how individuals living abroad must designate a U.S. agent for service—a domestic contact person or business who can officially receive FAA documents on the individual’s behalf. This requirement applies to airmen regulated under parts 47, 61, 63, 65, 67, and 107 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.
The move aims to address delays and challenges in delivering FAA documents internationally—especially when time-sensitive actions or safety-critical decisions are involved.
Who Needs to Take Action?
You are affected if:
- You currently hold or plan to apply for an FAA certificate, rating, or authorization.
- You do not have a U.S. physical address on file with the FAA.
- You use a foreign residential address or a P.O. Box.
U.S. agent with a valid physical address (not a P.O. Box or mail drop) to act as your document service contact within the United States.
To comply, you must:
- Choose a qualified U.S. individual or organization as your agent.
- Submit their details electronically via the FAA's designated process.
- Keep your agent information updated and accurate at all times.
In such cases, you must appoint a
Need Help?
Designated FAA Agent is a professional service purpose-built to meet this new requirement. We offer reliable U.S.-based representation, full digital support, and fast turnaround for agent registration.
We also offer discounted rates for referrals.
DesignatedFAAAgent.com, a trusted provider of U.S. Agent for Service representation, has launched a referral program to help international pilots, drone operators, mechanics, and aircraft owners save on their annual service fee. This initiative comes ahead of the FAA’s new regulation taking effect on July 7, 2025, which requires all certificate holders with a non-U.S. address to appoint a U.S.-based agent.
The referral program is simple: after signing up or logging into your account, users receive a unique referral link. When others use that link to sign up for the service, the referring user receives a credit of $10 on their account towards their annual $65 renewal fee. To incentive other pilots to use your referal code, they will also receive a $10 discount. With enough referrals, users can reduce or completely offset the cost of the agent service, making compliance more affordable and accessible.
This program is ideal for pilots abroad who are part of online communities, flying clubs, or international aviation groups. Referring even a few fellow certificate holders can lead to significant savings. It also helps ensure that more international aviators meet the upcoming FAA requirements on time.
DesignatedFAAAgent.com provides a secure, reliable, and efficient solution for meeting the FAA’s new agent-for-service mandate. With the new referral program, users not only stay compliant—they can do so at a reduced cost.
To get started, log into your account, find your personal referral link on the dashboard, and begin sharing it with others who need the service.