No. Read below:
Flying within the Continental USA is very easy compared to just about anywhere else in the world. If one is flying a jet it essentially always requires filing a Instrument Flight Plan even within the USA as it makes no sense to fly a jet below 18,000 feet (at and above which requires instrument flight). Beyond this there is nothing much additional needed from a permission/filing perspective.
International on the other hand is a whole different animal and depends completely on where you are flying to, where you intend to fly over and which airports you intend to land at.
The International Civil Aviation Organization sets the general requirements that all countries are encouraged to model their requirements after. Those requirements are found in ICAO Annex 9. This guidance particularly applies to Customs and Immigration requirements for aircraft, crew and passengers.
Some parts of the world are very laid back and have few requirements, yet many others can be complex and restrictive.
ALL International flights should carry a General Declaration Form covering information found in ICAO Annex 9.
All flights should carry a Passenger Manifest unless it is contained on the General Declaration.
Permits for over flying a country may be required
Permits to land at each airport may be required
Advance Visas may be required for all passengers and crew
Takeoff and Landing Slot times may be required
Specific aircraft equipment/navigation certifications may be required for airspace flown through and landing at specific airports
Additional Liability Insurance Coverage may need to be carried to meet specific country of destination(s) requirements.
THE ABOVE is just a partial list! A well organized flight department that flies regularly to International destinations should use a thorough checklist to address all possible requirements so as not to incur unexpected trouble. Ignorance of the laws of different countries is no excuse!
Asia and the Middle East are two examples of where things can be complicated and advance knowledge and planning are essential.
Due to the potential problems which can arise because of inadequate research and planning, most private jet operators and even some charter operators use the services of “International Flight Planning Providers”. These are companies specializing in all the areas mentioned above and it really lowers the hassle factor of flying international!
When flying to a international destination one has not flown to before, the planning process should begin as soon as possible before the flight. Permits can take two or three weeks to get in some countries, though 3 to 5 days is more typical.
Finally, passengers (even VIPs) need to be briefed on the need to maintain their schedule because changes to the itinerary, delayed departures, change of flight dates, etc., can cause great amount of trouble with changing permits, slot times, etc.
I love flying International, it is my bread and butter, but one needs to know what they are doing lest they get penalized, fined or worse in some cases.