CEPT License: Operating Ham Radio Abroad Under T/R 61-01

For a radio amateur who travels, the CEPT license is one of the most useful pieces of paper in the world. Under CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-01, licensed amateurs from participating countries can operate during short visits to other participating countries without applying for a separate temporary licence. You take your radio, add the local prefix to your call sign, and get on the air, whether from a holiday flat, a mountain summit or a park.

The system is simple once you understand it, but the details matter: who qualifies, what your licence must say, which call sign format to use, which bands you may use, and what to carry with you. This guide explains how the arrangement works, based on the text of the recommendation and information published by national societies, and how it differs from related arrangements such as HAREC. Always check the current position of the country you plan to visit before you travel, because participation and national conditions can change.

What CEPT and T/R 61-01 Are

CEPT, the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations, is the body through which European telecommunications regulators coordinate policy. Its Electronic Communications Committee publishes the recommendations that cover amateur radio, and the ECC radio amateur pages list the relevant documents.

T/R 61-01, titled “CEPT Radio Amateur Licence”, was first approved in 1985. According to its introduction, it 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 country. A 1992 revision opened the system to non-CEPT countries, and a 2016 revision introduced a “Statement of Conformity” procedure through which non-CEPT administrations can declare which of their national licence classes meet the required standard. Final approval of such applications remains subject to the agreement of CEPT administrations.

The recommendation also says that visited countries applying it will not levy administrative charges or spectrum fees on the CEPT licence. That is a large part of why it is so convenient: there is no application, no fee and no waiting time for each trip.

What Counts as a CEPT License

There is usually no separate certificate called a CEPT license. According to Annex 1 of T/R 61-01, the CEPT radio amateur licence can be included in the national licence or be a special document issued by the same authority. It is drafted in the national language and in German, English and French.

The minimum requirements are an indication that the document is a CEPT amateur licence, a declaration that the holder may use an amateur station in countries applying the recommendation, the name and address of the holder, the call sign, the validity and the issuing authority. Many national licences already contain this wording. If yours does not, check with your national regulator whether a separate document is available.

Two conditions in Annex 1 are easy to overlook:

• Non-residents only. The CEPT licence is valid for non-residents, for the duration of their temporary stays in countries that have adopted the recommendation, and within the validity of the national licence. If you move to another country, you need a licence from that country.
• No chaining of temporary licences. Radio amateurs holding a temporary licence issued in a foreign country cannot use it as the basis for CEPT operation.

Only licence classes that are recognised as equivalent to the CEPT licence qualify. In most participating countries this is the full licence class. Entry-level and novice classes are generally not covered by T/R 61-01 itself, though many countries recognise novice licences through a separate recommendation, discussed below.

Call Sign Format When Operating Abroad

The recommendation is precise about the call sign. When transmitting in the visited country, the licence holder must use their national call sign preceded by the call sign prefix of the visited country. The prefix and the national call sign are separated by the character “/” in telegraphy or the word “stroke” in telephony.

So a station from one country visiting another sends the visited country’s prefix, a stroke, and then the home call sign. The annexes to the recommendation list the prefixes to use for each participating country, and some countries specify different prefixes for different regions or islands. Check the current list for your destination rather than guessing from the usual prefix you hear on the air.

Many operators also add a suffix such as /P for portable or /M for mobile, according to the visited country’s rules and common practice. If you plan to activate parks or summits, our guides to Parks on the Air and Summits on the Air explain how portable call signs fit into those programmes.

Your call sign abroad also determines which DXCC entity your contacts count for. Logs and confirmations should show the call sign you actually used and the location you operated from, so that the contacts are credited correctly.

Bands, Power and Local Rules

A common misunderstanding is that a CEPT licence lets you use your home country’s privileges abroad. It does not. According to Annex 1, the CEPT licence permits use of the frequency bands allocated to the amateur service and amateur satellite service and authorised in the country where the station is operated. The holder must observe the ITU Radio Regulations, the recommendation itself and the regulations in force in the visited country, including any local technical restrictions.

In practice that means:

• Use the visited country’s band limits and power limits, which may be narrower or wider than at home.
• Pay attention to ITU region differences. The recommendation specifically warns about differences in amateur allocations between the three ITU regions. Our guide to IARU band plans by region explains the main differences.
• Respect local restrictions on places, such as military areas, airports or protected sites, and any rules on operating from vehicles or ships.
• Expect no protection from interference. The recommendation states that the licence holder cannot request protection against harmful interference.
• Show the licence on request. You must present your CEPT licence to the appropriate authorities of the visited country if asked.

CEPT Arrangements Compared

T/R 61-01 is one of several arrangements that help amateurs operate or obtain licences abroad. They serve different purposes.

The distinction between T/R 61-01 and HAREC is important. T/R 61-01 is about temporary operation using your home licence. HAREC, the Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate under T/R 61-02, is about the examination standard, and it can help you obtain a licence from another country, for example after moving there.

Non-CEPT Countries and Visitors From Outside Europe

Several countries outside Europe participate in T/R 61-01, which is why the system is useful for visitors from other continents as well. The details depend on each country’s agreement with CEPT.

The United States is a well-documented example. According to the ARRL CEPT information page, US Amateur Extra and Advanced class licensees have full reciprocal operating privileges under T/R 61-01, General class licensees have limited privileges in countries that have adopted ECC Recommendation (05)06, and Technician and Novice licensees are not eligible. The ARRL advises US amateurs to bring an official FCC-issued licence rather than the reference copy, proof of US citizenship, generally a passport, and a copy of the FCC’s public notice on operating in CEPT countries. It also notes that the US does not participate in HAREC, so a US licence cannot be used to obtain a full licence in a HAREC country.

Visitors from other non-CEPT countries should check their own national society or regulator for the equivalent information, because conditions differ between participating countries.

Practical Checklist Before You Travel

1. Confirm the destination participates in T/R 61-01 for your licence class, using the current implementation status published by CEPT or your national society.
2. Check your licence document. Make sure it contains the CEPT wording and is valid for the whole trip.
3. Look up the correct prefix for the visited country or region, and any rules on portable or mobile suffixes.
4. Read the local band plan and power limits, and note any restricted segments or bands.
5. Carry the paperwork: your original licence document, identification and any additional documents your national society recommends.
6. Check customs and transport rules for your equipment. The recommendation explicitly says it bears no relation to the import and export of amateur radio equipment, which is subject only to customs regulations.
7. Plan your logging and QSL route, so contacts from the trip are confirmed under the right call sign and location.

Operating Tips for a Trip Abroad

Paperwork is only half of a successful trip. A few operating habits make holiday radio far more productive.

• Announce your call sign clearly. A prefixed call is longer than usual, and listeners need to hear the stroke clearly. On phone, say the prefix, the word “stroke” and then your call at an even pace; on CW, leave a clean gap around the slash.
• Expect pileups if the prefix is wanted. Even a common country can attract callers when the band is open to a region that rarely hears it. Our guide to working a pileup covers techniques for both sides.
• Keep the station simple. A compact radio, a resonant wire or a portable vertical, and a reliable power source are easier to manage than a complex setup in an unfamiliar place.
• Be a good guest. Ask permission before putting up antennas at a hotel or rental property, keep cables tidy and safe, and avoid interference to neighbours’ equipment.
• Log carefully. Record the exact call sign used and the location for every contact, so confirmations and award credits are correct after you return.

Common Mistakes When Operating Abroad

• Using home privileges. The visited country’s rules apply, not yours.
• Wrong call sign format. The visited prefix goes before your home call, separated by a stroke.
• Assuming every licence class qualifies. Novice and entry classes are often covered differently or not at all.
• Staying too long. T/R 61-01 is for temporary stays by non-residents; residents need a local licence.
• Forgetting the documents. You must be able to show your licence if asked.

The Bottom Line

The CEPT license under T/R 61-01 is one of the great conveniences of modern amateur radio. If your licence class is recognised and the country you visit participates, you can operate during a temporary stay without a new licence and without fees, using the visited country’s prefix, a stroke and your own call sign. You must follow the local band plan and regulations, carry your licence document, and remember that the arrangement is for non-residents on short visits. For moving abroad, HAREC under T/R 61-02 is the relevant route instead. Check the current implementation status for your destination before every trip, pack the right paperwork, and enjoy being the DX for a change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a CEPT license?

It is the CEPT radio amateur licence defined in Recommendation T/R 61-01. It can be part of your national licence or a separate document, and it allows temporary operation during short visits to participating countries without applying for a local licence.

What call sign do I use under CEPT?

You use your national call sign preceded by the visited country’s prefix, separated by “/” in CW and the word “stroke” on phone. The recommendation’s annexes list the prefixes for each participating country.

Can I use my home country’s bands and power abroad?

No. You may use only the amateur bands authorised in the visited country and must follow its regulations, including power limits and local restrictions.

Do I need to pay a fee to operate under CEPT?

According to T/R 61-01, visited countries applying the recommendation will not levy administrative charges or spectrum fees on the CEPT licence.

What is the difference between CEPT T/R 61-01 and HAREC?

T/R 61-01 allows temporary operation abroad with your home licence. HAREC, under T/R 61-02, is a harmonised examination certificate that can help you obtain a licence from another country, for example after moving there.

Can I use a CEPT license if I move to another country?

No. The CEPT licence is valid for non-residents during temporary stays. Residents need a licence from the country where they live.

Can US amateurs operate under CEPT?

According to the ARRL, US Amateur Extra and Advanced class licensees have full privileges under T/R 61-01, General class licensees have limited privileges in countries applying ECC Recommendation (05)06, and Technician and Novice licensees are not eligible.