Application for Diplomatic Clearance (DIC) for Foreign State Aircraft

Who Needs a Diplomatic Clearance?

Any foreign state aircraft intending to enter Luxembourg airspace for overflight or landing. This includes:

• Military, customs, or police aircraft
• State-owned or state-used aircraft for public missions

Issuing Authority:

• Overflight DIC: Directorate of Defence of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade
• Landing DIC: Directorate of Defence in consultation with Directorate of Civil Aviation (DAC)

Application Procedure:

Diplomatic missions must submit a verbal note including the "EUROPEAN UNION DIPLOMATIC CLEARANCE (DIC)" form to the Directorate of Defence.

"EU DIC" form link: https://dic.eda.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/DIC-TA-Form-V5_version2.docx .

Submission Methods:

Mandatory: via e-mail at flight.clearances@mae.etat.lu

Supplementary: via mail at

B.P. 212

L-2012 Luxembourg

Time Frame:

• Submit at least 3 working days before the flight
• Late requests are only considered in exceptional cases

If the application meets the requirements, the Directorate of Defence issues a diplomatic clearance to the requester/ diplomatic mission accredited in Luxembourg. The Diplomatic Clearance includes a Diplomatic Clearance Number (DCN), to be included in item 18 of the respective Flight Plan (FPL).

The authorisation is valid for a period of 24 hours before ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) and 72 hours after ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival). If an authorised flight must be advanced for more than 24 hours or postponed for more than 72 hours, a new application must be submitted.

Special Provisions:

• EATC Flights: Refer to "pMDCN for EATC flights"
• Military transport flights of TA DIC Participants: Follow the "Technical Arrangement" guidelines on https://dic.eda.europa.eu/ 
• ATFM Exemptions: Refer to procedures on https://guichet.public.lu/en/entreprises/sectoriel/aviation/espace-aerien-aerodromesatm-ans/autorisation-exemption-atfm.htmll .

A diplomatic clearance does not exempt the operator from requesting an ATFM exemption for departing flights.

Legal Bases (in French):

Loi modifiée du 31 janvier 1948 relative à la réglementation de la navigation aérienne: Regulates air navigation, including state aircraft definitions and requirements

Loi modifiée du 19 mai 1999: Regulates airport ground handling, civil aviation security, and establishes the Civil Aviation Directorate