How to Renew Your License Online

(Compliments of the ARRL QST Magazine – October 2023)

  Before you renew your license, you will need to create a new FCC CORES username account, and then link your FCC Registration Number (FRN) to your new account.  As of April 2022, the FCC charges a $35 fee to renew amateur radio licenses.  You must create the new account to pay the fee.  Follow the steps listed in the PDF attachment below to create a new CORES account, and then after you complete the license renewal application, the License Manager system will automatically direct you to the CORES system.  Log in and pay the fee.

NOTICE:  Do NOT pay the fee using a mobile device such as a phone or a tablet. Only pay using a laptop or desktop computer! 

There is a known issue with the FCC using mobile devices and while they will accept payment, you will not receive credit for payment.

NOTE: Some applicants are reporting that they are not receiving the FCC payment email. As a reminder, applicants do not have to wait for the FCC email to pay the fee. As soon as the application is in the FCC system, the applicant can log into the FCC’s CORES system (https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do) and pay the fee. CORES payment system information can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/cores-payment-system. Additional information and instructions are located on the ARRL VEC’s FCC Application Fee web page at http://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee.
Other applicants are reporting that they are not receiving the automated email with the link to their new, upgraded, renewed, or modified license. The FCC instructions for obtaining the official authorization (official license) is located at https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/knowledge-base/universal-licensing-system-uls-resources/how-obtain-official.

FCC_License_Renewal  

Or use this handy checklist from the FCC themselves…  Renewal Application Checklist

For step-by-step video instructions, click on the link below…

How to RENEW your FCC Amateur Radio License – YouTube

Still Need Help Renewing?

*  W5YI Now offers **

** A Complete License Renewal Service **

W5YI is now able to submit your amateur license renewal and pay the FCC fee for you, we’ll even mail you a printed copy of your license when complete.

While we realize that you can do the work of submitting a license renewal with the FCC yourself, if you would rather not do that, and have us take care of that for you, we offer that service.

Complete Renewal – $80 Fee ($45 W5YI Processing fee plus $35 FCC Application Fee)

Renewal only – $10 Processing Fee ( you pay $35 FCC Application Fee yourself by setting up a new CORES account and using CORES bill pay)

Amateur Radio licenses may only be renewed within 90 days of the license expiration date.

You may file your application with W5YI Licensing Services using our online renewal page.

If you are not able to use the online page, you may use our pdf version of the W5YI Renewal Form however that will require you to fill it out and return it to us in one of the following ways:

You may return the application and required documentation Return by one of the following:

1. email to [email protected]
2.   W5YI Licensing Services  DropBox: https://www.dropbox.com/request/AX8hdZ1EI4VKdVFcNEpn
3.   mail to W5YI Licensing Services , PO Box 260916, Plano, TX  75026-0916

For Basic Renewal your request will be submitted within a business day once we receive it here in our office (Mon-Fri).  Once your RENEWAL request is submitted to the FCC, they will give it a File # and send you an email with full instruction on how to pay your $35 FCC Application Fee.

Important! DO NOT USE A PHONE OR TABLET TO PAY THE FEE. The FCC Fee Pay site is not compatible with phones or tablets. This means your will need to use a desktop or laptop to pay your application fee. If you use a phone or tablet to make you payment, it will appear that the payment went through with no issues and your card may be charged but the payment will NOT be applied to the application as it should be and the pending application WILL NOT be granted.
You will have 10 days to submit your payment to the FCC, or they will dismiss your request for non-payment. There is no FCC Application Fee for an address change only.

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