Operating Overseas

OK this section is not really needed! However, with the number of times that this comes up on social media, with people getting confused as to who can, who can't, what you can do, what you can't do, agreeing with the system, arguing that the system is wrong, etc, I have decided to put all the key information in one place. That means I can link folk to it (or you can link to this page), rather than trying to type it out time and time again.

Right, first and foremost, if a UK Radio Amateur only holds a Foundation or Intermediate licence, then normally they CANNOT operate overseas...Simples innit....Well sort of!

Let me try and explain why, but to do this you need to be aware that there some organisations and agreements in place (yer more paperwork. I know...) that apply here, and the key ones are:

CEPT: The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations. The UK is a member of CEPT, as such it has reached reciprocal arrangements been among the members of CEPT (and some other countries), concerning licensed radio amateurs. They have agreed the minimum training and licence standards required that allows a Radio Amateur to operate in another country

CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-01: In 1985 CEPT, produced an agreement within Europe called the T/R 61 – 01.  This made it possible for radio amateurs from CEPT countries to operate during short visits in other CEPT countries without obtaining an individual temporary licence from the visited CEPT country. CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-01 (Opens as a PDF).  Currently the CEPT requirement to operate overseas is restricted to Full Licence holders.

CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-02: In 1990 it was agreed that CEPT administrations, such as the UK, could issue a HAREC to Licence holders. The HAREC document shows proof of successfully passing an amateur radio examination which complies with the Examination Syllabus for the HAREC. It also facilitates the issuing of an individual licence to radio amateurs who stay in a country for a longer term than the ‘short stay’ mentioned in CEPT Recommendation T/R 61 – 01 as well as easing the issue of an individual licence to a radio amateur returning to his native country. In this case the showing of a HAREC certificate issued by OfCOM, should facilitate the issue of a Reciprocal Licence. The Recommendation as revised in 1994 made it possible for non-CEPT countries to participate in the HAREC scheme, but be aware not all countries participate, so an operator MUST check beforehand. CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-02 (Opens as a PDF). In simple terms, no HAREC, no reciprocal and as only Full Licences are issued with the HAREC, it means that Foundation and Intermediate licence holds are not permitted to operate overseas!

ECC/REC/(05)06: In 2016, CEPT agreed a scheme that permitted Novice Licences to have limited operation permissions in some countries, however not all countries are part of this.  Currently the United Kingdom is NOT part of this scheme, so neither the Foundation nor the Intermediate Licence meet the requirements for CEPT Novice Licence.  Now don't shout at me, but at present OfCOM does not intend to join this scheme. ECC/REC/(05)06 Document (Opens as a PDF). This means, in very simple terms, that Foundation and Intermediate licence holds are not permitted to operate overseas!

HAREC: “Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate” means a certificate issued by a licensing administration as evidence that the holder has achieved a specified level of qualification consistent with the requirements of CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-02.  It is important to note that currently only Full Licence holders in the UK can be issued with the HAREC.

Reciprocal Licence: “Reciprocal Licence” means a Licence issued to an Amateur who holds a HAREC which confirms that the holder has achieved the appropriate level of competence required by CEPT to be issued with a Reciprocal Licence.

For the sake of clarification: Just to repeat, for clarity, as only Full Licence holders who can be issued with a HAREC in the UK, it means that Foundation and Intermediate Licence holder CANNOT operate abroad.

Non-CEPT Countries: Some non CEPT countries will allow Licence holders to operate, even Foundation and Intermediate Licence Holders (but very few), but the operator MUST apply to that countries licencing authority and you MUST apply well beforehand, as it can take several months for some countries to reply.

Licencing Authorities: Most countries have a Licencing Authority and you can find the contact details via that counties National Society which looks after the well-being of that country’s amateurs. In the UK our Licencing Authority is OfCOM, in the USA it is the FCC and in Germany it is the BNetzA. A list of the National Societies may be found at www.iaru.org/reference/member-societies/. Few are of the size of the RSGB – indeed many are staffed entirely by volunteers. Nevertheless, they will all give you as much assistance as they can. If you require information about band plans, repeaters, local clubs, or have difficulty in obtaining a reciprocal licence, please contact that country’s national society.

Morse (A):  Bearing in mind what I have just said about non-CEPT countries, some also stipulate that you must also hold a recognised Morse Qualification. The operator should approach the relevant countries licencing authority, to confirm what qualification is required, and it is advised to do this several months in advance.

Morse (B): Morse proficiency is not required for operation in a participating CEPT country unless it is specifically stated (a few participating CEPT countries have not yet implemented the latest version of T/R 61-01, without Morse code requirement; some others require Morse code proficiency only if Morse code is supposed to be used by the visiting radio amateur). 

DANGER WILL ROBINSON: Although the use of amateur radio in another country may be provided for by T/R 61- 01, local police or other authorities overseas may not be familiar with these provisions. Showing a UK Amateur Radio licence and a copy of T/R 61-01 may not mean anything to them. Equally, in some countries (or regions or countries), the sight of an individual - particularly a foreigner - using radio apparatus may arouse suspicions. There have been cases of local police overseas apprehending UK licensed radio amateurs, because the authorities were unfamiliar with T/R 61-01 and because the UK Amateur Radio licence did not appear as they expected a licence to look. It is up to individual licensed radio amateurs to exercise judgement. It is not the place of the UK spectrum regulator to tell overseas authorities how to run their affairs. Before UK licensed radio amateurs take any radio equipment overseas or decide to use amateur radio overseas under T/R 61-01, they should check the current advice being given by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about their country of destination, to see if there are any particular sensitivities nationally or locally. If in any doubt, individuals may decide that is advisable not to operate radio equipment overseas if it could appear suspicious.

OK you have got this far, so as Villanelle would have said, had she got this far without killing someone, "BOOOOORING"! (Hint - Killing Eve)

PLEASE GIVE ME SOME EXCITEMENT, PLEASE!

So moving on to the more interesting bits, assuming that you have a Full Licence, and you are going to visit a county for LESS than 3 months, (on holiday).  Please note that all call signs will have to have a suffix, which will normally be /p, as you will be operating away from your licence address!!

Southern Ireland - I would become EI/G1CQP/P
France - I would become F/G1CQP/P
Australia - I would become VK/G1CQP/P (Ha that got you, though non-CEPT, they have a agreement in place)
Cyprus - I would become 5B/G1CQP/P
Germany - I would become DL/G1CQP/P 
Azores - I would become CT8/G1CQP/P
San Marino - Opps, I can't, T/R 61-01 is not recognised, so I would need to apply for permission, well before I visited! 

OK I have decided I want to spend a lot more time in that country (3 months or more) or even move there, in accordance with T/R 61-02 I would need to apply for a Reciprocal Licence, this would also mean I would be issued with a callsign belonging to that country.  Now the warning, these are not issued on demand, they can take a period of time to be issued, so apply a long time advance!!

Out of interest in a RSGB Full Licence Mock exam, has a question that covers just this, I know the answer but can you work it out:

An amateur holding the callsign MW0XYZ has permanently moved to Portugal, which has implemented CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-01. MW0XYZ can:
 
A. not operate as M0XYZ under the CEPT agreement
B. operate under the CEPT agreement using the call M0XYZ
C. operate under the CEPT agreement using the call CT/MW0XYZ/P
D. operate under the CEPT agreement using the call CT/M0XYZ.

DANGER WILL ROBINSON (Mk 2): The other nightmare that must be remembered is that if operating aboard, you must only operate in accordance with the rules for that country.  You may have favourite bands or frequencies you use in the UK, however, they may not be usable in another country, and is up to you to ensure you comply with that countries schedules!

DANGER WILL ROBINSON (Mk 3): To operate under CEPT regulations in an overseas country you need to have with you:

a.  your UK licence validation document
b.  a copy of the UK licensing regulations (Section 2 of your licence)
c.  a copy of the foreign country’s licensing regulations. You will need to contact the foreign country’s licensing administration to obtain a copy of the latter. Details can be obtained via their national society.

If you do not have the above, you could be stopped from operating, you could have your equipment ceased, and in the worst case, you could be arrested!!


Now as a final thought, and it will be good news for all Foundation and Intermediate Licence holders, you can pretty much ignore all the above, because you are not allowed to operate abroad.......mostly!

Further Information:

OfCOM Guidance - Advice to UK radio amateurs operating in other countries
RSGB Guidance on Operating Abroad
CEPT ECC Recommendation TR 61-01
CEPT ECC Recommendation TR 61-02
CEPT ECC Recommendation TR (05)06
International Amateur Radio Union IARU Region 1 - Operating Abroad