C.5 - Third Country Operators (TCO)

New Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2347 on the EASA fees and charges is applicable from 1 January 2026. It foresees the invoicing of an authorisation fee for new TCO applications, an annual monitoring fee for authorised TCOs, fees for further TCO assessment (including on-site visits and meetings) as deemed necessary by EASA and a fee for TCO one-off notifications.

The fees applicable for TCO authorisation and monitoring are outlined in Table 7A of Annex I – Part I of (EU) 2025/2347.

The authorisation fee applies to all new applications for TCO authorisation submitted as of 
1 January 2026. Once the TCO authorisation is granted, an annual monitoring fee applies which will be invoiced upon issuance of the TCO authorisation and, thereafter, at the start of each subsequent billing cycle (every 12 months).

For TCO authorisations already in place on 1 January 2026, the monitoring fee applies from that date and will be invoiced at the start of each annual billing cycle in early January.

Further fees may apply as outlined in C.5.10 – Are there any other EASA fees related to TCO?

No, the initial TCO authorisation application fee is not limited in time. It will be invoiced upon acceptance of the application and covers all (standard) technical work performed by EASA up to initial TCO authorisation.

Should EASA decide that further TCO assessment is necessary, additional fees may apply as outlined in C.5.10 – Are there any other EASA fees related to TCO?

No. All changes to the TCO authorisation are covered by the annual monitoring fee.

See also C.5.8 – Why do I have to pay a monitoring fee? 

The fleet size is the total number of aircraft to be operated in Europe under the TCO authorisation. Where the TCO operates both aeroplanes and helicopters, please provide the combined total number of aircraft.

Upon withdrawal or rejection of an application for TCO authorisation, EASA will credit the authorisation fee (if already paid) and invoice the number of work hours performed by EASA up to the date of withdrawal or rejection.

The applicable hourly rate can be found in Part II of the Annex to (EU) 2025/2347. Note that the hourly rate is subject to annual indexation as described in (EU) 2025/2347 Article 3 (5).

Yes. The TCO authorisation fee is due for any new application following

• withdrawal of a previous application by the applicant,
• rejection of a previous application by EASA,
• surrender of a previous TCO authorisation by the TCO, or
• revocation of a previous TCO by EASA.

The monitoring fee covers the technical work performed by EASA for the continuous monitoring activities of the TCO authorisation. Even though the TCO authorisation is not time-limited, it is subject to regular monitoring (also known as ‘oversight’ or ‘surveillance’).

Additionally, this fee covers all technical work related to changes such as the addition/removal of aircraft or addition/removal of aircraft type(s)/fleet(s).

The annual TCO monitoring fee remains due for any TCO authorisation that is suspended or invalidated by EASA.

When a TCO authorisation is surrendered by the TCO or revoked by EASA, the monitoring fee is no longer due after the date of surrender or revocation. A monitoring fee already paid for the ongoing billing cycle (12-month period) will be credited and a new pro-rata invoice will be issued for 1/365^th of the fee for each day the TCO authorisation was valid during that billing cycle.

When further TCO assessment is justified during the initial TCO application or during TCO monitoring, according to the criteria set out in the Part-TCO regulation and following the established risk-based approach, EASA may decide to perform further assessment, invite operators to technical meetings (at EASA headquarters, remote or hybrid) or conduct an on-site audit to a TCO.

The above activities are subject to fees as outlined in Table 7B of Annex I – Part I of (EU) 2025/2347.

These fees are due in addition to the initial TCO authorisation fee or the TCO monitoring fee, as applicable. Travel costs for on-site visits will be charged on top of the respective flat fee.

Note that fees are subject to annual indexation as described in (EU) 2025/2347 Article 3 (5).

The fee applicable for TCO one-off notification is outlined in Table 7A (last row) of Annex I – Part I of (EU) 2025/2347. No monitoring fee applies for one-off notifications.

Note that applications for TCO one-off notification flights may only be submitted by operators that do not hold a TCO authorisation. Within 14 days following approval of the one-off notification, the holder is asked to apply for TCO authorisation.

Yes. The one-off notification fee covers the technical work performed for assessing the request for one-off notification. It will not be credited when the holder applies for TCO authorisation.

Technical work performed for assessing the TCO authorisation will be covered by the TCO authorisation fee.

Yes. Technical work needs to be performed to assess the request for one-off notification. Therefore, the fee applies, even if the outcome of the technical assessment is negative, i.e. the request for TCO one-off notification is refused. 

Please refer to question A.3 - When do I have to pay?  and consult the ‘General Conditions and Terms of Payment’ available in the Downloads section of this page.

The address defined as ‘billing address’ and the person defined as ‘billing contact’ will be showing on all EASA invoices. EASA invoices will be sent by email to the address indicated under ‘billing contact’ (a generic mailbox is preferred). The billing contact person will be contacted for all issues related to the EASA invoice/s and will be responsible for ensuring the EASA terms of payment are honoured.

Please refer to the ‘General Conditions and Terms of Payment’ available in the Downloads section of this page.

If no billing data is submitted, we will assume that invoices should be issued to the applicant legal address and TCO contact person as indicated in the application form under points 2.1.1. and 2.1.3.

For TCO authorisations already in place on 1 January 2026, the first invoice will be issued to the TCO contact person identified in the TCO Web-Interface. Thereafter, TCOs will be given the opportunity to indicate a dedicated billing address and contact. 

The non-payment of fees due may lead to cancellation of any ongoing application or to the revocation of the TCO authorisation or removal of the TCO one-off privileges, even if technically accepted.

Additionally, any further application submitted by the same TCO may be subject to payment of the existing open debts and to the advance payment of the amount related to the new application.