What is CEPT and how can I operate using it?

 

A European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) radio-amateur license allows amateurs to travel to and operate from most European countries without obtaining an additional license or permit. CEPT authorization, T/R 61-01, is valid for short visits of approximately three weeks. Amateurs should contact their national Amateur Radio society for information on obtaining a CEPT or IARP license.

 

Under the CEPT agreement, a US CEPT license requires US amateurs to bring three things when traveling to a participating CEPT country:

 

1) an original US license;
2) proof of US citizenship (generally in the form of a Passport or birth certificate); and
3) a copy of the FCC's CEPT Public Notice contains its information in three languages, English, French and German) which details what US amateurs need to consider, and bring with them, when traveling to a CEPT country.

 

[Note: While FCC does not state that your original hardcopy license is a document you must carry in CEPT areas, the actual CEPT agreement to which the US agreed indicates that the original; so be sure to bring your FCC-issued original hardcopy license document when you travel and operate in CEPT areas].

 

Classes of license/operation. Recent changes to the CEPT have revised the license equivalency table for US amateurs wishing to operate under the CEPT agreement. US amateurs holding an Amateur Extra or Advanced class license qualify for CEPT Class 1, which carries full operating privileges.

US amateurs holding a General  class US license no longer qualified for a CEPT authorization.  They may however operate in a CEPT country that has adopted ECC Recommendation (05)06.  This limited class license has not been widely implemented. There is no equivalent CEPT class for the US Novice or Technician class licenses, therefore a they are not eligible to operate under CEPT reciprocity.

See also:

• List of CEPT Countries and Prefixes
• Basic Information for US Amateurs Travelling Abroad (updated 12-2009)
  
• FCC Public Notice: Amateur Service Operation in CEPT Countries

 

What is HAREC?

 

HAREC is the Harmonized Amateur Radio Examination Certificate, T/R 61-02. It applies to European participating countries. It allows amateurs to go from one European country to another and obtain a full license and callsign issued by that country. .HAREC does not apply for temporary operating permits for visitors.

If you are applying for a foreign operating permit and they request a copy of your HAREC certification, explain that the US does not participate in HAREC.  If the country is a signatory of the cEPT agreement you should be allowed to operate but will have to use their national prefix appended to your US callsign (such as I0/W1AW). 

 

What is an IARP and how can I obtain one?

 

International Amateur Radio Permit --- For operation in certain countries of the Americas -- allows US amateurs to operate without seeking a special license or permit to enter and operate from that country other than the IARP. For a US citizen to operate an amateur station in a CITEL country, an IARP is necessary. According to the CITEL agreement, the IARP may be issued by a member-society of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)--for the US, the IARU member society is the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). The permit describes its authority in four different languages. The ARRL offers this service to US citizens for their use when they travel to CITEL countries. The ARRL provides this service on a non-discriminatory basis, at no expense to the United States Government. An IARP application is available here.

 

Classes of license/operation. For US Amateurs, there are two classes of IARPs:

 

Class 1 requires knowledge of the international Morse code and carries all operating privileges (Technician Plus, General, Advanced or Extra class US licensees qualify for Class 1). For foreign amateurs, Class 1 is equivalent to our current Amateur Extra Class.

 

Class 2 does not require knowledge of telegraphy and carries all operating privileges above 50 MHz. It is, therefore, equivalent to the US codeless Technician class operator license. There is no equivalent class description for the US Novice license, therefore the US Novice licensee is not eligible.

 

Participating IARP Countries: Amateurs can find a list of the countries which accept an IARP on the CITEL Web page. They are: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Uruguay, and Venezuela. See also:

 

IARP Application for US amateurs

 

How can I obtain a permit for a country which does not participate in CEPT or IARP?

 

See Operating Permit Information by Country.

When applying for a permit, what is a "certified copy of license" and how can I obtain one?

 

Though rarely required, it is a photocopy of your FCC license in which it is certified that the photocopy is identical to the original and that the license has not expired and is still valid. A notary public should be able to do this if he or she can compare a photocopy with the original and is given the phone number of the FCC Consumer Center phone number at: 888-CALL FCC for confirmation of the validity of the license. See also the FCC ULS database.

 

How should I pay for the application fee to obtain a permit in a foreign country?

 

Most countries which do not participate in CEPT or IARP access a fee for permits. It is best to send a bank draft drawn on a bank which does business in the country concerned, or to draw an international postal money order and send a copy of the receipt, unless otherwise instructed. Personal checks are very seldom accepted in foreign countries though US dollars may be.

 

Can I apply for a permit a few days before I leave?

 

You may, but you take a chance by delaying application for the permit. If you do and if you enclose a fee, if required, you should give your address in the host country where you would like your permit, if granted, to be mailed. Another option is to pay the fee, if required, when you pick up a permit upon arrival in that country. Some countries prefer that you show up in person, compete the form and pay any fee and it may be issued on the spot.

 

If you have not received the permit when it is close to the time to leave, write or call the overseas licensing administration. If you prefer calling but do not have their telephone number, call their embassy or consulate in the United States and ask for the telephone number of the communications licensing agency in the country. Be aware that the embassy or consulate generally can't help with the issuance of the permit and they may have little or no knowledge of Amateur Radio.

 

Another option is to contact the national Amateur Radio society and a list of them all appears on the IARU Web page. In some instances, the national Amateur Radio society works directly with the national telecommunications agency or can work with them if needed.

 

A few amateurs have reported problems with Customs. Many countries will not allow you to bring in communication equipment without a license or permit unless other permission is obtained in advance. If you have already applied for a permit and expect to pick it up as soon as you are permitted into the country, show the Customs officer a copy of your application. If you intend to apply for a permit later or are just carrying the equipment before or after operating in some other country, show your FCC license (and the permit of the other country). This will help you to justify carrying communication equipment. It is quite likely, however, that your equipment will be withheld at the Customs point until you obtain a permit or you are leaving the country. In any case, never try to secretly take in any equipment.

 

How can I operate maritime mobile? Aeronautical mobile?

 

For complete information see the Amateur Operation in International Waters FAQ. Another good reference is the Waterway Radio and Cruising Club.

 

Operation on a commercial passenger airplane is strictly forbidden as it may cause interference to the navigation control system.

 

What about increased security at airports?

 

Since September 11, 2001, airline security has been strengthened at all airports. Amateurs should check with their airline for any new security measures, but, generally, amateurs are safe to take a transceiver on as carry-on baggage. Security officials may ask that the equipment be turned on and off to show them that it is what you say that it is. Amateurs can also check amateur gear, but ARRL HQ has received isolated reports of damage caused by the stronger x-ray gear used in the security process.

 

What is the ITHE?

 

The International Travel Host Exchange (ITHE) is a program in which ITHE host participants who are interested in entertaining amateur visitors in their homes. They might even agree to may let you stay overnight during your visit and may let you operate their stations. The ITHE is administered by the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC), the national Amateur Radio administration in Germany.

I am in the military. How can I operate under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)?

 

See SOFA/Europe or SOFA/Korea. There is a separate process for amateur operation in Iraq.

The Department of Defense defines SOFA as: An agreement that defines the legal position of a visiting military force deployed in the territory of a friendly state. Agreements delineating the status of visiting military forces may be bilateral or multilateral. Provisions pertaining to the status of visiting forces may be set forth in a separate agreement, or they may form a part of a more comprehensive agreement. These provisions describe how the authorities of a visiting force may control members of that force and the amenability of the force or its members to the local law or to the authority of local officials. To the extent that agreements delineate matters affecting the relations between a military force and civilian authorities and population, they may be considered as civil affairs agreements.

Amateurs are concerned only with the part affecting Amateur Radio licensing.

Where can I find the US Third Party Countries list?

 

Click here.

 

Is all information for a particular country accurate and up-to-date?

 

In the case of countries which normally license foreign amateurs, ARRL updates the information on the ARRL Web page as soon as it is received as does Veke Komppa, OH2MCN. Unfortunately, however, it is impossible unless we are informed of permit changes by telecommunications agencies, IARU sister societies or individual amateurs.

 

If you find any information given by us which is outdated or if you discover new information, please report it to us. We would very much appreciate your helping us to help our fellow amateurs who will follow you. If the information is maintained by ARRL, send it to Dan Henderson, N1ND at n1nd@arrl.org. If the information is maintained by Veke, OH2MCN, send it to Oh2mcn@sral.fi.