U.S. registration is restricted to citizens and residents, but a non-citizen owner trust is the established, FAA-recognized path to an N-number.
Under U.S. law, an aircraft can be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration only by a U.S. citizen, a resident alien, a U.S. governmental unit, or a qualifying U.S. corporation. If you are a foreign individual or a non-U.S. company, you cannot register the aircraft directly in your own name.
A non-citizen owner trust bridges that gap. A qualified U.S.-citizen trustee holds legal title to the aircraft on your behalf, which makes the aircraft eligible for U.S. registration, while you keep the beneficial ownership, use, and economic benefit. This structure is used worldwide and is expressly recognized by the FAA.
Following the FAA's 2013 policy clarification, the trust must give the U.S. trustee genuine authority and must limit non-citizen control: persons who are not U.S. citizens or residents may not hold more than 25% of the power to direct or remove the trustee. The trustee must also be able to respond to FAA information requests, generally within two to five business days.
A typical filing includes the Aircraft Owner Trust Agreement, trustee affidavits on citizenship and control, the FAA registration application (AC Form 8050-1), evidence of ownership (AC Form 8050-2 bill of sale or equivalent), and disclosure of any operating agreements. Where the aircraft is financed, interests are also registered on the International Registry under the Cape Town Convention.
With a complete intake and clean KYC, trust documents are typically prepared within a few business days, after which the package is filed with the FAA Aircraft Registry in Oklahoma City. The FAA then issues the Certificate of Aircraft Registration in the trustee's name.
Owner trusts suit foreign individuals, offshore companies, banks, and lessors who want the global recognition and resale strength of an N-number. They are not a way to hide ownership or evade sanctions, every party is screened. If you would like to confirm eligibility, our quick checker or a short call will tell you where you stand.
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