How to switch a non-European pilot’s license to a European one?
Is your pilot’s license issued outside the European Union? Or did a pilot with a non-European license come to your organization? What to do if we want to transfer or validate a license issued in a country outside the European Union to make it an EASA license according to Part-FCL and Part-MED?
According to European legislation, there are two options available – transfer or validation.
Transfer vs validation
Transfer – The first option is transferring a foreign license to a European one, where the competent authority (in the case of the Czech Republic, the Czech CAA) will issue a new pilot’s license according to EASA legislation after the applicant meets the given conditions. The essential precondition for transferring a foreign license to a European one is permanent residence in the Czech Republic. This option is intended primarily for citizens of the Czech Republic who have obtained their license outside the EU. An exception for permanent residence requirement cannot be replaced by a temporary residence permit or a work permit.
Validation – The second option is the validation (recognition of validity) of a foreign license to fly under EASA legislation. In this case, the pilot retains their foreign license, but must also carry a validation certificate issued in accordance with EASA rules on board the aircraft. Validation is intended mainly for foreigners without permanent residence in the Czech Republic and is suitable for those who want to fly in the Czech Republic (or the EU), e.g., for time-building. Validation is always issued for a maximum of 1 year.
Conditions for transferring a pilot’s license obtained outside the EU
Permanent residence in the European Union
Medical fitness – The applicant must hold a medical certificate issued in accordance with Part-MED.
English – The applicant must meet the requirement to enter the language qualification “Czech” (or relevant national language when in other countries) in the pilot’s license or pass the English language test according to ICAO (at least on level 4). The applicant for transfer of instrument qualification must successfully pass the IFR English test.
Validity of the pilot’s license to be transferred – The applicant must have a valid original foreign pilot’s license, including the qualifications they want to transfer to the Czech (EASA) pilot’s license.
Requirement for experience – The applicant for the transfer of the pilot’s license must comply with the experience according to European legislation for the issuance of the relevant pilot’s license. The applicant shall submit a flight log from which the total flight time, including the flight time relevant to the issue of the applicable license, must be apparent.
Demonstration of theoretical/practical knowledge
Administrative requirements – The applicant shall complete the application form ZLP-F-168-2-1 for the license transfer and provide all the annexes listed in Part C of the form (original documents, flight log, …).
| License | Flight experience | Theoretical course | Theoretical exam | Practical exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL | < 100 h | yes (may be shortened by ATO or DTO assessment) |
yes | yes |
| PPL | > 100 h | not required | yes (yes – from the subjects Aviation Law and Human Performance) |
yes |
| CPL/IR | - | yes (may be shortened by ATO or DTO assessment) |
yes | yes |
| ATPL | - | not required | yes | yes |
Conditions for validation of a pilot’s license obtained outside the EU
The applicant shall have a reason for validation (hobby, job)
The applicant shall have a permanent residence in the Czech Republic or shall fly for an operator whose primary place of business is in the Czech Republic or shall fly an aircraft registered in the Czech Republic.
Medical fitness – The applicant must hold a medical certificate issued in accordance with Part-MED.
English – The applicant must meet the requirement to enter the language qualification “Czech” in the pilot’s license or pass the English language test according to ICAO (at least on level 4). The applicant for transfer of instrument qualification must successfully pass the IFR English test.
Validity of the transferred pilot’s license – The applicant must have a valid foreign pilot’s license, including the relevant qualifications at the time of issue of the validation and for the period of validity of the validation.
Experience – When using validation for non-commercial flights with other persons on board, the validation holder must meet the relevant requirements of European legislation on recent practice, i.e., at least 3 take-offs and 3 landings on a given type or class of aircraft in the last 90 days, of which at least 1 take-off and 1 landing at night if the rights are to be exercised at night.
Validation period – The validation is issued for a maximum of 1 year. Its validity can be extended for another year.
Demonstration of theoretical/practical knowledge
Administrative requirements – The applicant shall complete the application form for the license validation according to the type of validation required and provide all the annexes listed in Part C of the form (original documents, flight log, …).
| Reason | License | Flight experience | Theoretical exam | Practical exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private flights | PPL/CPL without IR | Total time > 100 hours | ano (from the subjects Aviation Law and Human Performance) |
yes |
| PPL/CPL with IR | PIC > 100 hours | ano (from the subjects Aviation Law, Meteorology, Flight Planning and Monitoring and Human Performance) |
yes (in the range for IR) |
|
| Commercial air transport | CPL with IR, ATPL | Necessary to meet the practice requirement according to Annex III of Regulation (EC) No. 1178/2011. | yes | yes |
In case of doubts or ambiguities, it is advisable to visit the relevant page on the CAA website (in Czech) or its English version here, where everything is described in detail. You will also find all the necessary forms there.