CITEL and the CEPT Radio Amateur Licence

The CEPT Radio Amateur Licence, introduced in 1985 as CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-01, makes it possible for radio amateurs from both CEPT and some non-CEPT countries to operate amateur radio during short visits without obtaining an individual temporary amateur radio licence. Since its introduction this recommendation has worked very effectively. The numbers of radio amateurs who are now making vacation, business and other visits and who wish to operate during their stays has increased dramatically. For this reason the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) strongly supports efforts to simplify the issuing of radio amateur licences.

At its thirty-third regular session (2003), the OAS General Assembly, in resolution AG/RES. 1947 (XXXIII-O/03), adopted the Protocol of Amendment to the Inter-American Convention on the Amateur Radio Permit (IARP).  The IARP provides for temporary amateur station operations in one CITEL Member State of persons licensed with an IARP by another Member State without further review.

The amendment to the protocol, when it enters into force, will create mutual recognition of temporary visitor licences between the IARP and CEPT T/R 61-01. This will enable radio amateurs from participating  CITEL and CEPT administrations, to operate amateur radio on short visits without having to obtain a further licence from the country being visited.

T/R 6101 has been adopted by 36 CEPT Administrations and 7 Non-CEPT countries, including the Peru, USA and Canada.

CEPT administrations have seen a considerable reduction in the work associated with the issuing of temporary licences to foreign visitors as compared with the work based on normal reciprocal arrangements. No fees are charged for these arrangements.

T/R 61-01 contains a table of licence equivalents between participating countries. This means that a visiting radio amateur enjoys equivalent operating privileges to local radio amateurs. This equivalence is based on another CEPT recommendation T/R 61-02. This recommendation specifies a CEPT Harmonised Amateur Radio Certificate (HAREC) and a syllabus for a radio amateur examination. The net effect of this is that over the years there has been a harmonisation of the radio amateur qualifications needed for issuing of a licence. This again helps administrations with their radio amateur licence procedures.

Yet the inherent flexibility in T/R 61-01 has allowed countries to include specific conditions which they might need for local reasons. The removal of the Morse code qualification for radio amateur access to the HF spectrum was incorporated into T/R 61-01 in 2003 but some CEPT Administrations still have this requirement until they amend their local regulations. Other administrations have special callsign requirements, again these can be accommodated.

In terms of the visiting radio amateur T/R 61-01 is rather easy to understand. Subject to the intending visitor holding a CEPT equivalent licence it is only necessary to look up the equivalence table in T/R 61-01 to determine the prefix to the appended to the home callsign and find out the licence privileges in the country to be visited.

The visitor has to carry a copy of his home licence which has to show that it is a recognised CEPT licence in case of the need for inspection by the authorities of the country being visited. T/R 61-01 has no relation to the import and export of amateur radio equipment which is of course subject to relevant customs regulations.

T/R 61-01 applies to short visits only, typically up to 3 months, for longer stays application has to be made for a permanent licence. This process may also be facilitated if the applicant holds a HAREC since then no local examination has to be taken before a licence is issued.

More details concerning T/R 61-01 can be found at

 http://www.ero.dk/documentation/docs/doc98/official/pdf/TR6101.PDF

and implementation at

 http://www.ero.dk/documentation/docs/implement.asp?docid=1802

Bob Whelan
IARU Region 1
CEPT ECC Working Group “Regulatory Affairs”