CFR 14 Part 61 - Section 61.75 - Private pilot certificate issued on the basis of a foreign pilot license

Sep 25, 2026

§ 61.75 explains how a person with an applicable foreign pilot license (at the private pilot level or higher) from a contracting State may apply for and receive a U.S. private pilot certificate with appropriate ratings, provided the foreign license meets the section’s requirements. It covers certificate specification of the foreign license number and issuing country, limits on prior U.S. pilot certificates, medical certification, and the English reading/speaking/writing/understanding requirement, including possible operating limitations for medical reasons. It also addresses issuance of aircraft and instrument ratings, and how operating privileges depend on the certificate and foreign license.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

§ 61.75 Private pilot certificate issued on the basis of a foreign pilot license

(a) General

(b) Certificate issued

(d) Instrument ratings issued

(e) Operating privileges and limitations

(f) Limitation on licenses used as the basis for a U.S. certificate

(g) Limitation placed on a U.S. pilot certificate

§ 61 .75 14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–17 Edition) from a U. S. Armed Forces undergraduate pilot training school and received a rating qualification as a military pilot. (3) An official U. S. Armed Forces record that shows the pilot passed a pilot proficiency check and instrument proficiency check in an aircraft as a military pilot. (4) If a person is a military pilot in the Armed Forces from a foreign contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and is applying for a pilot certificate and rating, that person must present the following: (i) An official U. S. Armed Forces record that shows the person is a military pilot in the U. S. Armed Forces; (ii) An official U. S. Armed Forces record that shows the person is assigned as a military pilot in the U. S. Armed Forces for purposes other than receiving flight training; (iii) An official record that shows the person graduated from a military undergraduate pilot training school from the Armed Forces from a foreign contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation or from the U. S. Armed Forces, and received a qualification as a military pilot; and (iv) An official U. S. Armed Forces record that shows that the person passed a pilot proficiency check and instrument proficiency check in an aircraft as a military pilot in the U. S. Armed Forces. [Doc. No. FAA–2006–26661, 74 FR 42555, Aug. 21, 2009] § 61.75 Private pilot certificate issuedon the basis of a foreign pilot license. (a) General. A person who holds a foreign pilot license at the private pilot level or higher that was issued by a contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation may apply for and be issued a U. S. private pilot certificate with the appropriate ratings if the foreign pilot license meets the requirements of this section. (b) Certificate issued. A U. S. private pilot certificate issued under this section must specify the person’s foreign license number and country of issuance. A person who holds a foreign pilot license issued by a contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation may be issued a U. S. private pilot certificate based on the foreign pilot license without any further showing of proficiency, provided the applicant: (1) Meets the requirements of this section; (2) Holds a foreign pilot license, atthe private pilot license level or higher, that does not contain a limitation stating that the applicant has not met all of the standards of ICAO for that license; (3) Does not hold a U. S. pilot certificate other than a U. S. student pilot certificate; (4) Holds a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter or a medical license issued by the country that issued the person’s foreign pilot license; and (5) Is able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant’s pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft. (c) Aircraft ratings issued. Aircraft ratings listed on a person’s foreign pilot license, in addition to any issued after testing under the provisions of this part, may be placed on that person’s U. S. pilot certificate for private pilot privileges only. (d) Instrument ratings issued. A person who holds an instrument rating on the foreign pilot license issued by a contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation may be issued an instrument rating on a U. S. pilot certificate provided: (1) The person’s foreign pilot license authorizes instrument privileges; (2) Within 24 months preceding the month in which the person applies for the instrument rating, the person passes the appropriate knowledge test; and (3) The person is able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to Federal Aviati

FAQs

Who can apply for a U.S. private pilot certificate under § 61.75?

A person holding a foreign pilot license at the private pilot level or higher issued by a contracting State may apply if the foreign license meets the requirements of this section.

What must the foreign license include or not include for issuance of a U.S. private pilot certificate?

The foreign pilot license must not contain a limitation stating the applicant has not met all ICAO standards for that license, and the applicant generally must not hold a U.S. pilot certificate other than a student pilot certificate.

What are the English language and medical requirements under § 61.75?

The applicant must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English. If unable due to medical reasons, the Administrator may place operating limitations on the pilot certificate necessary for safe operation.

Sep 25, 2026

Upload by Quinn Holloway