DoDD 4500.54E, "DoD Foreign Clearance Program," May 31, 2022

DOD DIRECTIVE 4500.54E

OD FOREIGN CLEARANCE PROGRAM

Originating Component: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

Effective: May 31, 2022

Releasability: Cleared for public release. Available on the Directives Division Website

at https://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/.

Reissues and Cancels: DoD Directive 4500.54E, “DoD Foreign Clearance Program (FCP),”

December 28, 2009, as amended

Approved by: Kathleen H. Hicks, Deputy Secretary of Defense

Purpose: This issuance:

• Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes requirements for obtaining required U.S.

Government and foreign national government clearances for:

o DoD personnel prior to travel to foreign territory.

o DoD aircraft operating in international and foreign national airspace.

o Use of foreign-national airfields by DoD state aircraft.

• Implements national policy on sovereignty of state aircraft and payment of state aircraft air

navigation, overflight, landing, parking, or other use fees in foreign-managed and foreign-national

airspace and at foreign-national airfields.

• Designates the Secretary of the Air Force as the DoD Executive Agent (EA) for the DoD Foreign

Clearance Program (FCP) in accordance with DoD Directive (DoDD) 5101.01.

• Provides guidance for non-DoD agencies that utilize FCP policies, procedures, and systems on a

voluntary basis, by agreement with the DoD EA for the FCP.

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION .............................................................................. 3

1.1. Applicability. .................................................................................................................... 3

1.2. Policy. ............................................................................................................................... 3

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES ......................................................................................................... 4

2.1. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. ............................................................................ 4

2.2. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. ........................................ 4

2.3. Principal Director, Defense Pricing and Contracting. ...................................................... 4

2.4. OSD PSAs. ........................................................................................................................ 4

2.5. DoD Component Heads. ................................................................................................... 5

2.6. Secretaries of the Military Departments. .......................................................................... 6

2.7. Secretary of the Air Force. ................................................................................................ 6

SECTION 3: THE FCP ....................................................................................................................... 9

3.1. FCP Goals and Requirements. .......................................................................................... 9

3.2. Personnel Foreign Clearance. ........................................................................................... 9

3.3. State Aircraft Foreign Clearance and Operations in International Airspace. ................... 9

3.4. Foreign Aviation Fees and Aircraft Boarding. ............................................................... 10

GLOSSARY ..................................................................................................................................... 12

G.1. Acronyms. ...................................................................................................................... 12

G.2. Definitions. ..................................................................................................................... 12

REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................. 15

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION 3

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION

1.1. APPLICABILITY.

This issuance applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint

Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of Inspector General of

the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other

organizational entities within the DoD (referred to collectively in this issuance as the “DoD

Components).

1.2. POLICY.

DoD Components will comply with FCP responsibility requirements in Section 2 and policy

requirements in Section 3 when planning, approving, and conducting:

a. Personnel travel to foreign locations; or

b. State aircraft flights in international airspace, in foreign-national airspace, or those landing

at foreign-national airfields.

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 4

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1. UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY.

In addition to the responsibilities in Paragraph 2.4., the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy:

a. Serves as the OSD Principal Staff Assistant (PSA) for the FCP.

b. Promulgates DoD issuances as necessary to implement the FCP.

c. Reviews and approves or disapproves official travel to designated foreign special areas, as

required; and, in coordination with the Department of State, maintains a list of areas requiring

special area clearances.

2.2. UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR ACQUISITION AND SUSTAINMENT.

In addition to the responsibilities in Paragraph 2.4., the Under Secretary of Defense for

Acquisition and Sustainment provides oversight of DoD Component acquisition activities to

ensure they comply with FCP policy when acquiring contractor–registered civil aviation support

for state aircraft operations.

2.3. PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR, DEFENSE PRICING AND CONTRACTING.

Under the authority, direction, and control of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and

Sustainment, the Principal Director, Defense Pricing and Contracting, develops and provides

DoD procurement regulations and a contract clause for applying this issuance to contractors for

individual contractor employee travel clearance and contractor-operated aircraft foreign

clearance.

2.4. OSD PSAS.

OSD PSAs with policy, functional, or programmatic responsibilities or interests under the FCP:

a. Identify FCP points-of-contact who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal

employees who will, within their functional areas:

(1) Participate in deliberations of FCP working groups, as appropriate.

(2) Notify the DoD EA for the FCP when issues arise within their areas of responsibility

that impact Section 3 policy goals and requirements.

(3) Exercise their assigned authorities and responsibilities in support of the FCP.

b. Coordinate on policy, functional, and programmatic matters relating to the FCP within

their assigned areas of responsibility, as required.

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 5

c. Ensure that FCP policy is incorporated into relevant DoD issuances under their

cognizance.

2.5. DOD COMPONENT HEADS.

DoD Component heads with policy, functional, or programmatic responsibilities or interests

under the FCP:

a. Implement the FCP in accordance with the policies in this issuance and other relevant

DoD issuances and publications.

b. Direct use of the DoD Foreign Clearance Guide (FCG) and Foreign Clearance Manual

(FCM) as official procedural guidance and requirements for matters relating to the FCP.

c. Designate an office of primary responsibility to:

(1) Ensure implementation of and compliance with this issuance and the country

requirements and procedures included in the FCG and the FCM.

(2) Issue component-specific implementing instructions.

(3) Manage component compliance with FCP guidance.

(4) Interface directly with the DoD EA for the FCP, as required.

d. Prepare and update doctrine, publications, and training and exercise planning, consistent

with the FCG, to provide for a core competency regarding special weapons and hazardous cargo,

diplomatic clearance for DoD aircraft, clearance procedures for travel of DoD personnel, U.S.

Government policy on payment of aviation-related fees, and sovereignty of DoD aircraft, as

necessary.

e. Take into account the requirements and timelines for requesting DoD aircraft diplomatic

and DoD personnel travel clearances in all policy initiatives and strategic planning efforts, and

coordinate anticipated contingency requirements affecting foreign clearance policy with the DoD

EA for the FCP.

f. Prepare operational plans in, and review existing operational plans for, conformance with

applicable U.S. and international law, U.S. Government policy, and international agreements

concerning special weapons, hazardous cargo, and FCP policy.

g. Ensure contingency plans require compliance with en-route DoD aircraft diplomatic

clearance and personnel clearance requirements, based on applicable international law and

international agreements and guidance issued by the DoD EA for the FCP.

h. Develop an administrative process for use during contingency planning, in coordination

with the DoD EA for the FCP, to prepare and submit aircraft diplomatic and personnel clearance

requests in accordance with the FCG.

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 6

i. Develop procedures to ensure that all personnel under their authority comply with FCP

policy included in this issuance and aircraft diplomatic and DoD personnel travel clearance

procedures that are prescribed in the FCG and FCM.

j. If responsible for establishing theater and country clearance requirements, communicate to

the DoD EA for the FCP any changes to DoD aircraft diplomatic and DoD personnel travel

clearance requirements under their responsibility.

k. If responsible for approving theater or country clearances, use the Aircraft and Personnel

Automated Clearance System (APACS) to review and approve or deny requests for aircraft and

personnel travel to foreign locations within their overseas area of responsibility unless special

access requirements dictate otherwise.

2.6. SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS.

In addition to the responsibilities in Paragraph 2.5., the Secretaries of the Military Departments

designate points of contact to coordinate with the DoD EA for the FCP to develop inter-service

agreements identifying the nature and disposition of personnel resources that the services will

allocate to support FCP activities.

2.7. SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE.

In addition to the responsibilities in Paragraphs 2.5 and 2.6, the Secretary of the Air Force, in

their capacity as the DoD EA for the FCP:

a. Manages, coordinates, and communicates FCP policy guidance and procedures regarding

the payment of aviation-related fees, the sovereign nature of U.S. state aircraft, and aircraft

diplomatic and personnel travel clearances to OSD and DoD Component stakeholders.

b. Monitors execution of DoD aircraft diplomatic clearance policy.

c. Distributes FCP procedures and requirements to FCP stakeholders through entries in the

FCG, FCM, and Special Weapons Overflight Guide (SWOG) (see Glossary for location

information). This information includes:

(1) Current information on U.S. and foreign government requirements.

(2) Procedures for entering foreign airspace and sovereign territories.

(3) U.S. policy concerning state aircraft diplomatic clearances, freedom of navigation,

aviation-related fees, special weapons overflight, sovereignty of DoD aircraft, U.S. airports of

entry, DoD personnel travel clearance, and other foreign travel requirements, such as passport,

visa, and immunization criteria.

d. Establishes and chairs working groups, as appropriate, and participates in other relevant

forums to consider, advise, take action, and report on issues relating to the FCP to ensure the

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 7

clarity and consistency of FCP policy as it relates to the policies of other U.S. Government

departments and agencies.

e. Maintains FCP subject matter expertise to support the FCP PSA and communicates

directly with other U.S. Government departments and agencies, and, as appropriate, foreign

government and non-governmental organization stakeholders regarding FCP policy and

procedures and other related U.S. Government guidance.

f. Integrates procedures and guidance issued by the following into the FCG and the FCM as

appropriate:

(1) The Secretary of the Army as the DoD EA for DoD Passport and Passport Agent

Services in accordance with DoDD 1000.21E.

(2) The Commander, United States Transportation Command, as the single manager for

the Customs and Border Clearance Program in accordance with DoDD 4500.09.

(3) The Department of State.

(4) The Federal Inspection Services of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency.

(5) OSD Components and other DoD Components.

(6) The Federal Aviation Administration.

(7) Other U.S. organizations voluntarily participating in the FCP by agreement.

g. Monitors DoD organizations’ aircraft diplomatic clearance submissions; and addresses, as

appropriate, any that fail to meet requirements and procedures published in the FCG and FCM.

h. Maintains the FCG, FCM, and SWOG to provide current requirements and procedures for

DoD FCP users. Ensures such requirements and procedures are consistent with applicable

international agreements.

i. Operates, maintains, and upgrades the APACS system to support foreign clearance

workflow.

j. Incorporates current information into the FCG and FCM to include validated procedural

information received from U.S. Embassies and DoD Components concerning personnel travel

clearances and diplomatic clearance request procedures for DoD state aircraft and their embarked

personnel consistent with applicable international agreements.

k. Represents the DoD in interagency and international forums in accordance with applicable

DoD policy and legal guidance. In this capacity, the DoD EA for the FCP or designated

representative is authorized to present established DoD policy positions on matters falling within

the scope of responsibilities assigned in this issuance to interagency and foreign counterparts.

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 8

l. Develops and publishes administrative procedures for obtaining diplomatic clearance for

special weapons overflight of, and landing in, foreign territories. Coordinates policy and

procedural issues concerning diplomatic clearances for global transport of such weapons and

related cargo with the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and other U.S. Government

officials, as appropriate.

m. Works with applicable governmental and non-governmental organizations responsible for

publishing aviation or travel-related documents to inform them of DoD aircraft diplomatic

clearance and DoD personnel travel clearance requirements.

n. Reviews reference documents and publications as needed to ensure FCP policy remains

consistent with current guidance.

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

SECTION 3: THE FCP 9

SECTION 3: THE FCP

3.1. FCP GOALS AND REQUIREMENTS.

a. The principal goals of the FCP are:

(1) To assure sustained global access for DoD personnel and DoD aircraft through

avoidance of diplomatic incidents and other undesirable international sovereignty issues,

including unauthorized aircraft boarding, imposition of unauthorized fees, and impoundment of

aircraft by foreign governments. FCP policies and systems support this goal by implementing

applicable international law and U.S. Government policy, maintaining consistent practices with

foreign national governments, and maintaining compliance with DoD requirements and

procedures.

(2) That DoD Components utilize APACS to initiate and confirm foreign clearance

requests and to confirm compliance with DoD-required pre-travel training, documentation, and

procedures for foreign travel locations.

b. Detailed theater and country FCP procedures, templates, and contact information are

included in the DoD FCG and the supplementing FCM and DoD SWOG. See Glossary

definitions for additional information on these internet-accessible sources.

3.2. PERSONNEL FOREIGN CLEARANCE.

a. DoD-assigned and sponsored personnel (including contractor personnel) must:

(1) Comply with individual theater and country travel clearance requirements in the FCG

and FCM when travelling to foreign locations via any mode of transportation.

(2) Obtain appropriate required travel clearances (theater, country, and special area

clearance) and confirm compliance with pre-travel requirements prior to travel.

b. The FCG identifies specific requirements and exceptions for individual countries and

personnel categories based on international agreements for personnel on certain types of orders,

when required statements are included in their orders.

c. Although not included in APACS documentation, all DoD personnel who have security

clearances travelling to foreign locations in any duty status should fulfill pre-and-post travel

security briefing and debriefing requirements.

3.3. STATE AIRCRAFT FOREIGN CLEARANCE AND OPERATIONS IN

INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE.

a. DoD personnel who are planning or conducting missions in a state aircraft status will

request and receive appropriate clearances to operate in foreign national airspace or to land in

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

SECTION 3: THE FCP 10

foreign territory pursuant to U.S. Government policy in accordance with Secretary of State

Message 022631 and specific foreign theater and country requirements and procedures identified

in the FCG and the supplementing FCM and SWOG (for special weapons overflight). To

support continued freedom of navigation in international airspace and pursuant to DoD

Instruction 4540.01, state aircraft do not require, and personnel operating them will not request:

(1) Foreign clearance to operate in international airspace (including foreign-managed

flight information regions) when not penetrating foreign-national airspace.

(2) Diplomatic clearance, when exercising the right of transit passage through a strait

used for international navigation, or the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage in an air route

over the archipelagic waters of another state.

b. Although not required as a matter of law, it is DoD policy that International Civil

Aviation Organization flight procedures be followed when on routine point-to-point flights in

international airspace in accordance with DoD Instruction 4540.01.

3.4. FOREIGN AVIATION FEES AND AIRCRAFT BOARDING.

Based upon the unique status of state aircraft as instruments of a sovereign under international

law, custom, and practice, aircraft supporting DoD requirements while in a state status will not

be subject to:

a. Air navigation, overflight, or similar fees for transit, pursuant to U.S. Government policy

in accordance with Secretary of State Message 2131554.

b. Landing and parking fees (or other use fees) at foreign government airports.

(1) Fees at non-government airports and reasonable charges for services requested and

received by these aircraft at all foreign airports may be payable.

(2) Although U.S. Government bilateral agreements with some countries may exempt

civil-registered aircraft operating under a DoD contract from such fees, this does not convey

state status to these aircraft under U.S. Government policy.

c. Search, seizure, and inspection (including customs, safety, and agriculture inspections) or

any other exercise of jurisdiction by a foreign government over such aircraft, or the personnel,

equipment, or cargo while on board the aircraft, in accordance with Secretary of State Cable

2014591. Thus, operators of state aircraft will not consent to the exercise of jurisdiction by

foreign government authorities, except at the direction of the head of the DoD Component or the

Chief of the U.S. Mission (Ambassador or Chargé d’Affaires).

(1) A foreign government may not seize state aircraft lawfully present with diplomatic

clearance, but may ask that the aircraft depart promptly from the country if boarding is officially

requested by foreign government officials and denied by the aircrew.

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

SECTION 3: THE FCP 11

(2) Although U.S. Government bilateral agreements with some countries may exempt

civil-registered aircraft operating under a DoD contract from boarding and inspection, this does

not convey state status to these aircraft under U.S. Government policy.

(3) Once personnel or cargo are deplaned, they will be subject to normal local inspection

procedures unless exempted by treaty, agreement, or diplomatic status.

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

GLOSSARY 12

GLOSSARY

G.1. ACRONYMS.

CRONYM

EANING

APACS

Aircraft and Personnel Automated Clearance System

DoDD

DoD directive

Executive Agent

FCG

DoD Foreign Clearance Guide

FCM

Foreign Clearance Manual

FCP

DoD Foreign Clearance Program

PSA

Principal Staff Assistant

SWOG

special weapons overflight guide

G.2. DEFINITIONS.

Unless otherwise noted, these terms and their definitions are for the purpose of this issuance.

ERM

EFINITION

APACS

Automated workflow system operated by the DoD EA for the FCP to

enable processing DoD personnel and aircraft overseas travel

clearances in compliance with FCP policy and FCG procedures

APACS operates in both unclassified and classified environments and

interfaces with the FCG, Air Mobility Command Global Decision

Support System, Department of State Electronic Country Clearance

System, and the Defense Travel System.

country clearance

Clearance for official U.S. Government representative travel to a

foreign country granted through the cognizant U.S.

diplomatic

ission.

DoD aircraft

U.S. military aircraft and DoD-contracted aircraft that have been

designated by responsible U.S. authorities as U.S. state aircraft.

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

GLOSSARY 13

ERM

EFINITION

DoD aircraft diplomatic

clearance

Permission by a foreign government for a DoD aircraft to overfly or

land in its territory. An aircraft diplomatic clearance permits the

movement into or through the territory of a foreign country of state

aircraft (military or state

-designated civil-registered aircraft), cargo,

equipment, and aircrew members performing aircrew duties only,

including the related activities necessarily involved in such entry or

transit, subject to whatever restrictions the clearance specifies.

DoD personnel

Active Component and Reserve Component military personnel, DoD

civilian personnel (including foreign national direct

- and indirect-

hires), as well as non

-appropriated fund employees, host nation

support personnel, and

DoD contractor personnel.

DoD personnel travel

clearance

Travel clearance for DoD and DoD-sponsored personnel performing

official temporary travel abroad.

The three types of clearances are:

country clearance, theater clearance, and special area clearance.

flight information

region

An airspace of defined dimensions within which flight information

service and alerting service are provided. A flight information region

normally encompasses substantial areas of international airspace and

does not reflect international or national

airspace borders. The

International Civil Aviation Organization

establishes flight

information regions

, and the civil aviation authorities of designated

nations administer them in accordance with published rules and

procedures.

FCG

Data system hosted by DoD and accessible to DoD users via .mil and

.gov networks, and

via internet to authorized non-DoD users with an

APACS account.

The guide includes instructions and pertinent

information that is necessary to ensure DoD aircraft and personnel

comply with U.S. Government, theater command, and foreign

national government requirements when operating in foreign national

airspace or terri

tory.

It is integrated with the FCP APACS application

and is

accessible via the internet (https://www.fcg.pentagon.mil) w

ith

access managed by

DoD EA for the FCP staff.

FCM

DoD manual that establishes procedures and templates to assist

stakeholders and

users of the FCP in complying with aircraft and

personnel foreign clearance policy guidance.

Accessible via the

internet

(

https://www.fcg.pentagon.mil/static/FCMBasicDocument.pdf#page

mode=bookmarks

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

GLOSSARY 14

ERM

EFINITION

international airspace

All airspace seaward of coastal states’ national airspace, including

airspace over contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones, and the

high seas. International airspace is open to all aircraft of all

nations.

national airspace

Airspace above the territorial seas, internal waters, and land territory

of a country. Consistent with international law, the U.S. Government

recognizes territorial sea claims up to a maximum distance of 12

nautical miles from a coastal state’s baseline drawn in accordance

with international law.

PSA

One of those OSD officials listed in Chapter 4 of Title 10, United

States Code, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and

with the advice and consent of the Senate.

special area clearance

The required concurrence granted to DoD personnel by the

partment of State and the Office of the

Under Secretary of Defense

for Policy

for travel to certain overseas areas designated by the

Department of State as special areas

SWOG

Supplement to the FCG that provides foreign clearance policy and

procedures

for aircraft carrying special weapons in accordance with

DoD

Instruction 4540.05.

theater clearance

Clearance for official travel within a geographic combatant command

area of responsibility granted by the responsible theater commander

delegated authority.

U.S. state aircraft

U.S. military aircraft are deemed state aircraft at all times. Aircraft

registered with the F

ederal Aviation Administration for civil aviation

operations must be designated state aircraft by a U.S. Government

official to o

perate in a state aircraft status.

DoDD 4500.54E, May 31, 2022

REFERENCES 15

REFERENCES

DoD Directive 1000.21E, “DoD Passport and Passport Agent Services,” October 20, 2009,

as amended

DoD Directive 4500.09, “Transportation and Traffic Management,” December 27, 2019

DoD Directive 5101.01, “DoD Executive Agent,” February 7, 2022

DoD Instruction 4540.01, “Use of International Airspace by U.S. Military Aircraft and for

Missile and Projectile Firings,” June 2, 2015, as amended

DoD Instruction 4540.05, “DoD Transportation of U.S. Nuclear Weapons,” June 23, 2011,

as amended

Secretary of State Cable 2014591, “(SBU) U.S. Government Policy on Boarding and Inspection

of U.S. Military and Non-Military State Aircraft by Foreign Government Authorities,” March

17, 2017

Secretary of State Message 022631, “USG Policy Regarding Status of DoD Commercial

Contract Aircraft,” March 10, 2010

Secretary of State Message 2131554, U.S. Government Policy on Aviation-Related Fees,”

August 1, 2007

United States Code, Title 10, Chapter 4

Available by contacting HQ USAF/A10P at [email protected].