An international private jet charter needs three things the domestic version does not: passenger data filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through eAPIS before the aircraft leaves or arrives (at least 60 minutes ahead, per the AOPA cross-border guide used in FAA Safety Team training), any landing or overflight permits the countries on your route require, and a routing that respects cabotage rules, which bar a foreign-registered aircraft from carrying paying passengers between two points inside the same country. Your charter operator handles most of this, but passengers control the piece that most often delays departures: accurate passport details, delivered early.
This guide explains each step in the order it happens, what you need to provide, and the routing mistakes that can ground a trip.
On a Part 135 charter, the operator holds operational control of the flight, so it is responsible for filing eAPIS, arranging customs clearance, securing permits and confirming the itinerary is legal. Passengers are responsible for valid travel documents, visas where needed, and declaring anything that must be declared. A broker can pass your information along, but the filings themselves are made by the operator flying the aircraft. If you are not sure who that is, our guide to operator vs broker operational control explains how to find out.
CBP’s Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS) requires a manifest for every person on board, crew included, before a flight departs the United States and before it arrives. The AOPA guide cited above lists the deadline as no later than 60 minutes before departure; most operators ask for passenger data much earlier so they can fix mismatches.
What you will be asked for. Full legal name exactly as printed on the passport, date of birth, nationality, passport number, issuing country and expiry date, plus addresses in the U.S. and at the destination. A middle name that is missing or a transposed digit can mean refiling, and a late refiling can mean a late departure.
Adding a passenger at the last minute. It is usually possible, but the manifest has to be refiled before the deadline. Tell the operator the moment the passenger list changes rather than at the FBO.
Passport validity. Many countries expect a passport to remain valid for several months beyond your stay; six months is a common rule. Check the destination’s own requirement, and check visas for every non-U.S. passport holder in your group, not just the lead passenger.
Leaving the U.S. Universal Weather’s guide to U.S. documentation notes that charter (commercial) flights clear customs on both departure and arrival, while private non-revenue flights generally clear inbound only. In practice that means your charter operator coordinates outbound clearance as well as the return.
Coming home. CBP must be notified before arrival. At standard international airports, the AOPA guide lists a one-hour advance notice; at “landing rights” and user-fee airports, permission to land is required in advance and the guide notes those typically need 24 to 48 hours’ notice. Flights arriving from directly south of the U.S. (Mexico, Central America and much of the Caribbean) must land first at a CBP-designated airport unless the operator holds an overflight exemption. That rule is why a flight from Cabo to Aspen often makes a brief customs stop in Texas or Arizona.
Where the aircraft can clear. Not every airport has customs. The first U.S. landing must be at an airport where CBP can clear the flight, and the clearance window has to match CBP staffing hours. Late-night returns can require a different first airport than the one closest to home.
Many countries require a landing permit for charter flights, and some require overflight permits just to cross their airspace. Requirements, documents and lead times vary by country, and they differ for commercial charter versus private flights. Typical supporting documents include the aircraft’s registration and airworthiness certificates, insurance, the operator’s certificate and the passenger and crew manifest.
How much lead time to allow. For Silver Air trips, plan on [NEEDS NUMBER FROM OPS: typical lead time for international permits, e.g. Caribbean vs Europe vs Middle East] between confirming the itinerary and departure. Short-notice international trips are possible to many destinations, but the permit timeline, not the aircraft, is often what sets the earliest departure.
Changing the itinerary. Adding a stop or changing an airport abroad can mean a new permit. Settle the routing before you sign, and ask the operator which changes would trigger a new application.
Cabotage means carrying paying passengers between two points within the same country on an aircraft registered in a different country. In the U.S., 49 U.S.C. § 41703 prohibits it for foreign-registered aircraft, and Universal Weather reports civil penalties of up to $27,500 per violation, assessed per passenger. The same logic applies abroad to U.S.-registered aircraft.
What it means for a U.S. charter overseas. A U.S.-registered jet can fly you from New York to Paris and back. It generally cannot be chartered to fly a separate paid domestic leg such as Paris to Nice. According to ground-handling company Jetex, the UK, France, Germany and Italy strictly enforce cabotage on charter operations, and Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait prohibit it for foreign carriers without specific authorization. Legs between two European countries can also need permission for a non-European operator.
How itineraries work around it. Options include keeping the U.S. aircraft for the international legs and booking a locally registered aircraft for the domestic hop, or building the route so each leg crosses a border. Ask the operator to confirm in writing that every leg on your itinerary is permitted.
| Item | Who handles it | When | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport details for every passenger | Passenger, sent to operator | As soon as the trip is booked | Name mismatch forces eAPIS refiling |
| Visas and passport validity | Passenger | Before booking | Entry denied on arrival |
| eAPIS manifest (outbound and inbound) | Operator | No later than 60 minutes before departure (AOPA guide) | Late manifest delays departure |
| Foreign landing and overflight permits | Operator or its trip-support provider | [NEEDS NUMBER FROM OPS] | Routing change requires new permit |
| CBP arrival notice or landing-rights request | Operator | 1 hour (international airports) to 24–48 hours (landing-rights airports) | Arrival airport closed to clearance at that hour |
| Cabotage check on every leg | Operator, confirmed to client | When the itinerary is built | A domestic leg abroad is not allowed |
| Declarations (currency, goods, food, animals) | Passenger | At clearance | Fines or seizure |
Send passports once, early. A clear photo of each passport page to the trip coordinator removes most errors.
Ask where you will clear customs coming home. It can differ from your final destination, and it affects the flight time.
Bring the right paperwork for pets. Animals have their own entry and re-entry rules, including CDC requirements for dogs entering the U.S.; tell the operator early.
Plan for the return before you leave. If the trip may extend, ask how the operator would re-file permits and the inbound manifest.
Silver Air is an FAA Part 135 operator founded in 2008, flying a managed fleet that ranges from the Pilatus PC-12 and Citation CJ3 to the Challenger 350, Gulfstream G550 and Global Express. Because Silver Air operates the aircraft, the same team that plans your trip also files the manifest, coordinates clearance and checks the itinerary for permit and cabotage issues. For long-range trips, see our guide to planning a Global Express, G550 or GV trip, review our safety and certifications, or request a charter quote. When a trip is better served by a locally registered aircraft for a domestic leg abroad, the right answer is to say so up front.
Do private jet passengers go through customs?
Yes. Every international flight clears customs and immigration on arrival, and charter flights leaving the U.S. also clear outbound. The process is usually quicker than at an airline terminal, often handled at the FBO or with officers meeting the aircraft, but the legal requirements are the same.
What is eAPIS and do I have to file it?
eAPIS is CBP’s system for advance passenger and crew manifests. On a charter, the operator files it; your job is to provide passport details that exactly match your documents, as early as possible.
How far in advance should I book an international private jet charter?
It depends on the country. Some destinations can be arranged within a day; others need longer for landing or overflight permits. Ask the operator for the permit timeline on your exact route before you commit to a departure time.
Can a U.S. private jet fly domestic legs in another country?
Generally not for paying passengers. Cabotage rules in most countries bar a foreign-registered charter from flying a leg that starts and ends in the same country, such as Paris to Nice. Build the route so each leg crosses a border, or use a locally registered aircraft for domestic hops.
Why does my flight from Mexico have to stop before my destination?
Flights arriving from directly south of the U.S. must first land at a CBP-designated airport unless the operator has an overflight exemption and your destination can clear the flight. The stop is usually short.
Can I add a passenger on the day of an international flight?
Often yes, if the operator can refile the manifest before the deadline and the passenger has valid documents and any needed visa. Tell the operator immediately; do not wait until you reach the airport.
Which countries are strict about cabotage?
Jetex lists the UK, France, Germany and Italy as strict enforcers for charter flights, and Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait as prohibiting cabotage for foreign carriers without authorization. Rules change, so confirm with your operator for each trip.
Sources: AOPA “Cross Border Flying” guide (FAA Safety Team), Universal Weather blog posts on U.S. documentation requirements and U.S. cabotage restrictions, Jetex guide to cabotage in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Regulations change; confirm current requirements with your operator before each trip.
Reviewed November 9, 2026 by the Silver Air team.
