---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 47.3"
title: "14"
number: "47.3"
heading: "Registration required."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/47.3"
---

# §47.3. Registration required.

- (a) An aircraft may be registered under [49 U.S.C. 44103](/usc/49/44103.md) 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](/usc/49/44101-44104.md), unless the aircraft—
  - (1) Has been registered by its owner;
  - (2) Is carrying aboard the temporary authorization required by [§ 47.31(c)](/cfr/14/47.31.md?p=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.**

## Notes

### Amendments

[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]

### Authority

Authority: 4 U.S.T. 1830; Pub. L. 115-254, Pub. L. 108-297, 118 Stat. 1095 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note, 49 U.S.C. 44101 note); 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113-40114, 44101-44108, 44110-44113, 44701, 44703-44704, 44713, 45302, 46104, 46301.

### Source

Source: Docket No. 7190, 31 FR 4495, Mar. 17, 1966, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[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]