45–90 Day Verification: FAA Document Checklist for Foreign Pilots
Start the FAA foreign-license verification now, either through IACRA or by mailing AC Form 8060-71, and assemble a legible package while you wait: your foreign license, a foreign medical certificate if you want it verified, a passport or other photo ID, and a clear note of which FAA certificate you intend to request. Verification commonly takes 45 to 90 days and the resulting letter is generally valid for six months, so start early.
TL;DR:
- Submitting a complete and legible package with all required documents and accurate information through IACRA speeds up verification, which typically takes 45 to 90 days.
- The verification letter is generally valid for six months, so scheduling checkrides only after receipt is crucial to avoid expiration issues.
- Failure to verify your foreign medical certificate or incorrect document uploads can delay or block the approval process, requiring additional steps like obtaining an FAA Part 67 medical.
- Choosing the correct conversion pathway based on your license’s issuing country and circumstances prevents unnecessary delays, especially regarding type ratings or additional testing.
- Prioritizing the verification process over scheduling tests or flights reduces the risk of losing weeks due to missed deadlines or incomplete paperwork.
Table of Contents
- Document checklist: forms and papers the FAA expects
- How to submit the verification request: IACRA or paper
- Which regulatory pathway applies to your license
- After verification: meeting the FSDO or examiner
- Timing, validity, and the medical and English requirements
- Common document mistakes and how to avoid them
- How structured conversion prep reduces administrative friction
- What foreign pilots consistently underestimate
- Optional help with documents, testing, and scheduling
- Sources
- FAQ
Document checklist: forms and papers the FAA expects
The FAA builds its foreign-license verification around one form, AC Form 8060-71, which you either complete through IACRA or mail directly. The form asks for your name, date of birth, license number, issuing country, and the FSDO you want the verification letter sent to. It also requires attachments, and this is where most packages fall short before they even reach a reviewer.
- Legible copy of your foreign pilot license, front and back if information appears on both sides
- A signed English transcription of the license if the original is not in English
- Foreign medical certificate, if you want it verified as the basis for FAA privileges, or a plan to pursue an FAA Part 67 medical instead
- Photo ID, typically your passport
- Choice of FSDO and the FAA certificate you are seeking: Private, Commercial, ATP, or Instrument
- Knowledge-test results, when your pathway requires them
Incomplete fields on AC Form 8060-71 or blurry scans are a common reason applications stall before FAA staff even begin verifying with your home civil aviation authority.
How to submit the verification request: IACRA or paper
Most applicants should use IACRA rather than the paper route, since it moves faster and gives you a record of submission.
- Create or log into an IACRA account and select the foreign-license verification option.
- Upload legible scans of your license, ID, and any required transcription.
- Choose the FSDO where you plan to complete your certificate issuance.
- Submit and wait for AFS-760 to contact your foreign civil aviation authority directly.
- Watch for the verification letter, which AFS-760 uploads to IACRA and also sends to your chosen FSDO.
If your situation requires the paper form instead, mail AC Form 8060-71 to the address listed in its instructions. AFS-760 processes paper submissions the same way once received, though mailing adds transit time on both ends. Applicants from certain countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, sometimes need to file additional forms directly with their home CAA before FAA verification can proceed.
Pro Tip: Request email delivery of your verification letter when IACRA offers the option; it typically reaches you faster than a mailed copy sent to your FSDO alone.
Which regulatory pathway applies to your license
Not every foreign license converts the same way, and picking the wrong pathway wastes weeks. Three routes cover most applicants.
- 14 CFR §61.75 lets a valid license from an ICAO contracting state form the basis of a U.S. private certificate, provided your medical and English proficiency are current; instrument privileges under this route generally require passing the IFP knowledge test within 24 months.
- AC 61-135A governs conversions from Transport Canada (TCCA) licenses and requires submission to AFS-760 at least 90 days before your intended application date, with ink signatures required on paper submissions.
- AC 61-143 and the related TIP-L procedure cover EASA (EU Part-FCL) conversions and specify exactly which privileges transfer.
Type ratings are generally excluded from all bilateral conversion routes. If your goal includes flying a specific aircraft type, expect to complete separate type rating training regardless of which pathway applies to your base certificate.
After verification: meeting the FSDO or examiner
Do not book travel or a checkride before your verification letter arrives. Once you have it, the in-person step follows a set sequence.
- The examiner or FSDO confirms the letter is still valid, generally within six months of issuance.
- They check your identity against your passport and review FAA Form 8710-1 for completeness alongside your supporting documents.
- Depending on your pathway, the outcome is immediate issuance, a knowledge test requirement, or both a knowledge and practical test.
- If anything is missing or incorrect, the examiner returns the package with instructions rather than issuing anything on the spot.
This is also the point where type-rating or additional practical testing gets scheduled, since most bilateral conversions leave that step outside the verification process itself.
Timing, validity, and the medical and English requirements
Plan your calendar around the FAA’s own numbers rather than guesswork. Verification through IACRA or AC Form 8060-71 commonly takes 45 to 90 days, and the letter that results is typically valid for six months unless your home authority sets a shorter window. Booking a checkride or flights before that letter lands risks paying twice.
Two other checks can block you even after verification succeeds. English proficiency at ICAO Operational Level 4 is required to exercise privileges, and examiners will confirm it. If your foreign medical cannot be verified, or has expired by the time you reach the FSDO, you will need an FAA Part 67 medical before privileges can be exercised.
Common document mistakes and how to avoid them
Most rejected packages share the same handful of problems: unreadable scans, a missing signed English transcription, the wrong FSDO listed, incomplete fields on AC Form 8060-71, or no photo ID attached. None of these require a second trip if you catch them before submitting.
- Scan documents at 300 dpi or higher so text and stamps stay legible.
- Attach a signed English transcription whenever your license or medical isn’t issued in English.
- Confirm your FSDO choice matches where you actually plan to complete testing or issuance.
- If pursuing instrument privileges under §61.75, verify your IFP knowledge test falls within the required 24-month window.
Pro Tip: Double check every date field on AC Form 8060-71 against your actual license before mailing or uploading; a mismatched date is one of the quieter reasons packages get sent back.
How structured conversion prep reduces administrative friction
A structured conversion program can review your documents before submission, catching the legibility and transcription issues that cause most delays. Simulator-based type-rating and exam preparation, delivered on Level D full-motion simulators, also helps applicants move through practical testing with less risk of a failed attempt, which matters once your six-month verification window is already ticking.
What foreign pilots consistently underestimate
The document requirements themselves aren’t the hard part. Most guidance treats verification as a formality between “apply” and “test,” when it’s actually the step that decides your entire timeline. Pilots who treat AC Form 8060-71 as paperwork to rush through, rather than the gatekeeping document it is, end up losing weeks to a resubmission over a blurry scan or a missing transcription.
The bigger blind spot is sequencing. Booking a checkride slot or a flight to a test center before the verification letter arrives is the single most avoidable mistake in this process, and FAA guidance says as much directly. Six months sounds generous until you account for scheduling an examiner, waiting on a knowledge test slot, and coordinating a type rating on top of it.
If you take one thing from this, prioritize the verification request itself over everything downstream. Everything else, including which pathway applies and what testing follows, only matters once that letter is in hand.
— Jake
Optional help with documents, testing, and scheduling
Assembling a legible package and tracking a six-month validity window is manageable alone, but it takes time most working pilots don’t have to spare. Simulator Center LLC’s FAA license conversion services offer a paid alternative for pilots who want that administrative load handled alongside their flight training.
- Document review before submission, aimed at catching the errors that trigger rejections.
- IACRA submission assistance and FSDO coordination.
- Simulator-based exam and type-rating preparation on Level D full-motion simulators, taught by experienced airline pilots and examiners.
- Logistics support, including scheduling around your verification letter’s validity window.
Whether you’re converting an ICAO, EASA, or DGCA license, reach out through the FAA license conversion page to discuss enrollment and next steps.
Sources
- Form AC 8060-71, Verification of Authenticity of Foreign License and Medical Certification (instructions)
- AC 61-135A - Conversion Process for Pilot Certificates (TCCA)
- AC 61-143 - Conversion Process for Pilot Certificates (EASA / TIP-L)
FAQ
How long does FAA foreign license verification take?
FAA foreign-license verification through IACRA or AC Form 8060-71 commonly takes about 45 to 90 days. Processing time depends on how quickly your foreign civil aviation authority responds to the FAA’s request, so submitting a complete package early helps avoid extra delays.
How long is the FAA verification letter valid?
The verification letter is generally valid for six months from the date it’s issued, unless your foreign authority specifies a shorter period. Book any checkride or FSDO appointment only after the letter arrives, since scheduling too early risks the letter expiring before you use it.
What happens if my foreign medical can’t be verified?
If your foreign medical certificate cannot be verified, or has expired, you will need an FAA Part 67 medical certificate to exercise pilot privileges. This is worth resolving before your FSDO or examiner appointment, since an unverified medical can stall issuance even after your license verification succeeds.
Which FAA document starts the conversion process?
The process starts with AC Form 8060-71, submitted through IACRA or by mail, which triggers the FAA’s verification request to your foreign civil aviation authority. Everything else, including FAA Form 8710-1 and any required testing, follows only after that verification letter is issued.