Operators to Singapore Encouraged to Plan Ahead to Meet Revised Requirements

May 11, 2026

Foreign aircraft operators to Singapore face revised requirements to fly to or within the country.

Foreign aircraft operators to Singapore face revised requirements to fly to or within the country, and must hold a foreign operator’s permit (FOP) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), in addition to the previously required air operator certificate (AOC), aerial work certificate (AWC) or similar authorization from another country.

The new requirement is meant to mitigate the risks of illegal charter operations in the region, with operators reporting increased ramp checks to verify compliance.

Now, any aircraft operating under a foreign AOC or similar authorization must obtain an FOP before conducting flights to or within Singapore, as prescribed by Air Navigation Regulation (ANR) 129. This includes:

• All commercial air transport operations, including passenger, medevac, cargo, charter, positioning and technical stop flights
• Non-commercial/private flights conducted by foreign AOC holders, if the aircraft is listed on their AOC operations specifications; essentially if the aircraft is listed on the company’s operations specifications, it is still considered part of a commercial operation

In wet-leasing arrangements, the operator exercising operational control is responsible for holding the FOP.

Penalties for non-compliance range from about $8,000 to $15,000 U.S. dollars.

Julie Ambrose, managing director of The ASA Group and vice chair of the NBAA International Operators Committee, encouraged operators to plan before flying to or within Singapore.

“From our experience, the entire process, from registering the new company to issuance of the FOP, typically may take approximately four to eight weeks for approval, subject to submission of complete and compliant documentation,” said Ambrose. “However, the actual approval period remains at the discretion of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, and early planning and thorough document readiness are essential to help minimize potential operational delays.”

She suggested operators review Advisory Circular (AC) 129-3-1(0) Foreign Operator’s Permit for additional guidance.