TSA Clearance Requirements

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.

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:

  • 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, which is 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 information along with the answers to your three security questions

  • Return to the TSA website and log in to begin your application

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Manage My Personal Information

Step 1 – Basic Information
Provide your full name, date of birth, country of birth, height, weight, gender, eye color, and hair color.

Step 2 – Other Names
List any other names you’ve used (leave blank if none).

Step 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.

Step 4 – Upload Documents
Upload a valid passport and approved visa. Fill in all document details as requested.

Step 5 – Addresses
Enter your current address and a five-year address history.

Step 6 – Employment
Indicate your status (student, unemployed, or employed) and provide employment details if applicable.

Create Application

Once you have entered all your personal information, you may proceed to creating your application.

Submit Payment for Application

Pay the $140 fee

Fingerprints

You will receive an email titled “Documents Accepted / Fingerprint Instructions”

1. GoFly Academy will assist you with fingerprint scheduling

Fingerprinting Appointment Requirements:

• Print and bring:

  • TSA Fingerprint Email

  • 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 this portal to participate in flight training. However, you cannot use this portal to set up flight training events. Only a provider or providers you select from this portal can create a training event or events 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 the regulation to record your flight training events on this portal. You select a provider for a flight training event and that provider assumes all responsibility for reporting your training events to TSA.

View flight training 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 a 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.