Does the FAA Agent for Service requirement apply to U.S. citizens living abroad?

Yes. The requirement is based on your address of record, not your citizenship. U.S. citizens who hold FAA certificates and have an address outside the United States must designate a U.S. Agent for Service.

Can I use a P.O. Box as my FAA Agent's address?

No. The FAA requires a physical U.S. address. P.O. Boxes do not qualify as a valid agent address under 14 CFR Part 3, Subpart C.

How much does a professional FAA Agent for Service cost?

Annual prices range from $49 to approximately $240. Most professional providers charge between $55 and $99 per year.

Can I change my FAA Agent for Service provider later?

Yes. You can update your agent designation at any time through the FAA USAS system. There is no lock-in period and changes take effect immediately once updated.

Guide

How to Switch FAA Agent for Service Providers

Updated March 10, 2026 | By The FAA Agent Reviews Team

Switching your FAA Agent for Service provider is straightforward. There’s no lock-in period, no FAA penalty, and the update takes about 10 minutes in the USAS system. The key is managing the transition so there’s no gap in coverage.

Why Certificate Holders Switch

Common reasons include dissatisfaction with response times, wanting better technology (such as a compliance dashboard instead of email-only forwarding), needing multilingual support, requiring team management features for an organization, or simply finding a better value provider.

Whatever your reason, the process is the same.

Step-by-Step Switching Process

Complete registration with your new agent service before canceling the old one. Get your new agent’s details (name, U.S. address, contact information).

Step 2: Update your USAS designation

Log into the FAA’s USAS system and update your agent information with the new provider’s details. The new designation takes effect when processed.

Step 3: Confirm with your new provider

Verify with your new agent that they can see your designation and are prepared to receive and forward FAA correspondence.

Step 4: Cancel your old provider

Once your new designation is confirmed and active, cancel your subscription with the previous provider. Most providers have straightforward cancellation processes.

Important: Do not cancel your old provider before your new designation is confirmed. The gap between canceling one agent and activating another could mean FAA documents arrive at an unmonitored address.

Avoiding a Compliance Gap

The critical risk during a switch is a period where neither agent is monitoring their address for your documents. To avoid this:

Sign up with the new provider first. Get their address active and monitored before updating the FAA.
Update the USAS system promptly. Don’t let both subscriptions run simultaneously for longer than necessary, but overlap them briefly to ensure continuity.
Cancel the old provider last. Only after your new designation is confirmed in the USAS system.

Most transitions can be completed in a single day if you have both provider accounts ready.

What Happens to Documents Sent to the Old Address?

Once you update your USAS designation, the FAA will send future correspondence to your new agent’s address. Documents already in transit to the old address will be handled according to that provider’s processes — most will forward them to you or hold them briefly.

If you’re concerned about documents in transit, keep your old subscription active for an extra week or two after switching to catch anything sent before the update was processed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee to switch agents?

The FAA does not charge anything to update your USAS designation. Your new provider will charge their normal subscription fee. Your old provider may or may not offer a prorated refund — check their cancellation policy.

How often can I switch?

There’s no limit. You can update your agent designation in the USAS system as often as needed.

Will the FAA notify my old agent that I’ve switched?

The FAA updates its records when you change your designation. Your old provider is not directly notified by the FAA — you should notify them yourself and cancel your subscription.

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