Aruba vs Bermuda for aircraft
Everything we track for both registers, side by side. Rows neither register has published show a gap rather than an estimate.
Is Aruba or Bermuda cheaper for aircraft registration?Link to this section
The registration fee is the certificate charge the Department of Civil Aviation sets for The Registry of Aruba in its aviation fee decree, the Retributie- en legesbesluit Directie Luchtvaart, and the Bermuda Aircraft Registry sets under its Air Navigation (Fees for Certificates and Services) Regulations. Neither levies an annual registration charge; each bills the airworthiness certificate yearly. WhichFlagToFly dates the Aruba and Bermuda fee rows.
| Register | Registration fees | Annual registration fee |
|---|---|---|
| Aruba | Aruba's statutory registration fee is Afl. 1,000 (about US$ 559) for a foreign-based aircraft; the registry's own service fees are quoted on weight.Retributie- en legesbesluit Directie Luchtvaart 2005 (Landsbesluit, houdende algemene maatregelen, van 17 oktober 2005, regelende de heffing en inning van retributies en leges door de Directie Luchtvaart, AB 2005 no. 65), Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 21 October 2013, published by the Government of Aruba via gobierno.aw (index page https://www.gobierno.aw/nl/0418-retributies-en-leges), articles 1 to 3, read together with The Registry of Aruba, 'FAQ | Aircraft Registration in Aruba' (Documents / Registration / FAQ), question 3, 'What is the cost to register an aircraft in Aruba?'cuatro.sim-cdn.nl · art. 2, onder FRetrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | There is no annual fee: Afl. 1,000 (about US$ 559) falls due only when a foreign-based aircraft's certificate is renewed, at most every three years.Retributie- en legesbesluit Directie Luchtvaart 2005 (Landsbesluit, houdende algemene maatregelen, van 17 oktober 2005, regelende de heffing en inning van retributies en leges door de Directie Luchtvaart, AB 2005 no. 65), Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 21 October 2013, published by the Government of Aruba via gobierno.aw (index page https://www.gobierno.aw/nl/0418-retributies-en-leges), article 2, under F, read together with Regeling inschrijving en inschrijvingskenmerk (ministeriele regeling ter uitvoering van artikel 6 van de Luchtvaartverordening, AB 1991 no. GT 36), Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 4 October 2024, incorporating AB 1993 no. 47, AB 1997 nos. 9 and 10, AB 2014 no. 15, AB 2018 no. 28, AB 2019 no. 33, AB 2021 no. 142 and AB 2023 no. 53, published by the Government of Aruba via gobierno.aw (index page https://www.gobierno.aw/nl/0907-luchtvaart), article 5cuatro.sim-cdn.nl · art. 2, onder FRetrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Bermuda | Registration or deregistration is a flat $500; commercial airworthiness fees run $1,000 to $101,500 by mass.Air Navigation (Fees for Certificates and Services) Regulations 2022, BR 36 / 2022 (Bermuda), made by the Governor under article 4(3) of the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2013 as applied to Bermuda, operative date 1 May 2022, the BCAA's published PDFwww.bcaa.bm · Schedule, Part 4(a)Retrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2022-05-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | No annual registration fee; a private aircraft pays $100 per 500 kg for its 12-month airworthiness certificate, and a grounded aircraft pays an estimated $2,000 to $3,000 a year.Air Navigation (Fees for Certificates and Services) Regulations 2022, BR 36 / 2022 (Bermuda), made by the Governor under article 4(3) of the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2013 as applied to Bermuda, operative date 1 May 2022, the BCAA's published PDFwww.bcaa.bm · Schedule, Part 2(b)Retrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2022-05-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
Is Aruba or Bermuda an EASA register?Link to this section
An EASA register is one where EU aviation safety law applies directly; neither is. Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and The Registry of Aruba accepts EASA among its type-certificate choices while publishing the Article 83bis agreements it holds. The Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority regulates under the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order and publishes its own counterparties. See the EASA rows.
| Register | EASA status | Article 83bis agreements |
|---|---|---|
| Aruba | Aruba is not an EASA member; the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) accepts FAA, Transport Canada, EASA and Brazilian type certificates.The Registry of Aruba, 'Type Certificate (TC)' (Documents / Airworthiness / Type Certificate)theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Article 83 bis agreements let a foreign air operator certificate (AOC) holder operate an Aruban-registered aircraft commercially.The Registry of Aruba, 'ICAO 83bis Agreement' (Documents / Flight OPS / ICAO 83bis Agreement)theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Bermuda | Bermuda is not an EASA member; since its 2021 Brexit notice it accepts UK CAA certification alongside FAA, EASA, Transport Canada and Brazil's ANAC.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Aircraft Type Acceptance Certificate (with the BCAA's published list of Type Acceptance Certificates granted)www.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Article 83 bis agreements are live with Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan; the Russian agreement is suspended.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Commercial Operations Article 83 biswww.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-08-27Effective 2018-07-16Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
How does import VAT differ between Aruba and Bermuda for an aircraft?Link to this section
Import VAT is the tax a customs territory charges on an imported aircraft, and neither territory charges VAT. Aruba's Departamento di Impuesto collects a combined turnover tax at the border, its registry stating that registered aircraft are exempt from import duty. Bermuda has no sales or goods and services tax; its Customs Tariff Act charges import duty ad valorem. See the import VAT rows.
| Register | Import VAT and customs |
|---|---|
| Aruba | Aruba has no VAT; a combined 7 percent turnover tax applies at import, and the registry states that registered aircraft are exempt from import duty.Departamento di Impuesto (Tax Department of Aruba), 'BBO na frontera' (Zakelijk / Overzicht zakelijke belastingen / BBO / BBO na frontera), published in Papiamentowww.impuesto.awRetrieved 2026-08-27Effective 2023-08-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Bermuda | Bermuda has no VAT or sales tax; an imported aircraft carries 25% customs duty, with temporary importation relief at 0%.Government of Bermuda, First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act 1970 (Bermuda Nomenclature and Import Duties), 2026 edition dated 31 March 2026, Chapter 88 'Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof' at page 409www.gov.bm · First Schedule, heading 88.02Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
Which register is faster, Aruba or Bermuda?Link to this section
Time to registration is the interval between a complete file and the Certificate of Registration. The Registry of Aruba publishes a turnaround in hours once the documents and a satisfactory inspection are in. The Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority publishes a service standard in business days from receipt of documentation. Compare the timeline rows.
| Register | Time to registration | Private and AOC operations |
|---|---|---|
| Aruba | Registration takes 24 to 48 hours once documents are complete and the inspection is satisfactory.The Registry of Aruba, 'FAQ | Aircraft Registration in Aruba' (Documents / Registration / FAQ), question 2, 'What is the timeline for the aircraft to be registered in Aruba?'theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Private aircraft fly under AUA-OPS 2; commercial work needs an Aruba AOC or an Article 83 bis agreement.The Registry of Aruba, 'Registration Framework' (Documents / Registration / Registration Framework)theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Bermuda | The Certificate of Registration issues in 3 business days once all required documentation is received.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Our Service Standards (regulatory service response standard)www.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Private flying needs a non-commercial approval; a Bermuda AOC needs a place of business in Bermuda and about three operators hold one, with no published streamlined route.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Private Aircraft Operations (NCC)www.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
How should an owner choose between Aruba and Bermuda?Link to this section
Aruba or Bermuda is answered from the operating plan and not from either registry: whether the aircraft will ever fly for hire, which lender or lessor stands behind it, and where it will be imported and hangared. A specialist can put those answers to both authorities before a mark is reserved.
At a glance
The dimensions owners decide on, taken from the rows below. Follow a label to the row it came from and its source.
| Dimension | Aruba | Bermuda |
|---|---|---|
| Red Ensign Group | No | Yes |
| Registration mark prefix | P4 | VP-B/VQ-B |
Line by line
| Item | AWArubaThe Registry of Aruba | BMBermudaBermuda Aircraft Registry |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | ||
| EASA status | Aruba is not an EASA member; the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) accepts FAA, Transport Canada, EASA and Brazilian type certificates.The Registry of Aruba, 'Type Certificate (TC)' (Documents / Airworthiness / Type Certificate)theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Bermuda is not an EASA member; since its 2021 Brexit notice it accepts UK CAA certification alongside FAA, EASA, Transport Canada and Brazil's ANAC.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Aircraft Type Acceptance Certificate (with the BCAA's published list of Type Acceptance Certificates granted)www.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Article 83bis agreements | Article 83 bis agreements let a foreign air operator certificate (AOC) holder operate an Aruban-registered aircraft commercially.The Registry of Aruba, 'ICAO 83bis Agreement' (Documents / Flight OPS / ICAO 83bis Agreement)theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Article 83 bis agreements are live with Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan; the Russian agreement is suspended.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Commercial Operations Article 83 biswww.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-08-27Effective 2018-07-16Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Private and AOC operations | Private aircraft fly under AUA-OPS 2; commercial work needs an Aruba AOC or an Article 83 bis agreement.The Registry of Aruba, 'Registration Framework' (Documents / Registration / Registration Framework)theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Private flying needs a non-commercial approval; a Bermuda AOC needs a place of business in Bermuda and about three operators hold one, with no published streamlined route.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Private Aircraft Operations (NCC)www.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| CAMO requirements | Continuing airworthiness rests on the operator; contracting an approved CAMO is optional for private aircraft.The Registry of Aruba, 'Continuing Airworthiness (CAMO)' (Documents / Airworthiness / Continuing Airworthiness)theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Aircraft above 2,700 kg MTOM need continuing airworthiness management under OTAR Part 39, held by the owner or a contracted CAMO.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Continued Airworthiness Management Organisation Approvalswww.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Import VAT and customs | Aruba has no VAT; a combined 7 percent turnover tax applies at import, and the registry states that registered aircraft are exempt from import duty.Departamento di Impuesto (Tax Department of Aruba), 'BBO na frontera' (Zakelijk / Overzicht zakelijke belastingen / BBO / BBO na frontera), published in Papiamentowww.impuesto.awRetrieved 2026-08-27Effective 2023-08-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Bermuda has no VAT or sales tax; an imported aircraft carries 25% customs duty, with temporary importation relief at 0%.Government of Bermuda, First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act 1970 (Bermuda Nomenclature and Import Duties), 2026 edition dated 31 March 2026, Chapter 88 'Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof' at page 409www.gov.bm · First Schedule, heading 88.02Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Cape Town Convention and IDERA | The Cape Town Convention applies to Aruba, and a filed IDERA obliges the DCA to deregister within five working days.UNIDROIT, 'States Parties' status chart for the Cape Town Convention (Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment), Netherlands entry and footnote 3www.unidroit.org · Convention status chart, footnote 3Retrieved 2026-08-27Effective 2010-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | The Cape Town Convention has been Bermuda law since 1 January 2018; a recorded IDERA controls deregistration and costs $300.Bermuda International Interests in Mobile Equipment (Cape Town Convention) Act 2016 (2016 : 38), consolidated text including Schedule 3 (the declarations lodged by the United Kingdom in respect of Bermuda), Bermuda Laws Online, Government of Bermudawww.bermudalaws.bm · s. 3Retrieved 2026-08-27Effective 2018-01-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| MTOW and aircraft age limits | Aruba takes aircraft from 5,700 kg and helicopters from 1,000 kg, and in practice will not register an airframe built before 1 January 1980.The Registry of Aruba, 'Registration of Aircraft' (Documents / Registration / Registration of Aircraft) for the weight thresholds, read together with AIC JETS Corp., 'P4 Aruba Aircraft Registration' (https://www.aicjetscorp.com/offshore/aruba-aircraft-registration), which reproduces the Department of Civil Aviation's aircraft acceptance policy for the build date and the exclusionstheregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Bermuda publishes no weight limit and no age limit; eligibility turns on who owns the aircraft and on the aircraft type being accepted.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Eligibility (Bermuda Aircraft Registry)www.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Registration fees | Aruba's statutory registration fee is Afl. 1,000 (about US$ 559) for a foreign-based aircraft; the registry's own service fees are quoted on weight.Retributie- en legesbesluit Directie Luchtvaart 2005 (Landsbesluit, houdende algemene maatregelen, van 17 oktober 2005, regelende de heffing en inning van retributies en leges door de Directie Luchtvaart, AB 2005 no. 65), Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 21 October 2013, published by the Government of Aruba via gobierno.aw (index page https://www.gobierno.aw/nl/0418-retributies-en-leges), articles 1 to 3, read together with The Registry of Aruba, 'FAQ | Aircraft Registration in Aruba' (Documents / Registration / FAQ), question 3, 'What is the cost to register an aircraft in Aruba?'cuatro.sim-cdn.nl · art. 2, onder FRetrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Registration or deregistration is a flat $500; commercial airworthiness fees run $1,000 to $101,500 by mass.Air Navigation (Fees for Certificates and Services) Regulations 2022, BR 36 / 2022 (Bermuda), made by the Governor under article 4(3) of the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2013 as applied to Bermuda, operative date 1 May 2022, the BCAA's published PDFwww.bcaa.bm · Schedule, Part 4(a)Retrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2022-05-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Time to registration | Registration takes 24 to 48 hours once documents are complete and the inspection is satisfactory.The Registry of Aruba, 'FAQ | Aircraft Registration in Aruba' (Documents / Registration / FAQ), question 2, 'What is the timeline for the aircraft to be registered in Aruba?'theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | The Certificate of Registration issues in 3 business days once all required documentation is received.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Our Service Standards (regulatory service response standard)www.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Mortgages and charges | Aircraft mortgages sit in a separate court-supervised title register, ranking behind execution and salvage claims.Burgerlijk Wetboek van Aruba, Book 8 (Landsverordening bevattende de tekst van boek 8 voor een nieuw Burgerlijk Wetboek van Aruba, AB 2001 no. 87), Title 15 'Het luchtvaartuig', Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 14 January 2014, published by the Government of Aruba via gobierno.aw (index page https://www.gobierno.aw/nl/1501-burgerlijk-wetboek)cuatro.sim-cdn.nl · Boek 8, art. 1302Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Bermuda keeps statutory aircraft and engine mortgage registers that rank by time of entry; registering costs $800, or $1,600 above $20 million.Mortgaging of Aircraft (Procedures) Regulations 1999, BR 41 / 1999 (Bermuda), consolidated text as amended by 2016 : 28, Bermuda Laws Online, Government of Bermudawww.bermudalaws.bm · reg. 3(1), (6), (7)Retrieved 2026-08-27Effective 2022-04-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Annual registration fee | There is no annual fee: Afl. 1,000 (about US$ 559) falls due only when a foreign-based aircraft's certificate is renewed, at most every three years.Retributie- en legesbesluit Directie Luchtvaart 2005 (Landsbesluit, houdende algemene maatregelen, van 17 oktober 2005, regelende de heffing en inning van retributies en leges door de Directie Luchtvaart, AB 2005 no. 65), Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 21 October 2013, published by the Government of Aruba via gobierno.aw (index page https://www.gobierno.aw/nl/0418-retributies-en-leges), article 2, under F, read together with Regeling inschrijving en inschrijvingskenmerk (ministeriele regeling ter uitvoering van artikel 6 van de Luchtvaartverordening, AB 1991 no. GT 36), Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 4 October 2024, incorporating AB 1993 no. 47, AB 1997 nos. 9 and 10, AB 2014 no. 15, AB 2018 no. 28, AB 2019 no. 33, AB 2021 no. 142 and AB 2023 no. 53, published by the Government of Aruba via gobierno.aw (index page https://www.gobierno.aw/nl/0907-luchtvaart), article 5cuatro.sim-cdn.nl · art. 2, onder FRetrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | No annual registration fee; a private aircraft pays $100 per 500 kg for its 12-month airworthiness certificate, and a grounded aircraft pays an estimated $2,000 to $3,000 a year.Air Navigation (Fees for Certificates and Services) Regulations 2022, BR 36 / 2022 (Bermuda), made by the Governor under article 4(3) of the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2013 as applied to Bermuda, operative date 1 May 2022, the BCAA's published PDFwww.bcaa.bm · Schedule, Part 2(b)Retrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2022-05-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Who may register an aircraft | Aruba residents, Aruban companies, or companies of the EU, EEA, Switzerland, Canada, the UK, the USA or a listed state may register; no Aruban company needed.Regeling inschrijving en inschrijvingskenmerk (ministeriele regeling ter uitvoering van artikel 6 van de Luchtvaartverordening, AB 1991 no. GT 36), Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 4 October 2024, incorporating AB 1993 no. 47, AB 1997 nos. 9 and 10, AB 2014 no. 15, AB 2018 no. 28, AB 2019 no. 33, AB 2021 no. 142 and AB 2023 no. 53, published by the Government of Aruba via gobierno.aw (index page https://www.gobierno.aw/nl/0907-luchtvaart), articles 2 to 3d, read together with The Registry of Aruba, 'Registration Framework' (Documents / Registration / Registration Framework) on registration by domicile and with The Registry of Aruba, circular DOM 01 'Aruba Enacts New Aircraft Registration Legislation', Rev. 3 | 2022, Annex 1, for the annexed list of qualifying statescuatro.sim-cdn.nl · art. 2, eerste lidRetrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Commonwealth, EEA or Swiss citizens, nationals and companies may own a Bermuda aircraft; others use a Bermuda company or a demise charter.The Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013 No. 2870), latest available revised text, legislation.gov.uk, The National Archiveswww.legislation.gov.uk · art. 16(1)Retrieved 2026-08-29Effective 2021-07-22Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Registration marks | Marks are P4 plus three to five letters or digits chosen by the owner, out of sequence, and the register lists them as free of charge.Regeling inschrijving en inschrijvingskenmerk (ministeriele regeling ter uitvoering van artikel 6 van de Luchtvaartverordening, AB 1991 no. GT 36), Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 4 October 2024, incorporating AB 1993 no. 47, AB 1997 nos. 9 and 10, AB 2014 no. 15, AB 2018 no. 28, AB 2019 no. 33, AB 2021 no. 142 and AB 2023 no. 53, published by the Government of Aruba via gobierno.aw (index page https://www.gobierno.aw/nl/0907-luchtvaart), articles 8 to 11b, read together with Aruba Department of Civil Aviation, AMC 052 'Aircraft Registration Marks' (Acceptable Means of Compliance), January 2024, published by The Registry of Aruba and The Registry of Aruba, 'FAQ | Aircraft Registration in Aruba' (Documents / Registration / FAQ), question 1cuatro.sim-cdn.nl · art. 8, eerste en tweede lidRetrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Bermuda marks are VP-B or VQ-B plus three letters; a chosen mark can be reserved for up to 24 months, with no separate published fee and $500 the only line a change of mark could fall under.OTAR Part 47, 'Aircraft Registration and Marking', Issue 7.00, 28 May 2025, Air Safety Support International Ltd, published on behalf of the Governor under article 5 of the AN(OT)O 2013www.airsafety.aero · OTAR 47.103Retrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Deregistration process | The holder files form INS-4.069, returns the paper certificate and strips the marks; a recorded IDERA gives the creditor a five working day exit instead.Regeling inschrijving en inschrijvingskenmerk (ministeriele regeling ter uitvoering van artikel 6 van de Luchtvaartverordening, AB 1991 no. GT 36), Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 4 October 2024, incorporating AB 1993 no. 47, AB 1997 nos. 9 and 10, AB 2014 no. 15, AB 2018 no. 28, AB 2019 no. 33, AB 2021 no. 142 and AB 2023 no. 53, published by the Government of Aruba via gobierno.aw (index page https://www.gobierno.aw/nl/0907-luchtvaart), articles 7, 7a and 7b, read together with The Registry of Aruba, 'De-Registration' (Documents / Registration / De-Registration) (https://theregistryofaruba.com/documents/registration/de-registration/), The Registry of Aruba, 'IDERA' (https://theregistryofaruba.com/documents/registration/idera/) and 'Export Certificate of Airworthiness' (https://theregistryofaruba.com/documents/airworthiness/export-certificate-of-airworthiness/); the cost and elapsed time are estimates and rest on AIC JETS Corp. (https://www.aicjetscorp.com/offshore/aruba-aircraft-registration) and on VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne, 'Aruban registers' and 'Deregistration from the Aruba Register of Registered Aircraft', Guide to doing business in Aruba (doingbusinessdutchcaribbean.com) for the separate title registercuatro.sim-cdn.nl · art. 7, eerste lidRetrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | The deregistration fee itself is $500; a board resolution, mortgagee consent or a recorded IDERA and any outstanding fees are needed too, and the mortgage discharge and export certificate are charged separately.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, De-registering an Aircraftwww.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Register size | About 150 aircraft are on the Aruban P4 register, an estimate counted from an independent listing because Aruba publishes no figure.Arno Landewers, 'Complete aircraft register of Aruba (P4-) from 1988 onwards', landewers.net/P4.txt, updates of 4 January 2026 and 28 August 2026landewers.net (web.archive.org) · header lines and the used-abbreviations listRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2026-08-28Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | The BCAA's own chart shows about 450 aircraft at 31 March 2024, down from a peak near 890 in 2019; the current register is estimated at roughly 400.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority Annual Report 2023/2024, 'Our Registered Aircraft' chart at page 7, the BCAA's own published copywww.bcaa.bm · p. 7, 'Our Registered Aircraft' chart, fiscal years 2015 to 2024Retrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2024-03-31Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Pilot license validation | Aruba validates a license from any ICAO contracting state for up to two years, never beyond the foreign license's own expiry, and issues the validation within 24 hours.The Registry of Aruba, 'License Validations' (Documents / Personnel Licensing / License Validations)theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Foreign ICAO licenses fly Bermuda aircraft under a BCAA Certificate of Validation, issued since 1 June 2025 for up to 2 years and capped by the underlying license, medical and proficiency checks.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Flight Crew Licensing (FCL) Certificate of Validationwww.bcaa.bm · Note 1Retrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2025-06-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Red Ensign Group membership | Not a member of the Red Ensign Group, which in any case covers British shipping registers only and no aircraft register.Red Ensign Group, 'Who we are' (About the Red Ensign Group), redensigngroup.orgwww.redensigngroup.org · Who we are, membership paragraph and both category listsRetrieved 2026-09-09Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Bermuda is in the Red Ensign Group through its shipping register (Category 1); the Group covers shipping registers only, so the aircraft register is outside it.Red Ensign Group, 'Who we are' (About the Red Ensign Group), redensigngroup.orgwww.redensigngroup.org · Who we are, opening line and Category 1Retrieved 2026-09-09Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Aircraft management | ||
| Management fee model | Managers typically charge a fixed monthly retainer scaled to cabin size, from low four figures a month for a light jet to roughly US$10,000 to 12,000 for a large cabin, with charter revenue usually split 85/15 in the owner's favor.Business Jet Traveler - Jeff Wieand, What You Need to Know About Aircraft Management Agreements (September 2022)www.bjtonline.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2022-09-06Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Managers typically charge a fixed monthly retainer scaled to cabin size, from low four figures a month for a light jet to roughly US$10,000 to 12,000 for a large cabin, with charter revenue usually split 85/15 in the owner's favor.Business Jet Traveler - Jeff Wieand, What You Need to Know About Aircraft Management Agreements (September 2022)www.bjtonline.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2022-09-06Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Management scope | The monthly retainer typically covers dispatch, flight planning, crew oversight, compliance and the safety program, while fuel, insurance, hangarage, crew pay, handling and maintenance normally pass through at cost with no mark-up.Business Jet Traveler - Jeff Wieand, What You Need to Know About Aircraft Management Agreements (September 2022)www.bjtonline.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2022-09-06Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | The monthly retainer typically covers dispatch, flight planning, crew oversight, compliance and the safety program, while fuel, insurance, hangarage, crew pay, handling and maintenance normally pass through at cost with no mark-up.Business Jet Traveler - Jeff Wieand, What You Need to Know About Aircraft Management Agreements (September 2022)www.bjtonline.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2022-09-06Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Crew employment | Under a management mandate the manager normally hires, trains, employs and pays the crew and bills those costs through at cost, with accrued leave and severance usually falling to the owner when the mandate ends.Business Jet Traveler - Jeff Wieand, What You Need to Know About Aircraft Management Agreements (September 2022)www.bjtonline.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2022-09-06Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Under a management mandate the manager normally hires, trains, employs and pays the crew and bills those costs through at cost, with accrued leave and severance usually falling to the owner when the mandate ends.Business Jet Traveler - Jeff Wieand, What You Need to Know About Aircraft Management Agreements (September 2022)www.bjtonline.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2022-09-06Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Ownership structuring | ||
| Owning company minimum capital | An Aruban VBA has no minimum capital, an AVV needs authorized capital of at least ten thousand florin, and no Aruban company is required to own a P4 aircraft in the first place.Landsverordening vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid (AB 2008 no. 62), article 21, Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 16 January 2014, read with the Wetboek van Koophandel van Aruba (AB 1990 no. GT 50), articles 37, 38 and 155c, Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 16 January 2014, both published by the Government of Aruba via gobierno.awcuatro.sim-cdn.nl · art. 21, eerste lidRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | No statutory minimum share capital applies; the company states its own capital in its memorandum and cannot trade until that stated amount is subscribed.Companies Act 1981 (1981 : 59), consolidated text as amended (carrying amendment annotations to BR 100 / 2025), Bermuda Laws Online, Government of Bermudawww.bermudalaws.bm · s. 64(1)Retrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Beneficial ownership disclosure | Aruba files beneficial ownership to its commercial register but opens it only to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Central Bank and designated authorities, and its test is ultimate ownership or control with no percentage threshold.Handelsregisterverordening (AB 1991 no. GT 15), articles 1, 2, 12b, 12c and 12d, Centraal Wettenregister consolidated text of 9 January 2023, incorporating AB 2020 no. 156 (in force AB 2020 no. 172) and AB 2022 no. 105 (in force AB 2022 no. 158), published by the Government of Aruba via gobierno.awcuatro.sim-cdn.nl · art. 1 (definitie 'uiteindelijk belanghebbende')Retrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Since 3 November 2025 the Beneficial Ownership Act 2025 governs: a 25% or more ownership or control test, filing with the Registrar of Companies, and a central register closed to the public but open to listed authorities and anti money laundering (AML) firms.Beneficial Ownership Act 2025 (2025 : 16), consolidated text as amended by 2025 : 32, Bermuda Laws Online, Government of Bermudawww.bermudalaws.bm · s. 6(1)Retrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2025-11-03Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| CAMO & airworthiness | ||
| Airworthiness review | Aruba's certificate of airworthiness lasts at most twelve months and is renewed on form INS-4.009 after an inspection by a DCA airworthiness inspector.The Registry of Aruba, 'Certificate of Airworthiness (CoA)' and 'Renewal of the Certificate of Airworthiness' (Documents / Airworthiness)theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | The Certificate of Airworthiness runs 12 months; the CAMO recommends renewal on Form AW-201(r) in the 90 days before expiry and a BCAA Airworthiness Inspector inspects the aircraft.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Certificate of Airworthinesswww.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Maintenance program approval | The DCA approves the maintenance program, and a private aircraft may register without one only under a three month commitment on form INS-4.070.The Registry of Aruba, 'Maintenance Program' (Documents / Airworthiness / Maintenance Program)theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | The BCAA approves the maintenance program under OTAR Part 39 Subpart C on Forms AW-285 and AW-287, at no charge, with a published 10 business day service standard.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Certificate of Airworthiness (Maintenance Programme)www.bcaa.bmRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| CAMO fee model | No CAMO publishes a business jet tariff: the norm is an annual retained fee per aircraft, usually bundled into a management or technical services mandate, with the airworthiness review certificate billed separately.Element Aviation - Aircraft Management Costs (provider-published cost breakdown, 4 December 2025)element-aviation.com · Aircraft Management Cost Breakdown tableRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2025-12-04Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | No CAMO publishes a business jet tariff: the norm is an annual retained fee per aircraft, usually bundled into a management or technical services mandate, with the airworthiness review certificate billed separately.Element Aviation - Aircraft Management Costs (provider-published cost breakdown, 4 December 2025)element-aviation.com · Aircraft Management Cost Breakdown tableRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2025-12-04Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Maintenance (MRO) | ||
| Accepted maintenance organizations | Aruba accepts EASA, UK CAA, UAE GCAA, Hong Kong CAD and Singapore CAAS approved shops without an audit; the FAA is not on the published list, and our estimate is that a US shop needs the audited acceptance route instead.The Registry of Aruba, 'Aircraft Maintenance Organizations (AMO)' (Documents / Airworthiness / Aircraft Maintenance Organizations)theregistryofaruba.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Maintenance organizations need OTAR Part 145 approval, with EASA and, since the 2021 Brexit notice, UK CAA organization approvals accepted; a Bermuda approval costs $3,000 and a one-time approval $1,000.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, Airworthiness Notice AWN-01-21, 'BREXIT Impacts', Issue 01, 11 February 2021www.bcaa.bm · §3.5Retrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Engine program norms | Engine programs charge a rate per engine per flight hour, with a buy-in for engines already in service, and nobody publishes an hourly rate because every program is quoted per aircraft.AvBuyer - Gerrard Cowan, Paying for Power: Understanding Costs in Engine Maintenance Programs (14 August 2025)www.avbuyer.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2025-08-14Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Engine programs charge a rate per engine per flight hour, with a buy-in for engines already in service, and nobody publishes an hourly rate because every program is quoted per aircraft.AvBuyer - Gerrard Cowan, Paying for Power: Understanding Costs in Engine Maintenance Programs (14 August 2025)www.avbuyer.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2025-08-14Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Aviation insurance | ||
| Insurance requirements | Aruba requires proof of insurance to register and publishes the minimums: 250,000 SDR per passenger, a ten band third party table by weight, and war risk at the same levels as third party.Government of Aruba, Ministry of Transport, Integrity, Nature and Senior Affairs, Department of Civil Aviation, Information Circular IC 2025-001 'Minimum Insurance Policy', 12 August 2025, superseding DCAA letter DL/183772 of 12 September 2018, signed by the Director of DCA Aruba and published by The Registry of Arubatheregistryofaruba.com · IC 2025-001, Passenger Liability / Third Party InsuranceRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2025-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Bermuda itself sets no insurance minimum for private operations; cover is driven by destination rules such as EU Regulation 785/2004 and by financiers, with insurance evidence required only at the Bermuda AOC.Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, How to Register, read with the BCAA Checklist for Registering Private Aircraft (Form 105 Issue 5) and the Overseas Territories Aviation Requirementswww.bcaa.bm · How to Register, items required prior to the issue of a Certificate of RegistrationRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Typical insurance cover | Hull cover is quoted per US$100 of agreed value; the one published trade-press example prices a midsize jet at 0.13 to 0.21 percent of value, a dated floor rather than a current rate (estimate: current rates sit above it), while corporate liability limits commonly run US$100 million to US$300 million.Business Jet Traveler - Stuart Hope, A Guide to Aviation Insurancebjtonline.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2014-07-08Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Hull cover is quoted per US$100 of agreed value; the one published trade-press example prices a midsize jet at 0.13 to 0.21 percent of value, a dated floor rather than a current rate (estimate: current rates sit above it), while corporate liability limits commonly run US$100 million to US$300 million.Business Jet Traveler - Stuart Hope, A Guide to Aviation Insurancebjtonline.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2014-07-08Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
Guides for this comparison
- How long aircraft registration takes
- EASA or non-EASA aircraft registry
- Cape Town Convention and IDERA by registry
- How to choose an aircraft registry
- Aircraft registries and commercial operation
- Who can own an aircraft on each registry
- Which aircraft registries allow private aircraft to fly commercially?
- How much does it cost to register an aircraft in Aruba?
- How do you register an aircraft in Bermuda?
- How do you register an aircraft in Aruba?
- How much does it cost to register an aircraft in Bermuda?
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