Conversion of an EASA flight crew licence to a UK part equivalent licence

As of 1 April 2021, a new licence application process became available to EASA licence holders, whose date of initial licence issue was before  31 December 2020, to gain a UK Part FCL licence off the back of their EASA licence. This process is also applicable to EASA licenced pilots, instructors and examiners who previously held a UK issued Part-FCL/BFCL/SFCL Licence issued after 1 Jan 2021.

This process will remain in place until 31 December 2022, and allows for a pilot to hold the UK Part-FCL at the same time as a Part-FCL issued by an EASA member state.

Operating UK-registered aircraft on an EASA licence

For holders of an EASA licence seeking to continue operating UK-registered aircraft, you will require a validation from the UK CAA.

For EASA licences held or those which were in the process of being transferred by 31 December 2020, pilots can validate their licences for use in the UK for up to two years.

Download the general validation document for EU pilots (CAP 2017). 

At the end of the two-year period, holders will require a UK licence to fly G-Reg aircraft in the UK.

See our UK-EU transition microsite for more information.

Eligibilty for application

All applications for the conversion of an EU licence to a UK Part-FCL must be submitted by 31 December 2022. No consideration will be given to any application submitted beyond this deadline. 

The UK CAA recommends that applications are submitted at the pilot’s earliest convenience to reduce the risk of any potential interruption to privilege or ability to operate a UK registered aircraft from 1 January 2023.

Licence holders who fit the below criteria can apply for a UK PART-FCL licence using this application route:

• All EASA licence holders whose licence date of initial licence was issued before 31 December 2020;
• EASA licence Pilots, instructors and examiners who previously held a UK issued Part-FCL/BFCL/SFCL before 1 January 2021 and have not had a licence issued at a higher level since 1 January 2021

Licence holders who fall into the below criteria cannot use this route and must instead email FCLweb@caa.co.uk (subject heading ‘Attention Tech: EU Conversion’) for further advice:

• pilots, instructors and examiners who previously held a licence with the UK CAA and have had an EASA licence issued at a higher level since 1 January 2021
• EASA licence holders whose licence was issued after 31 December 2020

Previous UK Licence Holders

The CAA understands that there are a number of pilots who transferred their licences to an EASA Member State before 31 December 2020, however their EASA Flight Crew Licence has been issued after 1 January 2021. 

The following will apply in these instances

• Pilots that already have their EASA Flight Crew Licence issued, can apply using this process,
• Pilots that are midway through the transfer will also be able to follow the process below, to obtain a UK Part-FCL/BFCL/SFCL licence, once their EASA Flight Crew Licence has been issued. 

To allow these pilots to continue operating UK-registered aircraft, the CAA issued an exemption to the general validation to grant pilots who obtain their EASA licence between 1 January 2021 and 31 March 2021 the ability to do so.

This exemption, ORS4 No. 1453 will expire on 31 December 2021 and will not be extended.

An individual exemption may be applied for where there are unforeseen or urgent operational circumstances, and this can be applied for using form SRG2137.

Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Medical requirements

Before we can issue a UK Part-FCL licence, the pilot must hold a UK PART-MED medical certificate with medical records  held on the United Kingdom CAA Medical Records System. We are unable to accept EASA medical certificates.

Applying for a UK medical certificate if you have SOLI transferred from the UK 

How to apply

Applications can be submitted using our online application form or via e-licensing for those eligible to use this system. Guidance for both routes, and eligibility, is detailed below.

Applicants for a UK National licence, wishing to operate non-Part 21 aircraft, are required to submit their request in writing by e-mail to fclweb@caa.co.uk (Subject heading: “National licence”).