Federal document
FAA Airman Certificate Apostille
How to apostille an FAA airman certificate or verification letter for foreign license conversion and airline employment — including the FAA verification most authorities actually require. $299 flat, all government fees included.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026
Quick answer
Foreign aviation authorities usually want an FAA verification of your certificate, not a copy of the plastic card — and some require the FAA to send it directly. Check that first. Where an apostille is needed, we handle it for $299.
Key takeaways
- Issued by: Federal Aviation Administration (Airmen Certification Branch). Apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — never by a state.
- Certification first? Usually — a verification letter or certified record, not the plastic card.
- Through us: $299 all-in for Hague countries (10–12 business days) or $399 with embassy legalization for non-Hague countries (15–17 business days).
- Do it yourself: Form DS-4194 and a $20 fee per document — processed within 5 weeks by mail, or 7 business days if you drop it off in Washington, D.C.
Don’t have it yet? How to Get FAA Records for Use Abroad (Aircraft & Pilot) →
- Issuing agency
- Federal Aviation Administration (Airmen Certification Branch)
- We can obtain it?
- No — you request the verification from the FAA
- Certification first?
- Usually — a verification letter or certified record, not the plastic card
- Also known as
- pilot license, airman certificate, verification of authenticity, A&P certificate
Pilots and mechanics converting a U.S. certificate abroad — or joining a foreign airline — are usually asked for authenticated proof of their FAA credentials. The complication is that the document foreign authorities want is generally not the plastic certificate in your wallet.
Knowing which document to request saves the most time here, so start with the next section.
On this page
What an FAA airman certificate is
The FAA issues airman certificates to pilots, flight instructors, mechanics, and other aviation personnel. The physical certificate is a plastic card; the authoritative record sits with the FAA's Airmen Certification Branch in Oklahoma City, which can issue verification of a certificate's authenticity and a certified record of the airman's certificates and ratings.
When a foreign civil aviation authority validates or converts a U.S. licence, it is that official record — not your card — that it relies on.
Why it needs an apostille abroad
A foreign aviation authority cannot verify FAA records independently. The apostille certifies the FAA-issued document as genuine across the 120-plus Hague Convention countries. Non-Hague destinations require that authentication followed by embassy or consulate legalization.
Requesting FAA verification
Verification of authenticity and certified airman records are requested from the FAA's Airmen Certification Branch. Some foreign authorities require the verification to be sent directly to them by the FAA; others accept a document issued to you, which can then be apostilled.
That distinction decides whether an apostille is even needed — so confirm the authority's process before ordering. We'll help you read the requirement.
Which document you actually need
| Document | What it is | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic airman certificate | Your physical licence card | Carrying while exercising privileges; rarely the document authorities authenticate |
| Verification of Authenticity | FAA confirmation that your certificate is genuine | Licence validation and conversion abroad |
| Certified airman record | Official record of certificates and ratings held | Airline employment and regulatory filings |
| Medical certificate | Separate FAA medical documentation | Often requested alongside, with its own requirements |
Foreign airlines also frequently request an FBI background check apostille as part of the same hiring file. We can authenticate both together.
Document preparation requirements
- Confirm how the destination authority wants the verification delivered before ordering.
- Submit the FAA-issued document exactly as issued.
- Do not notarize it — a notary can't certify a federal record.
- Don't laminate, staple across the text, highlight, or annotate it.
- Check whether medical certification or a background check is required in the same file.
The step-by-step process
Check the authority's requirement
Tell us the country and we'll help you read whether they need FAA-direct delivery or a document you can apostille.
Request the FAA document
Verification of authenticity or a certified airman record from the FAA's Airmen Certification Branch.
Send it to us & we review
We verify it's in a form the Department of State will authenticate.
We submit in Washington, D.C.
We hand-deliver the document to the Office of Authentications with the federal authentication request and fee.
Apostille or authentication issued
You receive an apostille (Hague) or authentication certificate (non-Hague).
Embassy legalization & translation, if required
For non-Hague destinations we handle legalization, and arrange certified translation where the authority requires it.
Common rejection reasons — and how to avoid them
1. Copy of the plastic certificate submitted
The card isn't the record authorities authenticate. Fix: request FAA verification or a certified airman record.
2. Authority required FAA-direct delivery
An apostilled copy may not satisfy that process. Fix: confirm the delivery method before ordering.
3. Notarized FAA document
A notary can't certify a federal record. Fix: submit it as issued.
4. Missing supporting documents
Conversion files often need medical and background documents too. Fix: confirm the full list before starting.
5. Altered or annotated document
Any marking invalidates it. Fix: submit it clean and unmodified.
Common uses
- Foreign pilot licence conversion — validating an FAA certificate with another country's authority.
- Airline employment abroad — documenting certificates and ratings for a hiring file.
- Mechanic and technician credentials — A&P and repair-station roles overseas.
- Flight instructor certification abroad — where FAA credentials support the application.
Hague vs. non-Hague countries
| Destination | What you receive | Extra step |
|---|---|---|
| Hague country | Apostille from the U.S. Department of State | None — ready to use |
| Non-Hague country | Authentication certificate | Embassy / consulate legalization |
Pick your destination below, or see all countries we serve.
Official references: FAA — Airmen Certification · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document. Government fees are set by these agencies and are separate from our service fee.
FAA Airman Certificate apostille by country
Where the document is going decides the route. Hague members accept an apostille; non-Hague countries need embassy legalization on top. Pick your destination — every country we serve is listed A–Z:
FAA Airman Certificate by U.S. state
Federal documents are authenticated in Washington, D.C. from every state — but your state decides where state and notarized documents go. Find yours:
How long does the FAA Airman Certificate apostille take?
The U.S. Department of State is the only office that issues a federal apostille. Mailed in yourself, it is processed within 5 weeks of receipt; dropped off in person in Washington, D.C., within 7 business days. Through us it takes 10–12 business days, or 15–17 business days for a non-Hague country that also needs embassy legalization.
| Route | How | Processing time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mail it yourself | Form DS-4194 + check to the Office of Authentications, Sterling, VA | Within 5 weeks of receipt | $20 per document + shipping |
| Drop it off yourself | 600 19th Street NW, Washington, D.C. — Mon–Thu, 7:30–9:00 AM, no appointment | Within 7 business days | $20 per document + travel |
| Emergency appointment | Only for a life-or-death family emergency with travel within 2 weeks | Same day | $20 per document |
| Through Federal Apostille USA | We review it, drop it off in D.C. and return it to you with tracking | 10–12 business days total | $299 all-in ($399 non-Hague) |
What does the FAA Airman Certificate apostille cost?
The government fee is $20 per document, paid with Form DS-4194. Our all-in price is $299 per document, covering the government fee, review, D.C. drop-off and U.S. return shipping; non-Hague destinations are $399 with embassy legalization.
Government figures: U.S. Department of State — Request Authentication Services (checked October 2026).
FAA Airman Certificate — FAQ
Can I just apostille a copy of my pilot licence card?
Usually not usefully. Foreign authorities generally rely on FAA-issued verification of authenticity or a certified airman record, not a copy of the plastic card. Check what the authority asked for before ordering.
My destination says the FAA must send the verification directly to them. Do I still need an apostille?
Possibly not. If their process requires FAA-to-authority delivery, an apostilled copy in your hand may not satisfy it. That's worth confirming before you spend anything — tell us the country and we'll help you read the requirement.
Can you request the FAA verification for me?
The request goes to the FAA's Airmen Certification Branch from you. Once you have the document, send it to us and we handle the apostille.
What else will a foreign airline want?
Commonly an FBI background check, medical certification, and sometimes training records. We can authenticate the federal documents together — it's faster and cheaper than one at a time.
How long does it take?
Apostille processing runs about 10–12 business days once we have the FAA document. The FAA request happens first. Non-Hague countries add embassy legalization.
What does it cost?
Federal apostille is $299 per document, with government authentication fees and U.S. shipping included. FAA fees, where they apply, are separate.
Will I need a certified translation?
Many aviation authorities require documents in their official language. We can arrange certified translation alongside the apostille.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.