COMMERCIAL AND CORPORATE FLYING WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION
Short & Sweet no. 7
Which offshore aircraft registrations can be used with Temporary Admissions when flying within the EU and UK?

- Chose the right registration to fly freely
- You might not want to use the Isle of Man (M) registration
- What is the pitfall?
We are often asked which offshore aircraft registrations can be used with TA when an aircraft is being used both within the EU and the UK by an owner (including the UBO) and/or by an operator which resides outside the EU or the UK.
The customs aspect of flying within the EU
Any aircraft flying into the EU will operate under customs control using either the Temporary Admission procedure (TA) or full importation (FI). There are no other options. The TA procedure can only be used by EU outsiders where the aircraft is owned (including any UBOs), operated, registered, and based outside the EU, leaving EU insiders with only one option: full importation. EU outsiders can, of course, choose to use full importation instead of TA if they find it beneficial. However, both options can be used commercially or privately if applied correctly
Most aircraft registrations can be used without problems
Most of the popular offshore aircraft registrations can be used all-round within the EU and the UK, with a few exceptions. Please, have a look at the table below, and please notice that an EU aircraft registration can never be used with TA when flying within the EU.
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* Cyprus, Ireland, Malta are all inside the customs territory of the Union (EU)
** The Channel Islands are all outside the customs territory of the UK
*** The Isle of Man is inside the customs territory of the UK
**** San Marino is outside the customs territory of the Union (EU)
You might not want to use the Isle of Man (M) registration
It is perfectly fine to use the M-registration or an Isle of Man owner entity (including the UBO) with regards to the EU regulation and when flying within the EU, if the total setup meets the requirements for the Temporary Admission procedure. However, the same setup may create vast problems if flying to the UK. As we anticipate most aircraft will eventually fly to the UK or that every owner wants to at least have the possibility, we suggest not using an Isle of Man owner entity or the M-registration.
An Isle of Man connection means that the aircraft cannot use the TA procedure when flying to the UK, leaving a full UK importation as the only option available. The HMRC (British customs) have in many ways limited the access to aircraft importations unless the imposed VAT (20% of the aircraft’s value) is fully paid without the possibility to reclaim. The risk is that the aircraft will be impounded by the HMRC.
How can we help?
If you have questions about the above, please do not hesitate to contact us.
List of all OPMAS
Short & Sweet mails:
No. 19 – The real differences between full importation and Temporary Admission
Sep 2023 TA FI
No. 18 – Exporting an aircraft from the EU
Jun 2023 FI
No. 17 – What is the correct use of a corporate aircraft?
Mar 2023 FI
No. 16 – Which customs procedures can be used for parking an aircraft within the EU?
Jan 2023 TA FI
No. 15 – Liability and risk elements associated with EU importation and admission
Oct 2022 TA FI
No. 14 – Part 3: Arriving in the EU using the TA procedure (does an operator need help?)
Aug 2022 TA
No. 13 – Importation impacts when traveling the world in corporate aircraft
Jun 2022 FI
No. 12 – How to get the 0% airline VAT exemption meant for commercial operators
May 2022 FI
No. 11 – Part 2: Arriving in the EU using the TA procedure (be ready for customs’ ramp checks)
Mar 2022 TA
No. 10 – How to handle aircraft maintenance correct in a customs context
Feb 2022 TA FI
No. 9 – Part 1: Arriving in the EU using the TA procedure (about the Supporting Document)
Dec 2021 TA
No. 8 – Do not fall into the operator trap when flying within the EU and UK
Oct 2021 TA FI
No. 6 – Flying with EU-resident persons onboard when using Temporary Admission
Aug 2021 TA
No. 5 – What about private use
of corporate aircraft?
May 2021 TA FI
No. 4 – What does ‘VAT paid’ mean?
Mar 2021 FI
No. 3 – Is a full importation needed
in both the UK and the EU27?
Mar 2021 FI
No. 2 – Flying commercially
within the EU
Feb 2021 TA FI
No. 1 – Flying with the
CEO
Nov 2020 TA FI