Converting your overseas licence in Australia: What you need to know

Posted by Kevin Lashley on June 30th, 2021

Being able to fly a plane gives you a sense of freedom nothing else can. When you’re up among the clouds, you feel weightless and as if you’ve left all your problems down on the ground. But if you have obtained a pilot licence overseas and recently moved to Australia, there may be steps that you need to take in order to fly here.

An ICAO licence is a licence from a country that is approved by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and this can be converted to a Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) licence in Australia. This is important if you want to continue flight training in Australia or work commercially as a professional pilot. To convert your licence, you will need to undergo the following process:

Get an Aviation Reference Number

The very first step to getting your ICAO licence converted is applying for an Aviation Reference Number (ARN) with CASA. This is similar to a customer or account number, and the application can be submitted through the CASA website.

Submit a Flight Crew Licence Application

All overseas ICAO licence holders must submit a 61-4A Flight Crew Licence application. The form can be accessed via the CASA website, but the application also requires a range of certified documentation and licence verification checks.

Pass an ICAO English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment

Part of the Flight Crew Licence application documentation for pilots wanting to convert their ICAO licence to a CASA licence is an ICAO English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment. Assessments must meet a minimum of Level 4 and must be clearly stated either on the overseas licence or in a statement from an issuing authority.

Obtain an Australian Medical Certificate

CASA requires that you obtain an Australian Medical Certificate, and this can either be completed in your own country prior to arrival or onshore in Australia. Offshore medicals need to be conducted by Designated Aviation Medical Practitioners (DAMEs), and a list can be found on the CASA website.

Pass Identification, Immigration, Police and Security Checks

All pilots in Australia must hold an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC), and a list of approved issuers can be found on the CASA website. All applicants applying for a licence conversion must undergo a police check, but an immigration check is only necessary for applicants who are not yet Australian citizens. Both police and immigration checks can take a number of weeks to complete.

Pass Exams and/or Flight Test

Private Pilot Licence (PPL) holders are not required to pass an CASA exam, however they will have to complete a check flight for the CASA licence to be issued. Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) holders will need to pass a two-part exam; the CPL overseas conversion exam (either COSA or COSH) and the CPL Human Factors exam.They will also be required to pass a flight test. Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL( licence holders must pass the ATPL Human Factors (AHUF) and ATPL overseas conversion (either AOSA or AOSH) exams.

All exams must be completed in Australia with a CASA-approved testing officer and must be attempted separately, and within a prescribed period of time.

Once you’ve passed all the above steps and successfully converted your ICAO licence to a CASA licence, you’re all clear to continue your training or look towards starting your pilot career in Australia. Some flight schools offer specific courses that can help you with the process and also include flight training