Application for Skills Assessment for the Purposes of Migration - Aircraft Pilots
CASA issues skills assessments to aircraft pilot applicants under the employer nomination migration scheme, but has no other role in the migration process. Applicants requiring information about migration issues should consult the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs web site.
In particular: Form 1121i –
Skilled Occupation List (SOL), Sydney and Selected Areas Skill Shortage List (SSASSL), and Employer Nomination SchemeOccupation List (ENSOL)
Skills assessment application
Skills assessments for migration purposes will only be issued by CASA to pilots applying under the employer nomination scheme, as aircraft pilots are no longer listed under the general skills migration category.
CASA will only issue a skills assessment to pilots who hold Australian flight crew qualifications that would enable them to obtain employment in the Australian aviation industry as a pilot. Applicants must hold either a commercial pilot licence (CPL) or an air transport pilot licence (ATPL) that has been issued by the responsible authority of an ICAO Contracting State and that is relevant to the employment for which they are being nominated.
For applicants who do not hold Australian flight crew qualifications, CASA will issue a letter advising the applicant of the requirements they must meet to convert their current flight crew qualifications to the Australian equivalent. Conversion to Australian qualifications will normally require applicants to travel to Australia to undergo medical and written examinations and flight tests.
How to convert overseas qualifications.
To apply for a skills assessment under the employer nomination scheme you must supply contact details for your nominating employer and nominate the role in which you are to be employed so that CASA can assess whether your qualifications are suitable to engage in that employment. CASA may have to contact the employer to check the piloting tasks that you will be required to undertake.
Note that you must also demonstrate that you have been either working in Australia in the occupation you have been nominated for two years or have at least three years experience in the role for which you are seeking employment to be eligible under this scheme.
To apply to CASA for a skills assessment you must complete
Form 079 - Application for Skills Assessment for the Purpose of Migration - Aircraft Pilot.
Completing the form
Form 079 - Application for Skills Assessment for the Purpose of Migration - Aircraft Pilot
You must answer all questions on this form in English. Incomplete applications cannot be processed and will be returned to you. You must lodge this application with the documents listed below. If you require any assistance in completing this form you should contact CASA:
Flight crew exams and licences contacts
Documents you must include
You must provide copies of your pilot licence, medical certificate and flight radiotelephone operator licence and pilot logbooks (if separate) for the assessment. If applying within Australia, original documents must be presented to CASA together with your log book(s). You must also provide a letter allowing the issuing authority to release details of your qualifications and any other relevant information to CASA that CASA requests.
Note that CASA checks all overseas qualifications with the issuing authority prior to licence issue, so ensuring that authority will release information to CASA may avoid lengthy delays.
If the documents are not in English, a certified translation must also be provided. The translation must be compiled by an registered translator. Ask the Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in the country where the translation is to be made if you are unsure of who to see. If the translation is to be made in Australia, contact the Australian National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). Information on the services provided by NAATI is available on the NAATI web site.
Agents
Like other Government Agencies, CASA must abide by Australian privacy legislation which prohibits the release of any information the Authority has regarding your qualifications or on the specifics of your application unless authorised to do so. For this reason, CASA normally deals direct with the applicants seeking assessment.
If you wish for a family member or a migration agent to act as a go-between, you will need to attach a letter of authorisation allowing CASA to discuss your application with the third party you nominate. This letter must authorise the person (by name) and be signed by you.
English language requirements
Prior to being issued with an Australian flight crew licence you will have to demonstrate as part of written examinations and flight tests that you possess a knowledge of the English language that is sufficient to allow you to safely exercise the privileges of an Australian flight crew licence.
Payment of fees
Whilst there is no fee for skills assessments conducted by CASA, various charges are levied for theory examinations, and the issue of licences and other related qualifications. You will also need to factor the cost of conversion training and subsequent flight tests.
Time-frame for assessments
Applications for assessments are usually processed within two to three weeks of receipt, although this can vary according to current demand and other work priorities.