Convert your SACAA licence to EASA
Holding an SACAA pilot licence and moving to the European Union? Here's the full picture of converting to an EASA licence — the paperwork, exams, flight test, medical and English requirements at PPL, CPL and ATPL level, with links to EASA's official pages. Every requirement below is set by EASA, the authority issuing your new licence.
The EASA requirements, level by level
Everything EASA requires of a SACAA licence holder — application, theory exams, flight test, medical and English — at each licence level, grounded in EASA's official pages (linked below).
PPL — Private Pilot Licence
- Application & verification
- Conversions are handled by the national aviation authority (NAA) of the EASA member state where you live or will work — apply to them. Regulation (EU) 2020/723 sets the credits.
- Theory exams
- Pass all 9 EASA PPL theoretical-knowledge exams — no credit is given for your existing PPL exams.
- Flight test
- Pass an EASA PPL skill test with an authorised examiner.
- Medical
- Hold an EASA Part-MED Class 2 medical.
- English proficiency
- Pass an EASA English Language Proficiency assessment — an ICAO ELP endorsement on your current licence is not accepted for the conversion.
CPL — Commercial Pilot Licence
- Application & verification
- There is no automatic conversion. Apply to your member-state NAA; training/experience credits under (EU) 2020/723 may reduce the requirements.
- Theory exams
- Pass the required EASA theoretical exams (CPL, or ATPL theory if you hold ATPL-theory credit). Foreign exam passes are not credited.
- Flight test
- Pass an EASA CPL skill test (plus IR skill test if you want the instrument rating).
- Medical
- Hold an EASA Part-MED Class 1 medical.
- English proficiency
- Pass an EASA ELP assessment.
ATPL — Airline Transport Pilot Licence
- Application & verification
- No automatic conversion of an ICAO ATPL to an EASA Part-FCL ATPL. Apply via your member-state NAA; credits under (EU) 2020/723 may apply.
- Theory exams
- Pass all 13 EASA ATPL(A) theory exams (within 6 sittings / 18 months, max 4 attempts each). Without ATPL-theory credit you must complete the full ~650-hour approved theory course.
- Flight test
- Pass the required EASA skill test(s); experience credits may apply toward the licence minimums.
- Medical
- Hold an EASA Part-MED Class 1 medical.
- English proficiency
- Pass an EASA ELP assessment.
Requirements change — always confirm the current rules with EASA before you start. Official links below.
Planning your conversion
Start the paperwork first
Licence verification and application processing is usually the slowest step — authorities commonly take weeks to months. Lodge it before you book anything else.
Book the medical early
The medical gates your exams and skill test, and it's where surprises surface. Sitting it early means you find out about any issues before you've paid for training or test slots.
Keep your current licence and medical valid
Verification is done against a valid licence, and some routes stay tied to it after issue — letting it lapse mid-conversion can stall or unwind the process.
Confirm fees on the official pages
You'll typically pay separately for the application, each theory exam, the medical examination and the skill test. Amounts change — use the official links on this page for current fee schedules.
Work through it step by step
AvLink's interactive converter turns this guide into your own checklist for any licence and country pair — tick off each requirement as you go, and see the European Union roles you'd qualify for on the other side.
Open the interactive converterOfficial EASA sources
SACAA → EASA: frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake theory exams to convert my SACAA licence to EASA?
For a commercial licence: Pass the required EASA theoretical exams (CPL, or ATPL theory if you hold ATPL-theory credit). Foreign exam passes are not credited. PPL and ATPL theory requirements differ — see the level-by-level breakdown on this page.
Do I need a flight test (skill test) for an EASA commercial licence?
Pass an EASA CPL skill test (plus IR skill test if you want the instrument rating). Requirements at PPL and ATPL level are listed above.
What medical do I need to convert to an EASA licence?
For commercial privileges: Hold an EASA Part-MED Class 1 medical. For private privileges: Hold an EASA Part-MED Class 2 medical.
Does my ICAO English proficiency transfer to EASA?
Pass an EASA ELP assessment.
How do I apply to convert my SACAA licence to EASA?
There is no automatic conversion. Apply to your member-state NAA; training/experience credits under (EU) 2020/723 may reduce the requirements. The official EASA pages linked on this page cover the current forms and process.
While your conversion is underway
Get the European Union roles that match your licence — emailed weekly
Conversions take months. Line up the seat while you work through the EASArequirements: tell us your hours and ratings once, and we'll send the roles you actually qualify for as they post.
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Starting fresh in the European Union? Track your hours in the free EASA AvLog logbook — laid out to EASA, ready for Excel or Google Sheets.