Commercial Use Authorizations

Alert!

All Commercial Entrance Fee increases at Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA), scheduled for October 2019, are delayed until April 1, 2020 or until further notice. There are no changes to the GRCA CUA program at this time. The Road Based CUA has been a requirement since January 1, 2018 at GRCA and will continue to be required. Commercial Entrance Fees will continue to be based on the vehicle-seating capacity until such changes take place.  

Please continue to check the GRCA CUA website for all updates.

 

 

Want to conduct business inside Grand Canyon National Park?

Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs) are required for all commercial visitor services provided by a company or organization not based in the park.

• CUAs are valid for the calendar year only. Companies will need to reapply each year.
• No renewal reminders are sent. Please refer to this website for any relevant updates.
• The 2020 CUA application packets will be available on our website starting in mid-October 2019.
• Make sure to apply 4 weeks before your first trip/event. Expect your permit to be ready approximately 30 days from when you submit a complete packet.
• Please be sure to fill in ALL the blanks in your application forms. Type forms. Incomplete packets will not be processed until complete.
  • One of the best ways to get a permit quickly is under your control: read directions carefully and present us with a complete packet. Less than 5% of our applications are complete.
  • Applications cannot be expedited. We receive hundreds of applications each year, especially in winter and spring, and process complete applications in the order they are received.
• You must be in possession of a valid permit if you wish to conduct business inside Grand Canyon National Park. Please present your CUA at the entrance booths when entering the park.

A complete application packet must include:

1. The general application form, typed and filled out completely. We do not accept typed signatures so please print, sign and scan the signature page. Application Form 10-550
   • Note: question #10 requires companies to list all vehicles used to transport clients. If vehicles will be rented, please enter "unknown" in the license plate column and indicate in the last column that you will be renting a vehicle. If you are contracting out, please indicate from which company you are chartering.
   • Sample Visitor Acknowledgment of Risk Form
2. At least one specific application form (typed). Please choose the 10-115 for each service you wish to provide. Note: you will be asked to redo your application if it is not typed, causing a delay in processing your application.

• Road Based Tour CUA 10-115 This includes any activities above the rim, including guided talks or short hikes.
• Day Hiking CUA 10-115 This includes any day hiking below the rim.
  • Staff Registration Form and current WFR/CPR certifcation for each guide
• Day Hiking/Transit CUA 10-115 If your company buses people in/out and takes them day hiking below the rim.
  • Staff Registration Form and current WFR/CPR certifcation for each guide
• Backpacking CUA 10-115 This includes any overnight trips above or below the rim.
  • Staff Registration Form and current WFR/CPR certifcation for each guide
• Backpacking/Transit CUA 10-115 Transit into the park for overnight backpacking trips.
  • Staff Registration Form and current WFR/CPR certifcation for each guide
• Backpacking and Day Hiking CUA 10-115 If your company does both.
  • Staff Registration Form and current WFR/CPR certifcation for each guide
• Backpacking and Day Hiking/Transit CUA 10-115 If your company does both AND buses people in/out.
  • Staff Registration Form and current WFR/CPR certifcation for each guide
• Photography & Art Workshop CUA 10-115
  • Attachment B - Workshop Itinerary
• Photography & Art Workshop/Transit CUA 10-115
  • Attachment B - Workshop Itinerary
• Equipment Rental CUA 10-115
• Equipment Rental/Transit CUA 10-115
• Bicycle Tour CUA 10-115 If your company bikes above the rim. No bicycles are allowed below the rim.
• Bicycle Tour/Transit CUA 10-115 If your company both bikes above the rim and buses people in/out.

3. Certificate of Insurance from your insurance agent for the required amounts (see last page of Application Form 10-550) listing as Additionally Insured: The United States of America, PO Box 129, Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023. Two types of insurance are required:
   • Commercial General Liability
   • Commercial Automobile Liability
4. Application Fee: The amount is determined by which activities you will be conducting in the park. Please see Attachments A and C in the general application form 10-550 for this year's rates. Please note that we do not refund for overpayment.
5. Annual Report for the previous year (2018) if you have operated in the park before: Annual Report 10-660 Do not leave any information blank. This is the only form that can be hand written. Please write legibly. (The 2019 annual report form will be available on this website in the fall of 2019. It will be due on January 31, 2020.)

Note: Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. Incomplete applications are not placed in the queue until they are complete.

What happens once I turn in my application?
You will receive an automated email letting you know we received your application. If you do not receive this email, please send your documents again. A staff member will check the documents for completeness in the next week and either place them in the queue OR send you an email requesting missing pieces. Once you get us the missing documents, we will place the application in the queue. Expect a permit to be processed anywhere from two to four weeks after it is placed in the queue. We will send you the permit via email and ask you to print it out and keep it with your tour group when you enter the park. Please read the conditions of the permit carefully before your trip(s).

 

Submitting your CUA application packet:

Email submission: e-mail us

You may also mail the complete application packet to:

Grand Canyon National Park
Attn: Commercial Services
PO Box 129 (USPS)
3 Camper Services (UPS, FedEx, etc.)
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

We highly recommend that you email your complete application packet. This reduces wait time and allows us to better track your case. Once submitted, you will receive an automated message. Please wait at least two weeks before checking your permit status. We experience a high volume of applicants, over 700 a year, and cannot give companies individual attention. Peak periods are October through December and again in February and March. We recommend you get your complete application in as early as possible, especially if your trips fall during peak periods. Complete applications are processed in four weeks on average. No applications can be expedited. There are no exceptions.

Questions? e-mail us or call 928-638-7707. Please note that this phone takes messages only; there is no live person who answers this phone. Leave a detailed message that is clearly annunciated so we can research your queries and return your call. For faster response times, please email.

---

 

MARKET PRICE FEES:
In order to collect the Market Price Management Fee for applicable 2018 CUA holders, the permits office needs first to review your submitted Annual Report. The Annual Report is due January 31 of the next year. After reviewing each CUA holder's annual report, the permits office will send a separate email with the Market Price Calculator. CUA holders will use this calculator to confirm the total CUA fees due (gross reciepts earned minus the application fee). This payment process will be through Pay.gov and is separate from 2019 application fees.

COMMERCIAL ENTRANCE FEE:
Starting April 1, 2020, Grand Canyon will raise their commercial entrance fees to $20 per adult person per trip, regardless of the size of your vehicle or the CUA type the company holds. Any children 15 years and younger are free. Companies must pay the commercial entrance fee each time they have new clients. For example, if a bus company brings in 30 clients Monday morning and visits the park, the company pays $600 at the entrance station. If the same bus returns Tuesday morning with a group of 34 clients, the company will pay $680.

TUWEEP CUA:
Grand Canyon National Park is accepting applications for Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs) in the Tuweep area through December 31, 2019. All CUAs will expire at that time. Applications for Tuweep Commercial Transportation will be considered to the extent they do not have unacceptable impacts on park resource and values. Please contact the permitting office for the application.

CUAs issued during this time period are not guaranteed a CUA in 2020. The park's Backcountry Management Plan is being revised and will provide guidance on managing Commercial Use in the Tuweep area. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the revised plan was available for public comment until March 4, 2016.

e-mail us for more information.

SHUTTLE AND MOTORCYCLE TOUR CUAs:
Contact the Commercial Services Office: e-mail us

 

Backcountry campsite

Backcountry Camping Permits
for Overnight Backpacking Operators

In addition to the CUA, Backpacking CUA holders are required to obtain all necessary backcountry camping permits from the Backcountry Information Center. Find more information about Backpacking Permits on the Backcountry Permits page.

CUA Backcountry Permit Request Form (400kb PDF File)

 

PDF Display or Printing Issues?
Using a web browser to view and print our PDF forms and publications? You may experience issues where the PDF does not display or print correctly. Some web browsers do not automatically open PDFs using the Acrobat Reader application.

Things to try (1) Select the Acrobat Reader plug-in for your browser's default application for viewing/ printing PDFs. or (2) You can right click and save the PDF document to your desktop and then open it with the Adobe Reader application, and print from there. Get the newest version of free Adobe Reader.