Introduction

Issuance of an FAA pilot certificate based on a foreign license is a simple process, but this certification process tends to be high-workload due to people not understanding the requirements of this process.  Please review this page carefully before making an appointment.  If you have any questions, please contact me ahead of time.  If your paperwork is not in order, I can not issue your new certificate.

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Pricing

Please visit our Price List for current pricing information.

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Required Documents

Prior to applying for an FAA certificate based upon your foreign license, you must first obtain a Letter of Verification from the FAA.  In this process, the FAA will contact your home aviation authority to verify that your license is valid.  You will need to apply for this letter though IACRA.  Once you have recieved the letter from the FAA, it is valid of 6 months. 

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Your letter of verification will list whether or not your foreign medical was able to be validated. If it was not verified, you will need to obtain at least a Third Class medical certificate prior to applying for your FAA pilot certificate.

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Please bring your Passport, or a US Driver's license.  Foreign driver's licenses are not acceptable.

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Bring your original foreign pilot certificate and medical certificate. Copies are not acceptable.

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Additional Ratings Added to a Foreign Based Certificate

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If you already hold an FAA pilot certificate based on a foreign license, and you would like to add another rating to that certificate, you MUST have a valid letter of verification. If your old one has expired, you must obtain a new letter before making any changes to your FAA certificate.

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If you are applying for a Standard FAA certificate based upon your foreign license, please bring your logbook.  In general, you may credit flight time acquired outside the US, as long as that time meets FAA rules.  If your time can not be validated in accordance with FAA logging rules, then we can not acept it toward an FAA certificate.  For example, in many countries the flight instructor does not sign entries in a logbook.  If you do not have a CFI signature, then we can't use that time toward an FAA requirement.

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Some added ratings require a knowledge test.  For example, if you already hold an FAA Private Pilot (Foreign Based) certificate, and you wish to add a standard FAA Instrument Airplane Rating, you would need to take the IRA knowledge test.  If you were adding an instrument rating based on your foreign instrument rating, you would need the IFP knowledge test.

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