Overseas licence conversion exams

If you're planning to work as a pilot in Australia, you may need to convert your overseas licence.

To start the process, you need to fill out the flight crew licence on basis of overseas civil qualifications form with the required items.

Validity of foreign licenses

A valid foreign licence is one from an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) contracting state and must not be:

  • restricted
  • suspended
  • cancelled
  • void
  • temporary.

Your foreign licence must not have any other restriction or limitation placed on them by the issuing authority.

Exam requirements

You must pass exams to convert your ICAO member state licence.

Flight Crew Licence exams must be sat within Australia. We do not permit pilot theory exams to be attempted outside of Australia.

Theory credits obtained from foreign National Aviation Authorities are not recognised by us.

Private pilot licence

There are no mandatory exam requirements for Private Pilot Licence, PPLA and PPLH,

Commercial pilot licence

For a commercial pilot licence (aeroplane) you must hold a valid CPLA or ATPLA licence before you submit a flight crew licence application on basis of overseas civil qualifications form. You then need to pass both CHUF and COSA exams within one ‘window’

For a commercial pilot licence (helicopter) you must hold a valid CPLH or ATPLH licence before you submit a flight crew licence application on basis of overseas civil qualifications form. You then need to pass both CHUF and COSH exams within one ‘window.’

Air transport pilot licence

For an air transport pilot licence (aeroplane) you must pass both AHUF and AOSA exams within one ‘window’. You must also pass our IREX exam if not already passed

For an air transport pilot licence (helicopter) you must pass both AHUF and AOSH exams within one ‘window’.

Last updated:
26 Jan 2022
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//licences-and-certificates/pilots/pilot-licences/military-and-international-licences/overseas-licence-conversion-exams
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