Brexit: UK & EU Pilots check that your CAA licence and medical combination is valid for country of interest or visit to UK in addition to the comments below. Situation remains fluid. See specific advice in other chapters on this website.
Schengen: UK & EU pilots: Enforcement activity. Follow the rules carefully to avoid prosecution.
Just because a sovereign country had a relaxed approach years ago, doesn't mean the same is true today.
Both CAA and EASA no longer automatically recognise the others sub ICAO licences and medicals.
Advice below assumes flying a Europa and PPL & Class 2 medical or higher
Analysis of certain country regulatory positions in respect of overflight by permit to fly aircraft. We cannot underwrite the legal position. Pilots are responsible for ensuring their flight is legal and should check & verify they have up to date accurate information.
This guide is continually refreshed with input from Bob Hitchcock and Europa Club Regional Representatives. Should you spot any perceived error or omission please email the Club Secretary: Bob Hitchcock secretary@theeuropaclub.org
This is not an official guide, you remain responsible for checking from official sources.
Information is from the perspective of the Europa Aircraft type only.. (None part 21 homebuilt, not Microlight, not Ultralight)Analysis of certain country regulatory positions in respect of overflight by permit to fly aircraft. We cannot underwrite the legal position. Pilots are responsible for ensuring their flight is legal and should check & verify they have up to date accurate information.
please also refer to the documents briefing:. documents
European Country Briefing
Although much of the regulation is simple, there are rules and in some cases complexities that you should be aware of before embarking on European flights. The Europa Club is not an authority. We try to cover here what you need to know to travel anywhere in Europe in your plane. The information is to the best of our knowledge correct and up to date, but it is offered without guarantee and the Europa Club will not be held responsible for any problems you may encounter. After being inspired you must independently verify that the shared information is correct.
Pilot electronic flight books such as: Foreflight SkyDemon etceteras often include AIPs as part of the package they offer.
Albania
Overflights only
PRIVATE FLIGHTS Overflights Procedures
Prior permission is not required for private flights of foreign civil aircraft registered in States which are parties to the Chicago Convention for overflying Albania or for making non-traffic stops in Albanian territory. However, the flight plan for such a flight shall be submitted to the ATS Authority of Albania at least one hour prior to the flight or at least two hours prior to entering Albanian airspace.
Prior permission is required for such private flights intending to fly along the country for sightseeing purposes. The significant entry/exit and intermediate points or graphic presentation of the flying area shall be detailed in the flight plan.
Permissions for private flights by aircraft registered in States not parties to the Chicago Convention should be sought in accordance with the procedure as set out.
Experience suggests that flightplan delay features are not always effective in the Balkan countries. Thus may result in Flightplan expiry. Advice file early and avoid using delay feature else your Flightplan may disappear May 2024.
(Europas have transited airspace to other countries on a flight plan. No other information about landing)
Austria
2022: ECAC recommendation normally applies.
BUT!
Noise certificates are required in Austria. Noise statements not accepted, must be a national authority official document.
EASA Homebuilt EU Citizen OK. (UK homebuilt aircraft with no noise certification must avoid airspace. March 2024)
Tuesday 21st June 2022. Update. Austro control . "As long as no valid and compliant noise measurement is available for aircraft, entry into Austria within the framework of the ECACrecommendation is not possible and also no entry permit can be issued by Austro Control GmbH pursuant to § 18 of the Austrian Aviation Act (LFG)." No possibilty of an exception
Belgium
In 2017 Belgium abandoned its insistance on Permit aircraft seeking permssion to fly there and then charging over 90 euros to grant permssion! 2020 now like the Netherlands they now require planes entering or leaving from or to a non Schengen country to fill in a GAR & Gendec form, with at least 2 hrs notice. From 13 march 2024, the current Belgian General Declaration form is replaced by a new version. The link to access it is also changing, so please update your bookmarks. Caution documents checked. Heavy fines for non compliance.
Carry two paper copies of both your inbound and outbound Gen Dec with you. One for Belgium Customs people, one for Airport police.
A Belgian Federal Police website www.generaldeclaration.be
allows to create and submit automatically and secured the General Declaration to the competent Border Guards. You should carry a paper copy of the General Declaration with you.
.........note also see comments Luxembourg below. Belgium and Luxembourg share the same AIP
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2025: ECAC recommendation normally applies. But individual application resquired to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate of Civil Aviation.
Bulgaria
2025: Emerging, Bulgaria has recently joined Schengen. Europas accepted. However diplomaticly we only flew outside controlled airspace on the May 2025 Europa tour.
Cyprus
2022: have accepted the ECACrecommendation in principle BUT require individual applications to be made.
Czech Republic
2022: have accepted the ECACrecommendation in principle BUT require individual applications to be made.
Permission is not required for aircraft with a restricted certificate of airworthiness or a permit to fly issued by the aviation authority of an EU Member State in accordance with Annex 1 (Part 21) or Annex 1b (Part 21 Light) to Commission
Regulation (EU) No 748/ 2012 as amended, the validity of which is automatically recognised within the meaning of Article 1167 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended, and which will not be subject to test flights within the meaning of Section 15 of Act No. 49/1997, as subsequently amended
Denmark
2022: ECAC recommendation normally applies. In pursuance of ECAC (European Civil Aviation Conference)
recommendation INT.S / 11.1, the Danish CAA accepts without prior application that non-Danish registered home-built or home-restored
aircraft operate in Denmark on an Experimental Certificate of Airworthiness or equivalent "permit to fly" issued by the civil aviation authority of an ECAC State, provided
• that the aircraft has completed its flight test period,
• that the maximum take-off mass of the aircraft does not exceed 2,730 kg, and that the Danish limitations mentioned in BL 1-12, para. 5.4.2.1, are complied with in addition to the experimental operating limitations of the aircraft.
2025 Operation of the aircraft in connection with renting or commercial flights, flights in accordance with the IFR rules mentioned in Commission Regulation (EU) No. 923/2012 and BL 7-100, or flights over densely built-up areas, including areas with weekend cottages and inhabited camping sites, and over an open-air assembly of persons, is prohibited.
Estonia
2022: ECAC recommendation normally applies. But individual application resquired (updated 2023)
2023 Miltary permission likely also required.
Finland
2022: ECAC recommendation normally applies.
France
2022: ECAC recommendation normally applies. Great service from the French SIA.
CUSTOMS CHANGES: The SIA withdrew Customs from 22 GA airfields in 2012., and have since made further changes.Since it is obligatory to land at a customs airfield if flying in from UK or any other non Schengen country, and also to return from France (or other parts oof the EU) from a customs airfield. It is essential to check customs availability carefully before departure, and flight guides are almost certain to be out of date! Current status can be checked on the ‘Airfield Plates’ link above, but Notams should also be checked. Note that a high proportion of airfields which do provide Customs services require a number of hours notice. The latest list of all 74 French Customs Airfields is HERE.
DSAC authorisation required: Pilot holding a NPPL or equivalent issued by the UK CAA before or after UK left the EU. Nevertheless see special addendum at the bottom of this page
Germany
Aeronautical manual visual flight free of charge
.2022: ECAC recommendation normally applies.
https://www.lba.de/EN/Operations/EntryPermissions/Restricted_Authorisation.html?nn=623032
A permission is not required for self-constructed aircraftregistered in ECAC-member states
Update 11 July 2022
The German Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) can be used free of charge from January 2023. An online version will then be available via the DFS flight advice portal.
For several years now, DFS has been making the current version of the German Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) available free of charge via its flight advice portal at www.dfs-ais.de
The Office of News for Aviation, as the publisher of the AIP, will also make the supplementary volume AIP-VFR available in a free version on the AIS portal from January 2023.
This gives all airspace users easy and free access to the AIP, regardless of whether they are traveling according to IFR or VFR. The two aviation handbooks - i.e. AIP IFR and AIP VFR in equal measure - will continue to be distributed in the usual form via the online shop of the DFS subsidiary R. Eisenschmidt GmbH.
Consider Sky Demon supplemental subscription https://www.skydemon.aero/store/dfsvfraip.aspx
Think of it now as two AIPs
Noise certificates required in Germany. If you land at large airport you will be surcharged if you don't have a Noise Certificate. Noise Statements not accepted
Gibraltar
Broadly GB ECAC. Prior permission required via Handling Agent. Several past Europa trips pre Brexit. No AVGAS available permanently. No access to MOGAS. Limited parking. Maximum stay four hours.
Greece
2022: have accepted the ECACrecommendation in principle BUT require individual applications to be made.
Experience suggests that flightplan delay features are not always effective in the Balkan countries. Thus may result in Flightplan expiry. Advice file early and avoid using delay feature else your Flightplan may disappear May 2024.
Hungary
2022: have accepted the ECACrecommendation in principle. BUT require individual applications to be made especially if third country. 2024 Full set of Permit documents and suitable insurance. For EU Members it is straightforward. More detail required for Non EU such as UK.
Ireland
An Irish GAR is now required (in addition to the UK GAR if arriving directly from the UK). Fortunately Sky Demon reminds you during the form filling.
Following Brexit there are protocols to follow in respect of Northern Ireland.
Correct at May 2023 Ireland is not yet a Schengen country. Nevertheless it is also part of a Common Travel Area so for British nationals there are opportunities to travel freely without necessarily impacting the overall days of permittted travel in the European Union.
Check acceptable licence and medical here
Reference also here
And the new October A19 notice here A19
Italy
I. ECACrecommendation in principle .
2026:Some large Italian airports require advance customs notification for aircraft registered outside the EU. At some airports, notification may be required three to twelve hours before arrival, even for flights within Schengen or, in some cases, within Italy itself. According to AOPA Italy, this is part of a wider trend involving increased customs inspections, tax investigations and administrative action.
Latvia
2022: have accepted the ECAC recommendation in principle BUT require individual applications to be made. (updated 2023)
2023 Miltary permission likely also required.
Lithuania
2022: have accepted the ECACrecommendation in principle BUT require individual applications to be made. (updated 2023)
2023 Miltary permission likely also required.
Luxembourg
2022: ECAC recommendation normally applies.“Pilots holding a license which does not meet ICAO standards (e.g. national UK NPPL) are required to obtain a permission formalized by an ad hoc approval. Nevertheless, every pilot must hold a valid medical according to ICAO standards. National self-declarations are not accepted. For the avoidance of doubt, a UK PPL flying a UK registered non-EASA aircraft will be recognized by the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg civil aviation authority on an ad-hoc basis, under the condition that the medical complies with an internationally recognised medical standard (e.g. class 1 or class 2).” Updated 13th April 2022. (For the avoidance of doubt U.K. PMD not recognised)
API GENDEC now required. New email address for 2024. For aircraft which are exempted from handling (see ELLX AD 2.20, § 6.3) the General Declaration Form must only be sent to the competent border guards: upa.gendec@police.etat.lu
{Updated February 2024}
Malta
2022 ECAC Broadly. However prior permission required. Allow three weeks to obtain . Certificate of English proficiency critical. Highlight on application that maternal tongue English speakers have the highest level for life an is indicated on the licence itself.
Macedonia
{Updated February 2024} see North Macedonia below..
Netherlands
2022: ECAC recommendation normally applies.
Since 2016 the Netherlands have required planes entering or leaving from or to a non Schengen country to fill in a GAR & Gendec form, with at least 2 hrs notice. They have set up a free system to do this online and this system also works for the UK GAR submission Details at: www.gendec.eu
The General Declaration form must include details such as the flight plan, crew identities, and passenger identities (article 4.2b of the
Aliens Regulation 2000).- GENDECs shall be submitted through www.GENDEC.eu
2025. Additionally, the captain is required to provide two hard copies of the General Declaration form
North Macedonia
{Updated February 2024} Requires individual applications to be made.for all aircraft Permits are granted on a calender month basis, valid for that month only. A new Permit may be requested one month in advance of the desired month or the one moth in advance of the following month if the trip takes place over a two month period. Required docuemnts: Certificate of Registration, Certificate of Airworthiness Permit to fly, Certificate of Third Party Liability. Timing and route subject to slot co-ordination. Advance Passenger Information required
Experience suggests that flightplan delay features are not always effective in the Balkan countries. Thus may result in Flightplan expiry. Advice file early and avoid using delay feature else your Flightplan may disappear May 2024.
Norway
2022: ECAC recommendation normally applies.
Immigration: Is Schengen but not an EU country. Caution Customs normally 4 hours notice. Caution customs must be advised of your flight.
In accordance with the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) recommendation INT.S/11-1, Norway permits flights within Norwegian airspace by homebuilt aircraft possessing a Non-Standard Certificate of Airworthiness or a "Permit to Fly" issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of another ECAC member state. The required flight test program must have been fully completed.
Aircraft registered in non-ECAC member states that do not hold a Standard Certificate of Airworthiness, or those operating under a "Permit to Fly", must obtain prior permission to operate within Norwegian airspace.
Permission may be obtained from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority.
Poland
Poland accepted the ECACrecommendation in principle BUT require individual applications to be made for UK Aircraft. Updated April 2025. Excluded from the obligation to obtain a temporary permit for a flight, as referred to in art. 145a of Polish Aviation Law Act, are aircraft registered in a Member State of the European Union, Swiss Confederation or a Member State of the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) - party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, which hold valid documents certifying airworthiness other than an Airworthiness Certificate, issued by the State of registration.
Portugal
2022: have accepted the ECACrecommendation in principle BUT require individual applications to be made.
Serbia & Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro accepted the ECACrecommendation in 2017. GEN 1.2-2
Experience suggests that flightplan delay features are not always effective in the Balkan countries. Thus may result in Flightplan expiry. Advice file early and avoid using delay feature else your Flightplan may disappear May 2024.
Slovak Republic
2022: ECAC recommendation normally applies, but note. Sport aircraft originating from a country which is not a Member State of the European Union or a country which is not a Member State of the European Economic Area can be used for flying in the airspace of the Slovak Republic solely based on a permission from the Transport Authority. Application shall be submitted to Transport Authority, electronically via e-mail address air.operations@nsat.sk
or in paper form, at least 30 days before intended date of flight
Slovenia
Has accepted the ECACrecommendation in principle, but refer to entries in the national AIP
Spain
2022: have accepted the ECACrecommendation in principle BUT require individual applications to be made.
Spain has a considerate and modern approach to obtaining permissions. There is now a new completely on line process to follow.
Spain is a great place for touring and recent trips have found no difficulties with refuelling, although it is advisable to have stickers saying Mogas, UL91 or Avgas next to your filler cap. Plus consider obtaining a NIE number for refuelling (Feb 2024 Caution ownership of an NIE by a third country pilot is not currently compatible with the new system identified below, WIP) may save you a lot of time, particularly if you don't have a fuel card.
July 2023.
New procedure to request the overflight permit.
Please visit the following link: https://sede.seguridadaerea.gob.es/sede-aesa/catalogo-de-procedimientos/declaraci%C3%B3n-responsable-para-operar-en-espa%C3%B1a-con-ulm-aeronaves
Click on the “Trámite online” option to continue with the next step, which involves using the “e4F” identification method. Once completed, you can further proceed with your application. Aditionally, in case of using the “e4F” identification method for the first time, you shall proceed with your registration in the system in order to obtain the “clave concertada”. Click on the “registrarse” button for this. Once you “clave concertada” is active, you will receive an email requesting creating/changing your own “clave concertada”.
You may find more information in English in the site guides regarding the process:
Bear in mind the three documents you will have to submit are the ULM pilot license, the airworthiness certificate of the aircraft and the Responsible Declaration form (OPS-UAH-ITR01-F01, the format sent F-DSA-ANE-01 is not valid anymore) which can be found in the "Documentos" section of the following link: https://sede.seguridadaerea.gob.es/sede-aesa/catalogo-de-procedimientos/declaraci%C3%B3n-responsable-para-operar-en-espa%C3%B1a-con-ulm-aeronaves
From July 2023, all applications received via email will not be accepted. In case of technical problems, please contact with cau.aesa@seguridadaerea.es
Sweden
2022: ECAC recommendation normally applies I.e.in accordance with ECAC (European Civil Aviation Conference) recommendation INT.S/11–1, the Swedish Transport Agency accepts flights in Sweden with a Certificate of Airworthiness or “a permit to fly” issued by the Civil Authority of one of the ECAC member states provided the aircraft has completed its flight test period.
For foreign pilot’s licences (Non ICAO, non EASA) , the holder shall make an application to the Swedish Transport Agency who will determine what additional tests or training, if any, are required in order to approve the foreign licence.
Switzerland
Skyguide offers Swiss information but not airfield plates
Noise certificates may be required. EFTA, non EU so caution follow protocol
Turkey
April 2025 Major changes emerging which should open up Turkey to GA. Watch this space
United Kingdom
See special section. Click here 2022 ECAC Broadly. However prior permission required. Allow three weeks to obtain . Certificate of English proficiency 4 or higher.
Bob Hitchcock
Retired 2016 after decades working for a European company with major plants in; Nantes, Remscheid and Belper. Logistics, Credit Management, e-commerce and Business Continuity Management.
Since 2016: Secretary of the Europa Club .
Flying
Mostly European touring. PPL, EASA Instrument Rating (Restricted), Night. SLMG. Early training on the usual Cessnas, Pipers and half a dozen other types. Then share in a Monowheel Falke, followed by a share in a Tri-gear 80HP Europa. Initiated into longer range European touring by the Europa Club in 2006 and then never looked back. In 2008 acquired outright Sadie, (G-BYSA) a 100HP Europa XS Monowheel with VP prop. Eight wonderful years of pure flying joy until her tragic loss to the sea in August 2016. Now with Megg, (G-MEGG) another beautiful Europa XS Monowheel, retractable undercarriage, 912ULS Rotax 100 HP engine. Woodcomp 3000N VP propeller. Funke Mode S & ADSB out, PAW, Funke 8:33 coms. SmartASS3 voice guide, dual Xtreme EMS/EFIS, Kanadia Horis c/w UPS, Garmin Aera 660 autopilot control, Pilotaware: ADSBsquitter, Pilotaware SkyGRID&iGRID (IGRID Dongle:This secondary Wi-Fi connection allows for increased levels of server-enhanced traffic, a pseudo weather map, and the ability to rebroadcast real-time server-enhanced traffic through SkyGRID.)
Acknowledgements
Builder of G-BYSA; The late Bryan Allsop.
Builder of G-MEGG; The late Martin Mavers
Contact: secretary@theeuropaclub.org
France addenda. Extract from December 2022 LAA magazine, below:
& French decree: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFARTI000036437821
