Apply for Australia/NZ mutual recognition of AOC

If you intend to operate to and within New Zealand, you must apply for mutual recognition of your air operator's certificate (AOC).

This allows Australian and New Zealand (ANZA) operators to operate to, from and within either country based on their home certification.

Under legislation, ANZA can mutually recognise air operator's certificates for aircraft:

  • with more than 30 seats
  • weighing more than 15,000kg maximum take-off weight (MTOW).

Eligibility for ANZA privileges

We require advice from the Secretary of the Department that the applicant is eligible for consideration for an Australian AOC with ANZA privileges.  This is in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act 1988.

For more information, visit the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development website.

The following is a list of the formal arrangements regarding Trans-Tasman aviation regulation:

How to apply

You need to apply to us for ANZA privileges. We will then forward your application to the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

  1. Complete and send an AOC Application form

    You will need to complete and submit a signed air operator's certificate and associated approvals application form to us. This will advise us of your intended operations to and within New Zealand.

    Instructions on how to submit are within the form. We will acknowledge receipt of your application by email.

  2. Gain approval

    You will need approval from a transport security program. For more information, email the Guidance Centre of the Department of Home Affairs at guidancecentre@homeaffairs.gov.au

  3. Pay the fee and submit supporting documents

    We will send you an estimate of the costs to assess your application. The estimate is valid for 30 days from the date we send it.

    The estimate letter will also contain, if applicable, a list of additional documents you must provide to support your application. If you wish to proceed with your application, you must:

    • pay the application fee
    • submit the list of supporting documents.

Assessing your application

The criteria for assessment are the same as for an initial issue AOC.

We will review the application to ensure you have answered the relevant questions and provided all required documents. Should your application be incomplete, we will contact you and provide you with the opportunity to address the issue.

We won't start the formal assessment of your application until we receive your payment and any supporting documents. If we have not received your payment and supporting documents within 30 days, we may close the job and return the application to you.

If you have questions, you should submit them through the regulatory guidance enquiry form.

Related content

Related rules and publications

Last updated:
15 Mar 2024
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//licences-and-certificates/air-operators/air-transport-air-operators-certificate/apply-australia/nz-mutual-recognition-aoc
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