Validation of Foreign License

The process of obtaining a FAA certificate based on your foreign license is fairly easy and it can be done in 2-6 weeks.

  1. Visit FAA IACRA Site: https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/Default.aspx
  2. Click register tab on right of webpage
  3. Select Roles option, check the applicant option, click Agree to TOS and continue.
  4. Enter IACRA User Profile Information, you will skip Certificate Information and enter your Personal Information. (Enter Name Exactly as it appears on your passport and Foreign License) Enter a current email address that you will have access to during your complete training.
  5. Answer Security Questions (save this information, you will need if you lock your account, change password, or to update email).
  6. Create User Name and Password.
  7. Click Register Tab, you will see your new FAA FTN Number. Save the FTN number you will need during your FAA training.
  8. Refresh back to home screen and login with Username and Password.
  9. After logging into the program, select the option to “START FOREIGN VERIFICATION PROCESS” and that will lead you through the steps necessary to apply. During these steps you will need to upload your Certificate and Medical.
  10. Under “What type of FAA certificate or authorization will be requested?”, select “Private Pilot. (61.75)” regardless of whether you have a PPL, CPL or ATPL.
  11. Under “Which FAA Flight Standard….” , select: “TX, North Texas FSDO, SW-19”
  12. Submit verification
  13. Once Verification is confirmed you will receive electronic letter of Verification. This Letter needs to be submitted to Skymates as soon as received for your training records.

Once the Airmen’s Certification branch has verified the authenticity and the validity of the foreign pilot license and medical certificate with the foreign civil aviation authority, a “verification of authenticity” letter will be issued to the designated Flight Standard District Office and a copy sent to the applicant.

After your arrival in the United States we will guide you through the process. A FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), will interview you to determine if your English level is sufficient to fly in the US. You will have to present your foreign license, medical certificate, and passport along with your “verification of authenticity” letter you will receive from the FAA. This process currently costs at around $150-$250. You will be issued a temporary airman certificate, which will later be replaced by an FAA Private Certificate based on a foreign license.

The certificate will not be valid until a bi-annual flight review has been completed by a Certified Flight Instructor. The process can take a minimum of one hour of flight and ground instruction and can take several hours depending on your skills and how you adapt to the “American” flying environment. Remember that your FAA certificate will be based on your foreign license and that all limitation will apply such as night flying. Also, your foreign license must be valid along with the foreign medical certificate in order for the FAA Certificate to be valid.

If you are planning in obtaining a FAA Instrument Rating and/or a FAA Commercial Certificate, the “verification of authenticity” letter must be valid and not expired. The FAA usually issues them with a six (6) months validity. You will not be able to take a Check Ride with an expired letter and it will be your responsibility to make sure that you have a current and valid one in your possession during your training.