The questions...
IMPORTANT: Read this section before you access our online Vanity Application Form especially if you are applying for a 1-by-2 or 2-by-1 call sign format. (See last question)

What is a "Vanity" station call sign?

A "vanity" call sign is like a "vanity" automobile license plate. It is an Amateur call sign that, subject to availability, is personalized to the license holder's wishes. You must meet certain license class criteria in selecting your call sign and list the exact prefix, numeral and suffix for each selected call sign. You may select several call signs of the appropriate format and the first available one on your list will be assigned to you. Some call sign formats (1-by-2 and 2-by-1) are in short supply. 

Who is eligible to select a Vanity station call sign?

Any individual Amateur or Club station which has already been issued a call sign may obtain a call sign of choice subject to certain restrictions. RACES and military recreation stations are not eligible for a vanity call sign. A Vanity call sign can only be obtained in exchange for an existing call. Licensees cannot get a Vanity call sign as their first call sign. Individual and club Vanity call signs may only contain a format equal to - or lower than - that of the Amateur or Club trustee making the request.

What are call sign "Groups" and how does it impact the Vanity Call Sign System?

What Vanity call signs may Novice operators choose?

A Novice operator may only apply for a "Group D" (2-by-3) call sign format. A Group D call sign has 2 prefix letters followed by any numeral 0 (zero) through 9 and any available three suffix letters. (for example: KA1AAA). The prefix must be from the KA to KZ or the WA to WZ prefix blocks. Important: 2-by-3 call signs beginning with AA to AL and NA to NZ are NOT available to any Amateur Radio station and may not be selected.

What Vanity call signs may Technician, Tech Plus or General Class operators (or club trustees) choose?

Technician, Tech Plus and General Class operators may only apply for a "Group C or D" (1-by-3 or a 2-by-3) call sign format. A Group C call sign has 1 prefix letter followed by any numeral 0 (zero) through 9 and any three available suffix letters. (for example: K1AAA). A Group C prefix must have a K, N or W prefix -- but not the letter "A". Group C call signs beginning with W or K seem to be the most popular. The 1x3 N callsigns are a popular choice because the suffix (the last three letters of a call sign) work well as the initials of the applicant. Another popular suffix is the applicant's current call sign suffix with the two beginning letters changed to W, K or N. (There are call signs that may not be selected that are reserved for certain state, US possessions, and other special locations.) 

What Vanity call signs may Advanced Class operators (or club trustees) choose?

Advanced Class operators may only apply for a "Group B, C or D" (2-by-2, 1-by-3 or a 2-by-3) call sign format. A Group B call sign has 2 prefix letters followed by any numeral 0 (zero) through 9 and any two available suffix letters. The prefix must be from the KA to KZ, NA to NZ or the WA to WZ prefix blocks -- but not the AA-AK prefix block which are Group A format call signs. (For example: KA1AA).
The following two letter prefixes are not available to radio amateurs with continental U.S. (the lower 48 contiguous states) mailing addresses: AH, KH, NH, or WH (these are reserved for the Pacific area); AL, KL, NL, or WL (reserved for Alaska) or KP, NP or WP (reserved for the Atlantic area.) There are a few other call signs that may not be selected.

What Vanity call signs may Amateur Extra Class operators (or club trustees) choose?

Extra Class operators may apply for any available "Group A, B, C or D" (1-by-2, 2-by1, 2-by-2, 1-by-3 or a 2-by-3) call sign format. Group A call signs have certain 1 or 2 prefix letters followed a numeral and any available one or two suffix letters. They include three different formats:
A single prefix letter (Group A) call sign must begin with K, N, or W followed by any numeral 0 (zero) through 9 and any two available suffix letters. (For example: K1AA.) Group A call signs beginning with the single letter "A" are not available.
A two letter (Group A) prefix includes the AA to AK, KA to KZ, NA to NZ and WA to WZ prefix followed by any numeral 0 (zero) through 9 and any one available suffix letter. (For example: AA1A)
A two letter (Group A) prefix includes the AA to AK prefix followed by any numeral 0 (zero) through 9 and any two available suffix letters. (For example: AA1AA)
Be sure to read the How can I get a 1-by-2 or 2-by-1 call sign at the bottom of this FAQ section if you are applying for a 1-by-2 or a 2-by-1 call sign.
The following two letter prefixes are not available to radio amateurs with continental U.S. (the lower 48 contiguous states) mailing addresses: AH, KH, NH, or WH (reserved for Hawaii/Pacific area); AL, KL, NL, or WL (reserved for Alaska) or KP, NP or WP (reserved for Atlantic/Caribbean area.) 

What call signs are not available to the Vanity Call Sign System?

Per the FCC, the following call signs are NOT available for assignment under the Vanity call sign program:

(1) KA2AA through KA9ZZ, KC4AAA through KC4AAF, KC4USA through KC4USZ, KG4AA through KG4ZZ, KC6AA through KC6ZZ, KL9KAAthrough KL9KHZ, and KX6AA through KX6ZZ;

(2) Any call sign having the letters SOS or QRA through QUZ as the suffix;

(3) Any call sign having the letters AM-AZ as the prefix. These prefixes are assigned to other countries by the ITU.;

(4) Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letter X as the first letter of the suffix. These are assigned to experimental (non-Amateur) stations;

(5) Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters AF, KF, NF, or WF as the prefix and the letters EMA as the suffix. These have been allocated to (U.S Government) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stations;

(6) Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters AA-AL or NA-NZ as the prefix ;Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters WC, WK, WM, WR, or WT as the prefix (Group X call signs).

(7) Any 2-by-1, 2-by-2 or 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters AH, AL, KH, KL, KP, NH, NL, NP, WH, WL or WP as the prefix unless your mailing address is outside of the 48 contiguous U.S. states. These prefixes are available ONLY to radio amateurs with non-contiguous U.S. mailing addresses in the state of Alaska and Hawaii and certain U.S. possessions. (Such as Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and other small island possessions.)

(8) Any 1-by-1 format call sign. These are reserved by the Special Event Call Sign System. (For example: K1A.) Note: 1x1 call signs with a "X" suffix letter is not assignable.

(9) Station call signs that have been inactive for less than two years. As a general rule a call sign may not be reassigned under the Vanity call sign system unless it has been inactive for a minimum of two years following expiration, revocation, cancellation, relinquishment or death of the applicant.

May I renew or change my name or address at the same time I apply for a Vanity call sign?

No! You must hold an unexpired amateur operator/station license of the proper operator class, as described above, to request a Vanity call sign for your station. To request a Vanity call sign for a club station, you must hold an unexpired club station license showing you as the license trustee. Your name and mailing address as shown on your current licensing information in the FCC database must be correct. If your license has expired, or if your name or address has changed, you must first modify your station license so that it shows the correct information in the FCC database before you apply for a Vanity call sign. We can do this for you. Just go to the Home page and click on "Change Address" link. There is an additional $10.00 filing fee for this service if filed on-line.

How do I determine what Vanity call signs are available to me?

There are nearly 15 million possible call sign combinations in the Amateur Radio Service. It is very important that you check an online call sign database to be sure that the call sign you want is not already assigned (See No. 3 below.)

(1) You (as an individual radio amateur or club trustee) must be eligible for a specific group call sign. An Extra Class licensee is eligible for any available call sign (Group A, B, C or D.). Advanced Class licensee may select any available Group B, C or D call sign. General, Tech Plus and Technician may select Group C or D. Novices are only eligible for Group D Vanity call signs. 

(2) Vanity call sign assignments are not limited to your call sign district. You can apply for a call sign with any radio district numeral, 0 (zero) through 9.

(3) Refer to the FCC Amateur Service licensee database to verify that the call sign you are requesting is not already assigned. This database is available at various sites on the World Wide Web including: (QRZ) www.qrz.com (WM7D) www.wm7d.net.

A very good Vanity call sign search resource is Eldon Lewis's - K7LS web site RadioQTH.Net located at: www.radioqth.net, as well as ae7q.com. These websites list immediately available and soon to be available call signs. Keep in mind, however, that amateurs are constantly filing for specific call signs and a call sign shown as available one minute may not be available the next. You can also query the FCC's ULS database on the web by accessing the application or license search utilities. These can be accessed at www.fcc.gov/uls. Click on the button labeled 'Application Search' or 'License Search' and use the 'General Search' option. (Amateur Radio Information can be accessed by searching on radio service codes 'HA' - sequentially assigned call signs and 'HV' - vanity call signs. Both can be selected during the same search.)

(4) Even where a call sign does not appear on the database, it may not be available for assignment. Remember, some call signs are not assignable to anyone for various reasons. (See above.)

(5) A call sign is normally assignable two years, plus 1 day following license expiration or death of the licensee. The Amateur Service database contains licensees with expired licenses, that is, in the "2-year" grace period. Therefore, any call sign that is still in the FCC database and shown as active is not assignable as a Vanity call sign.

(6) Even though the licensee may be deceased for two years, be certain that the call sign of the deceased is still not shown in the Amateur Service database. If it is still in the database, you must send a copy of the death certificate (or a obituary notice from a newspaper) to the FCC and request cancellation of the call sign from the FCC records prior to filing the application for a vanity call sign.  Send to: FCC Amateur Section, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. A call sign cannot be held for you during the cancellation process.

(7) Finally, be aware that thousands of Vanity call signs are issued every year and someone else may also be requesting the same call sign you want. It goes to the application that files on time and is selected by the FCC. Vanity applications filed online are handled first by the FCC. It is always a good idea to select as many call signs as possible to increase your chances of getting a Vanity call sign.

How do I get my old call sign back?

You may request a currently unassigned call sign under the Vanity Call Sign System that was previously assigned to you as your primary, secondary, repeater, auxiliary link, control or space station. You do not have to wait two years after expiration to request your previously held vanity call sign.

If you are filing for a call sign that was not issued as a vanity, considered to be a request by a former holder, that callsign may be from any callsign Group. That is, you do not have to hold a specific class of operator license.

For other sequentially issued calls, the FCC does require that you were the previous license holder within 2 years from the date of your application or be able to provide evidence of holding that call sign if you are asked for it. A call sign requested by a former holder may be from any call sign region. 

How do I obtain the call sign of a deceased relative?

When the holder dies, a call sign is immediately assignable to a "close relative" once it is no longer in the database. You do not have to wait two years before you apply for the call sign. The FCC defines a close relative of a deceased amateur as a spouse, child, grandchild, stepchild, parent, grandparent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or in-law. You must indicate your relationship to the deceased person on the Vanity call sign application.

But there is an important catch! You must hold a call sign in a Group equal to - or higher than - the deceased. That is, you must be an Amateur Extra Class operator if the deceased held a Group A call sign. It follows that you must be an Amateur Extra or Advanced Class operator to request a Group B (2-by-2 format) call sign. You must be an Amateur Extra, Advanced, General, Technician Plus, or Technician Class operator to request a Group C (1-by-3 format) call sign . A licensee of any license class may request a Group D (2-by-3 format) call sign.

If the deceased Amateur's call sign is still listed in the licensee database, it must be removed prior to Vanity call sign application. This is accomplished by submitting a signed letter requesting license cancellation accompanied by a copy of the death certificate or an obituary from a newspaper that shows the date of death.

Send to: FCC Amateur Section, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245 prior to filing the application for a vanity call sign. Be aware that someone could request and obtain this call sign before you do. Call signs cannot be held by the FCC for assignment to anyone.

How can our club obtain a Vanity call sign for our club station?

There are three ways; by (1) requesting a Vanity call sign by listing assignable call signs in order of preference, (2) by reclaiming a previously held club call sign or (3.) "in memoriam." While an individual Amateur Radio operator may hold only one primary Amateur Radio station license and Vanity station call sign, there is no limit to the number of club station licenses or Vanity call signs that can be held by the same club -- but you must be able to justify why you need more than one club call sign.
The name, address and call sign indicated in the online forms first section MUST be that of the club. It must match the FCC;s licensing record for the club. The telephone number, and e-mail address, however, should be that of the trustee. The signature on the online form is that of the trustee. Type "Club" in the line that asks for the Social Security number
The trustee's operator class determines the "Group" of the call sign. For example, you must be an Amateur Extra Class operator to apply for a Group A call sign. (After you have obtained a Group A vanity call sign for your club station, you may replace the Extra Class trustee with a person who holds another class of operator license without losing your Group A Vanity call sign.)

IMPORTANT In the comments section, you must list the name, address, call sign and telephone number of an officer of your club who has approved the call sign change.

The club call sign you select must have been unassigned for at least two years if you are simply requesting a Vanity call sign for your club. The two-year rule does not apply if you are reclaiming a previously held call sign for which you were the license trustee or are applying for the "memorial" call sign of a previous club member, now deceased. A club call sign request by a former club call sign holder may be from any Group.

How does our club apply for the call sign of a deceased club member?

The trustee of a club station may request "in memoriam" the call sign of a deceased member even when it has been less than two years following the club members death. The trustee must hold a call sign from a call sign Group equal to - or higher - than the deceased. That is, the trustee must be an Amateur Extra Class operator if the deceased held a Group A call sign. (It follows that the trustee must be an Amateur Extra or Advanced Class operator to request a Group B (2-by-2 format) call sign. The trustee must be an Amateur Extra, Advanced, General, Technician Plus, or Technician Class operator if the deceased club member held a Group C (1-by-3 format) call sign. A club trustee of any license class may request a Group D (2-by-3 format) call sign.

The call sign is immediately assignable after the death of a club member providing a written statement from a close relative of the deceased showing consent to the call sign assignment is in the club station records. The statement of consent must state the sender's relationship to the deceased and confirm the deceased person's association with the club. Do not send the supporting documentation to FCC unless requested to do so. Keep it in your station records in the event you are asked to supply it to the FCC.

A close relative of the deceased is defined as the members spouse, child, grandchild, stepchild, parent, grandparent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or in-law.

If the deceased Amateurs call sign is still listed in the licensee database, it must be removed prior to Vanity call sign application. This is accomplished by submitting a signed letter requesting license cancellation accompanied by a copy of the death certificate or an obituary from a newspaper that shows the date of death.

Send to: FCC Amateur Section, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245 prior to filing the application for a vanity call sign. Be aware that someone could request and obtain this call sign before you do. Call signs cannot be held by the FCC for assignment to anyone.

How does a foreign radio amateur with a U.S. (FCC-issued) Amateur Radio license renew their license or obtain a Vanity call sign when they do not have a Social Security Number (SSN)?

Non-U.S. citizens may hold FCC-issued Amateur Radio operator licenses and call signs -- including Vanity call signs. Since foreign U.S.-licensed radio amateurs do not have SSNs, foreign nationals must request a password from ULS Technical Support.
A non-citizen radio amateur can also renew or modify their FCC license online at our website but must use their FRN or request a password from ULS Technical Support Amateur License Renewals.
A foreign radio amateur holding a US license wishing to obtain a Vanity call sign must additionally request a password from ULS Technical Support which is used to access their FCC license record. online Vanity Call Sign Application form. 

How can I get a 1-by-2 or 2-by-1 (Group A - Extra Class) call sign?

 About 1-by-2 and 2-by-1 Vanity call signs:

The availability of 1x2 and 2x1 call signs
1x2 (K, N, or W followed by a numeral and two letters) and 2x1 (AA-AK, KA-KZ, WA-WZ and NA-NZ by one letter) are very RARE ...and in the case of some call areas, totally unavailable. As soon as one becomes available, many people apply for it, so there will always be competition for the 1x2 or 2x1 callsign(s) that you are requesting. It is a "lottery" of all applications filed on that first day of availability. There is no way to guarantee that you will win a callsign. Your chances will depend on how many other people file on the same day that we do. There is no refund if you lose your application due to competition. Please also keep in mind that if you give more than one call, they MUST become available on the same day to be filed together one application. If you give 4 calls available on 4 different dates, that is 4 applications at $29.95 each that you will need to enter separately through our site.

The list of available 1x2 and 2x1 call signs changes daily so it is not possible to know which calls signs that are available at any given time, except by watching future expiration dates.
Remember that you do NOT have to select a call sign from your present call sign area. Vanity call signs may be selected from ANY radio district area (zero through nine.)

Also, be aware that 2x1 call signs beginning with the letters AH, KH, NH, WH, WL, AL, KL, NL, KP, NP and WP are not available to radio amateurs with mailing addresses in the contiguous (lower 48 continental) United States. These prefixes are geographically restricted to amateurs in the Pacific (for example: Hawaii), Alaska and Atlantic (for example: Puerto Rico) areas.