Section 47.3 - Registration required(a) An aircraft may be registered under 49 U.S.C. 44103 only when the aircraft is not registered under the laws of a foreign country and is- (1) Owned by a citizen of the United States;(2) Owned by an individual citizen of a foreign country lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States;(3) Owned by a corporation not a citizen of the United States when the corporation is organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or a State within the United States, and the aircraft is based and primarily used in the United States; or(4) An aircraft of-(i) The United States Government; or(ii) A State, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a political subdivision of a State, territory, or possession.(b) No person may operate an aircraft that is eligible for registration under 49 U.S.C. 44101-44104 , unless the aircraft- (1) Has been registered by its owner;(2) Is carrying aboard the temporary authorization required by § 47.31(c) ; or(3) Is an aircraft of the Armed Forces of the United States.(c) Governmental units are those named in paragraph (a) of this section and Puerto Rico.Doc. No. 7190, 31 FR 4495, Mar. 17, 1966, as amended by Amdt. 47-20, 44 FR 61939, Oct. 29, 1979; Amdt. 47-27, 70 FR 244 , Jan. 3, 2005; Amdt. 47-29, 75 FR 41979 , July 20, 2010; Doc. No. FAA-2015-7396; Amdt. 47-30, 80 FR 78645 , Dec. 16, 2015