Sri Lanka
Guide · Licenses
Pilot license conversion in Sri Lanka
- CAASL · Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka
- 2 min read
- Last checked 8 Nov 2026
We are not an aviation authority. This guide summarizes the official sources linked in each section. Rules change, so confirm with your authority before you enroll. Last checked November 2026.
In short
CAASL converts a foreign license from an ICAO member state into a Sri Lankan license under its Implementing Standard 008. For a commercial license with instrument rating you sit CAASL's conversion exams, where Air Law is always required, pass a skill test with a CAASL examiner and a radiotelephony test in English, and get a CAASL Class 1 medical and a security clearance.
What you will need
- A current foreign license and medical, issued to ICAO Annex 1 standards; CAASL verifies the license with the authority that issued it
- CAASL's CPL/IR conversion exams or the ATPL exams. CAASL can exempt you from any paper except Air Law, Flight Rules and Operational Procedures. The pass mark is 75%, you must pass all papers within 18 months, and the passes count for 36 months
- A skill test with a flight examiner appointed by CAASL, and a radiotelephony test in English
- For the CPL: 200 hours, or 150 in an approved course; 100 hours as pilot in command, or 70 in an approved course; 20 hours of cross-country flying as pilot in command, including a flight of at least 540 km (300 NM) with full-stop landings at two aerodromes; 10 hours of instrument time. Missing hours are flown in Sri Lanka
- For the instrument rating: 50 hours of cross-country flying as pilot in command and 40 hours of instrument time
- A CAASL Class 1 medical, English Level 4 or higher, a security clearance, and an age of at least 18
Good to know
An English endorsement from a state where English is the native language can be transferred. Foreign nationals can convert a license for a job only if no qualified Sri Lankan is available; this does not affect Sri Lankans coming home.
Three things to check before you enroll
Does your home authority accept the school?
Some authorities only recognize training at foreign schools they have approved.
What will you sit at home?
Most authorities ask for at least an air law exam and a flight test, some for much more.
Do you need a sponsor first?
In some places the authority only converts a license when an employer or airline asks for it.
Talk it through with us, free
Our school advisory is free for students. Partner schools pay us a commission when a student we advised enrolls.
South Asia
Bringing your license home Sources and last checked
- CAASL, Conversion of CPL/IR (CAA/PL/P/04, Rev. 02, 10 September 2020) last checked 8 Nov 2026
- CAASL Implementing Standard 008 (2nd Edition, Rev. 01, 31 July 2020) last checked 8 Nov 2026