DGCA Licence Conversion
Trained abroad? Here is how to convert an FAA, SACAA, CAA NZ or Transport Canada licence to a DGCA CPL.
Quick answer
To convert a foreign CPL to DGCA, you pass written exams in Air Regulations and Composite (navigation and meteorology), then a skill test with a DGCA examiner. You also need RTR(A) and a DGCA Class 1 medical. It usually takes about 3 to 6 months after you return to India.
Who needs a DGCA conversion?
Anyone who earns a CPL outside India and wants to fly for an Indian airline.
- FAA CPL (USA)
- SACAA CPL (South Africa)
- CAA NZ CPL (New Zealand)
- Transport Canada CPL
- CASA CPL (Australia)
What are the steps to convert?
- Get your DGCA computer number, ideally before leaving India.
- Keep a DGCA Class 1 medical current. See the DGCA medical guide.
- Pass the written papers: Air Regulations and Composite.
- Pass the RTR(A) exam.
- Get your foreign logbook and licence verified.
- Complete the skill test with a DGCA examiner.
- Apply for the DGCA CPL on eGCA.
DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirements set the exact conversion rules. Check the current CAR before you start, as rules change.
Which papers do you write?
| Paper | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Air Regulations | Indian aviation law, CARs and procedures |
| Composite | Air navigation and aviation meteorology together |
| RTR(A) | Radio telephony, written and practical |
| Skill test | Flight check with a DGCA examiner |
Source: RotatePilot DGCA licence guide and DGCA CAR, Section 7. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Prepare using the Air Regulations guide, plus Air Navigation and Aviation Meteorology for the Composite paper.
What does training abroad plus conversion cost?
| Country | Licence | Total cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | SACAA CPL | ZAR 849,000 to ZAR 995,000 (₹49 lakh to ₹58 lakh) | 12 to 15 months |
| New Zealand | CAA NZ CPL | NZD 80,000 to NZD 120,000 (₹43 lakh to ₹65 lakh) | 15 to 20 months |
| Canada | Transport Canada CPL | CAD 30,000 to CAD 55,000 (₹20 lakh to ₹37 lakh) | 18 to 24 months |
| Australia | CASA CPL | AUD 62,000 to AUD 140,000 (₹42 lakh to ₹94 lakh) | 12 to 18 months |
| USA | FAA CPL | US$60,000 to US$90,000 (₹57 lakh to ₹86 lakh) | 12 to 18 months |
Source: FMS Aviation Academy and Maverick Aviation (India), Airship Aviation (South Africa, New Zealand, USA), flying school fees (Canada, Australia), 2026. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Add these to your budget
- DGCA exam fees for the conversion papers
- Aircraft hire and examiner fees for the skill test
- Refresher flying if you have a gap after returning
- 3 to 6 months of living costs in India while converting
A month by month conversion timeline
| Month | What you do |
|---|---|
| Before leaving India | Computer number, Class 1 medical |
| Month 1 | Book Air Regulations and Composite, verify logbook |
| Month 2 | Write papers, prepare for RTR(A) |
| Month 3 | RTR(A), arrange aircraft for the skill test |
| Month 4 to 6 | Skill test, apply for the DGCA CPL |
Source: FundMyCampus estimate. Depends on DGCA session dates and examiner slots. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Documents checklist for conversion
- Foreign CPL and any ratings (instrument, multi-engine)
- Logbook with all flight hours
- Licence verification from the foreign authority
- DGCA computer number and Class 1 medical
- Passport, 10th and 12th certificates and BVC
- RTR(A) and DGCA exam results
Pilot training abroad vs India
- Abroad: often steadier weather and quicker hours, but foreign currency fees and conversion
- India: no conversion, rupee fees, but possible delays at busy schools
Compare the full plan on flying schools in India and pilot training cost.
Training abroad? Fund the conversion too
Include conversion costs in your loan so you are not short at the last step.
Common conversion mistakes
- Leaving the computer number until after returning
- Gaps in the logbook or missing signatures
- Letting the Class 1 medical lapse
- No budget for refresher flying after a long gap
Conversion notes by country
| Licence | Plan for |
|---|---|
| FAA CPL (USA) | Higher training cost, logbook verification, DGCA papers and skill test |
| SACAA CPL (South Africa) | Common route for Indian students, including the IndiGo cadet route via 43 Air School |
| CAA NZ CPL (New Zealand) | Longer training time, then DGCA papers and skill test |
| Transport Canada CPL | Weather can stretch training, then DGCA conversion |
| CASA CPL (Australia) | Similar DGCA steps as other ICAO licences |
Source: FundMyCampus summary. DGCA CAR, Section 7 sets the rules. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Funding a foreign CPL and the conversion
- Lenders pay the foreign school in its currency, in stages
- Include visa, travel and living costs in the loan
- Add a buffer for conversion exams, the skill test and months in India
- Monthly payments on an NBFC loan continue during conversion, so plan for them
See country loan pages for South Africa, USA, New Zealand and Canada.
What happens in the DGCA skill test?
- Pre-flight briefing with the examiner.
- Planning and checks on the ground.
- Flight covering normal and emergency procedures.
- Debrief and result.
Book refresher hours before the test if you have not flown for a while.
Conversion inside a cadet programme
Some airline cadet routes train abroad and include conversion in the plan. The IndiGo route with Marigold Aviation lists about 4 months of licence conversion before the A320 type rating.
Read cadet pilot programmes in India to compare what each programme includes.
Key takeaways
- Get the computer number and Class 1 medical before leaving India
- Expect Air Regulations, Composite, RTR(A) and a skill test
- Plan about 3 to 6 months and a cost buffer for conversion
- Keep your foreign logbook complete and signed
- Book refresher flying before the skill test if you have had a long gap since training abroad
- Include visa, travel, living and conversion costs in the loan so the last step is fully funded
- Check that your RTR(A) and DGCA papers are passed before you book the skill test
How to pay for pilot training
Most families use an education loan. There are three ways to do it, and the right one depends on two things: whether you have property for collateral, and whether a sponsoring airline has given you an LOI.
| Government bankWith property as collateral | NBFC, with an airline LOINo property needed | NBFC, without an LOINo property needed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interest rate | Around 9.5%, linked to the RBI repo rate. Around 8.5% if you pay simple interest during the course | Around 11% to 13%, based on income | |
| During training | Nothing to pay (full moratorium), or monthly simple interest for the lower rate | A fixed partial EMI each month | The full EMI on the amount paid out so far |
| After training | Full EMI starts | The same EMI continues | |
| How much is funded | 85% of the fees. You pay 15% yourself (the margin) | 100% of the fees, up to ₹1.5 crore | |
| Processing fee | 1%, refunded later apart from about ₹10,000 | About 1% | |
| Loan insurance | About 1% to 2.5% of the loan | About 2% to 8% of the loan | |
| Co-borrower income | Checked by the bank | A minimum yearly income, set by the loan amount | Monthly income about ₹30,000 more than the EMI |
| Speed | Slow (weeks) | Faster | |
What is an LOI, and why does it matter?
An LOI (Letter of Intent) is a conditional pre-employment letter from a sponsoring airline. It promises you a future role with that airline once you finish training and meet its conditions.
Because a job is lined up, lenders see the loan as low risk. So they offer a partial EMI without collateral: a fixed amount each month during training, with the full EMI only after you finish. Without an LOI, the full EMI starts from the first payment to the school.
Not every government bank gives a full moratorium on pilot training loans, and government banks are usually slow because of property checks. If you need a fast sanction and an easier process, talk to the FundMyCampus team first.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what students and parents ask us about pilot training
Plan your pilot training loan
Tell us where you will train, whether you have property and whether you have an LOI. A counsellor will call you with the loan that fits and what you pay each month.
FundMyCampus is a loan facilitation platform. Loans are sanctioned by the lending bank or NBFC at its discretion. Rates are approximate and change with the RBI repo rate and your profile. We never promise approval or a rate.