Who Needs TSA Clearance?
You will need TSA approval if you are:
- Not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, and
- Planning to train in an aircraft or simulator toward any of the following:
International Students
TSA Clearance Requirements
Stay compliant, fly confidently — TSA clearance made simple.
At GoFly Academy, your safety and compliance with federal regulations are our top priorities. If you are a non-U.S. citizen or non-U.S. National seeking flight training in the United States, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires that you obtain official clearance before beginning certain types of flight training.
- Initial pilot certification
- Whether private, recreational, sport pilot, fixed-wing, rotorcraft, on land, on sea, etc., because such training provides a pilot with basic piloting skills.
- Instrument Rating
- Because such training enhances a pilot's abilities to pilot an aircraft in bad weather or at night and enables a pilot to better understand the instruments and physiological experiences of flying without reference to visual cues outside the aircraft.
- Multi-Engine Rating
- Because such training enhances a pilot's ability to pilot larger aircraft with more than one engine.
- Type rating
- A specific certification a pilot obtains to operate a certain type of aircraft, because this training is required beyond the initial, multi-engine, and instrument certifications.
- Recurrent training for type rating
- Required to maintain or renew a type rating already held by a pilot.
U.S. citizens do not need TSA approval but must present valid proof of citizenship to GoFly Academy (such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate with government-issued photo ID) prior to training.
How to Apply for TSA Clearance
Log into the TSA Website. Click here to access the TSA website.
- If you've previously registered, log in using your User ID and Password.
- If you're a new user, click “Create New Student Account” (top right, below the login). TSA will email your User ID and Password — make a note of this along with the answers to your three security questions, then return to the TSA website and log in to begin your application.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
From the Manage My Personal Information section:
- 1
Basic Information
Provide your full name, date of birth, country of birth, height, weight, gender, eye color, and hair color.
- 2
Other Names
List any other names you've used (leave blank if none).
- 3
Citizenship Information
Include your country of citizenship and whether it's current, dual, or historical. If you were born in that country, use your date of birth as the start date.
- 4
Upload Documents
Upload a valid passport and approved visa. Fill in all document details as requested.
- 5
Addresses
Enter your current address and a five-year address history.
- 6
Employment
Indicate your status (student, unemployed, or employed) and provide employment details if applicable.
Create & Submit Your Application
Once you have entered all your personal information, you may proceed to creating your application and submitting payment of the $140 application fee.
Fingerprints
You will receive an email titled “Documents Accepted / Fingerprint Instructions.” GoFly Academy will assist you with fingerprint scheduling. For your appointment, print and bring:
- Your TSA Fingerprint Email
- A completed NATA Form
- Your passport
Required Fees
| Application | $140 |
| NATA Application | $99 |
| Fingerprinting | $100 |
| Total | $339 |
After Clearance
You must select a flight training provider from the portal to participate in flight training. You cannot use the portal to set up flight training events — only a provider you select can create a training event for you. All flight training arrangements are made between you and the provider; TSA is not involved in determining what flight training you receive.
Providers are required by regulation to record your flight training events on the portal. You can view events providers have created for you by logging into your account and scrolling down on the Home page to see a table listing all of your training events.
You must select GOFLY ACADEMY as your flight provider to receive your clearance for the appropriate training.
How Long Does It Take?
TSA processing typically takes 1 to 4 weeks, depending on your background and fingerprint submission. We recommend starting the process as early as possible to avoid training delays.
If you have questions or need assistance with your TSA application, our team is here to help. Please contact us directly — we're happy to walk you through the process.
Ready to start your journey?