CASA

Updated 25 Nov 2020

Description : 

CASA issues skills assessments to aircraft pilots applying to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for a visa via the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program. CASA plays no other role in the migration process.

Criteria : 

Skills assessment application
Skills assessments for migration purposes can be issued by CASA to pilots applying under the DIAC SOL schedule 4 and ENSOL, CASA can only issue a skills assessment to pilots who hold, Australian flight crew qualifications that would enable them to obtain employment in the Australian aviation industry as a pilot. Applicants must hold either a commercial pilot licence (CPL) or an air transport pilot licence (ATPL) that has been issued by CASA.

For applicants who do not hold Australian flight crew qualifications, they must meet the requirements to convert their current overseas flight crew qualifications to the Australian equivalent. Conversion to Australian qualifications will normally require applicants to travel to Australia to undergo medicals, written examinations and flight tests. CASA will only convert licenses issued by an ICAO contracting state.

To apply to CASA for a skills assessment you must complete the Application for Skills Assessment for the Purpose of Migration - Aircraft Pilot.

Completing the form
You must answer all questions on this form in English. Incomplete applications cannot be processed and will be returned to you for completion. You must lodge this application with the documents listed below.

If you require any assistance in completing this form you should contact the CASA Licensing and Registration Centre. 

Documents you must include:
Documents you must provide with the application are certified true copies of:

• Evidence of at least five years flying at the professional level,
• Written evidence of work done in your field of flying expertise ( this must include referee or statement of service letters from previous Aviation employers etc ),
• Certified copies of log book openings showing flying evidence relevant to past employers you worked for,
• Any other relevant information that CASA may use to assess your application (lack of evidence may detract from the skills assessment letter),
• Last completed log book page of flying experience.

If any documents are not in English, a certified translation must also be provided. The translation must be compiled by a registered translator. Ask the Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in the country where the translation is to be made if you are unsure of who to see. If the translation is to be made in Australia, contact the Australian National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). Information on the services provided by NAATI is available on the NAATI web site.

Payment of fees
CASA charges for a range of regulatory services and under Australian Government policy must charge fees reflecting the real cost of providing these services.

A fee of $100 is required before CASA will assess an application for a Skills Assessment for the Purposes of Migration.

Applicants should also consider that various other charges are levied for theory examinations and the issue of licences and other related qualifications. You will also need to factor the cost of conversion training and subsequent flight tests.

Read more about CASA’s cost recovery for services.

Time-frame for assessments

Applications for skills assessments should be processed within 14 days of receipt of the application, although this can vary according to current demand and other work priorities.

Reminder on English language and security checks

English language requirements
Australia has implemented the English language proficiency (ELP) standards for flight crew and air traffic controllers in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standard and Recommended Practice (SARP) on language proficiency. ICAO has defined six levels of language proficiency, where only the top three levels (levels 4, 5 and 6) are acceptable for operational flight crew (holders of PPL, CPL, ATPL and FEL) and air traffic control. Any licence application for a PPL, CPL or ATPL must comply with the new language proficiency standards. If you do not have an ELP 4, 5 or 6 on your overseas flight crew licence you will have to be assessed by either a CASA Authorised Approved Testing Officer or at one of the CASA Approved Testing Centres. The phrases ‘Language Proficient’, ‘Language Proficiency – English’, ‘English Proficient’ or similar on your licence is not ICAO compliant and will not be accepted by CASA as evidence of English language proficiency according to the ICAO SARP.

Aviation security status checks
CASA cannot issue a flight crew licence to anyone unless an aviation security status check has shown that the applicant does not have an adverse criminal record.

Guidelines:

Application for Aircraft Pilot:

FAQ

Contact Details:

Phone on 131 757 or [phone] if calling from overseas.

You can contact us from Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm (AEDST), excluding national public holidays.

You can also send an email to [e-mail].

CASA National Headquarters
Street address
16 Furzer Street
Phillip ACT 2606

Postal
GPO Box 2005
Canberra ACT 2601