<h2>How to Choose the Right EASA Competent Authority for Your Part-66 Licence</h2>

<p>If you are applying for an EASA Part-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence (AML), one of the first decisions is determining which competent authority should manage your application. This choice can affect the submission process, required evidence, communication, fees, and the long-term administration of your licence.</p>

<p>The decision is especially important if you work in one EASA Member State, live in another, complete examinations through a training organisation elsewhere, or already hold a licence issued by a different authority. Although Part-66 licences are mutually recognised across the EASA system, they are issued and administered by national competent authorities, not by EASA itself.</p>

<h2>EASA does not issue Part-66 licences</h2>

<p>Under Commission Regulation (EU) No. 1321/2014, Part-66 AMLs are issued by the competent authorities of the EASA Member States, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.</p>

<p>EASA establishes the regulatory framework and publishes the applicable Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) and Guidance Material (GM), but it is not a licensing authority. You can review the <a href="https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/easy-access-rules/easy-access-rules-continuing-airworthiness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EASA Easy Access Rules for Continuing Airworthiness</a> when checking the relevant Part-66 provisions.</p>

<p>Applications must therefore be submitted to a national aviation authority or another officially designated competent authority. EASA publishes information about <a href="https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/aircraft-products/continuing-airworthiness-organisations/competent-authorities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">competent authorities and their responsibilities</a>. Before preparing your application, confirm that the authority you intend to use is authorised to process Part-66 licences and check its current application instructions.</p>

<h2>The basic rule for an initial Part-66 application</h2>

<p>The initial application for a Part-66 AML must be made to the competent authority of one EASA Member State. Contact the authority directly to obtain the current version of <strong>EASA Form 19</strong>, the applicable fee information, and instructions on how to demonstrate compliance with the requirements.</p>

<p>The form must be submitted with evidence that you meet the relevant Part-66 conditions. Depending on your application, this may include evidence relating to:</p>

<ul>

<li>Basic knowledge examinations under 66.A.25</li>

<li>Practical maintenance experience under 66.A.30</li>

<li>Aircraft type training or examinations under 66.A.45</li>

<li>Recognition of previous qualifications or experience under 66.A.70, where applicable</li>

<li>Identity, residence, employment, or training details requested by the authority</li>

</ul>

<p>The applicable requirements are set out in 66.A.10, 66.A.15, 66.A.25, 66.A.30, 66.A.45 and 66.A.70, together with the related AMC and GM. The authority will determine which documents it requires and how compliance must be demonstrated.</p>

<h2>You may have more than one possible authority, but choose carefully</h2>

<p>For an initial licence, the rules allow an applicant to apply to the competent authority of one Member State. This should not be treated as an opportunity to select an authority solely because it appears cheaper, faster, or more flexible.</p>

<p>A sensible choice should reflect your genuine connection to the authority and your ability to provide reliable supporting evidence. Relevant factors may include:</p>

<ul>

<li>Your current place of employment</li>

<li>Your place of residence</li>

<li>Where you gained your practical maintenance experience</li>

<li>Where your Part-66 examinations or approved training were completed</li>

<li>Whether your employer regularly works with a particular authority</li>

<li>Whether you can communicate effectively with the authority</li>

<li>The authority’s application process, forms, fees, and document requirements</li>

<li>Whether the authority has the resources and procedures to handle your category and licence application</li>

</ul>

<p>The strongest application is normally submitted to an authority that can clearly understand and verify your employment, training, examination, and maintenance experience records. If you are still planning your training route, use our guide to <a href="/resources/part-147-training-schools">find Part-147 training schools</a> and compare approved options.</p>

<h2>Employment and residence are useful indicators</h2>

<p>Your employer’s location is often a practical starting point. If you work for an approved maintenance organisation (AMO), continuing airworthiness management organisation (CAMO), airline, or other aviation organisation in a particular Member State, that authority may already be familiar with the organisation’s records and procedures.</p>

<p>Residence may also be relevant, particularly when you are self-employed, between jobs, or completing the requirements independently. However, residence alone does not automatically guarantee that an authority will accept the application without additional evidence.</p>

<p>Before applying, ask the authority whether it accepts applications from applicants who are employed, resident, trained, or experienced outside its jurisdiction. Obtain the answer in writing where possible, as national administrative practices can differ.</p>

<h2>Training and examinations can support your choice</h2>

<p>The location of your approved training organisation and examination provider may also influence which competent authority is most practical. Training records, examination results, certificates of recognition, and statements of experience must be clear and traceable.</p>

<p>Applicants may complete specialist maintenance or regulatory courses before applying for, adding to, or supporting their Part-66 licence. Examples include:</p>

<ul>

<li><strong>Airbus aircraft structure repair and maintenance - Basic:</strong> 3 to 6 November 2026, 09:00 to 16:00 CET, enrolment fee €1,500</li>

<li><strong>Aircraft Maintenance Management:</strong> 28 to 30 September 2026, 09:00 to 16:00 CEST, enrolment fee €700</li>

<li><strong>Stores and Incoming Inspection:</strong> 12 October 2026, 09:00 to 16:00 CEST, enrolment fee €350</li>

<li><strong>EASA Part-21 and Part-26 Training for CAMOs and AMOs:</strong> 1 October 2026, 09:00 to 17:00 CEST, enrolment fee €250</li>

<li><strong>EASA Part-147 and Part-66 Regulations Training Course:</strong> 9 October 2026, 09:00 to 17:00 CET, enrolment fee €250</li>

</ul>

<p>These courses may be professionally useful, but attendance alone does not automatically satisfy the Part-66 knowledge, experience, or type-rating requirements. Confirm whether a course is approved or otherwise recognised for the specific purpose for which you intend to use it.</p>

<p>In particular, a general Part-66 regulatory course should not be confused with the basic knowledge examinations required under Part-66. Similarly, a manufacturer or specialist course may support competence development without replacing approved aircraft type training, an examination, or practical experience requirements.</p>

<h2>Check the authority’s administrative process before applying</h2>

<p>Every competent authority has its own administrative process, even though the underlying Part-66 requirements are harmonised. Before sending documents, request or download the authority’s current guidance and confirm:</p>

<ul>

<li>The correct version of EASA Form 19 or an equivalent national form</li>

<li>Where the application must be submitted</li>

<li>Accepted languages and translation requirements</li>

<li>Document certification or notarisation requirements</li>

<li>Payment methods and administrative fees</li>

<li>Requirements for examination certificates and experience statements</li>

<li>Whether digital signatures or electronic copies are accepted</li>

<li>Expected processing times and methods of communication</li>

</ul>

<p>Authorities may also have specific templates for experience summaries, employer confirmations, logbook extracts, or statements from approved Part-145 or Part-147 organisations. Using the authority’s own templates can reduce unnecessary queries and delays.</p>

<h2>Prepare a complete and traceable application package</h2>

<p>Once you have selected the authority, prepare the application around the applicable Part-66 requirements rather than submitting a collection of unrelated certificates.</p>

<p>A typical initial application package may include:</p>

<ul>

<li>Completed EASA Form 19</li>

<li>Copy of your passport or national identity document</li>

<li>Proof of residence, employment, or another relevant connection where requested</li>

<li>Basic knowledge examination results</li>

<li>Evidence of practical maintenance experience</li>

<li>Maintenance logbooks or an equivalent experience summary</li>

<li>Aircraft type training or examination records, where applicable</li>

<li>Certificates issued by approved Part-147 organisations</li>

<li>Evidence supporting any requested credit or recognition</li>

<li>Passport photographs or digital photographs, if required</li>

<li>Proof of payment of the applicable fee</li>

</ul>

<p>Ensure that dates, aircraft types, licence categories, employers, and signatures are consistent throughout the file. Gaps in employment history, unexplained periods of experience, incomplete logbook entries, or certificates that cannot be verified may lead to additional questions. Our guidance on <a href="/posts/common-cap-741-logbook-mistakes">common CAP 741 logbook mistakes</a> can help you identify preventable documentation problems.</p>

<h2>What if you already hold a Part-66 licence?</h2>

<p>The procedure is different when you already hold an AML issued by an EASA competent authority. For more detail on moving an existing licence, read our guide to <a href="/posts/how-to-transfer-your-easa-part-66-aml-between-authorities-step-by-step-guide">transferring an EASA Part-66 AML between authorities</a>.</p>

<p>An application to amend or renew a Part-66 AML should normally be made to the competent authority of the Member State that issued the licence. For example, if your licence was issued in the Netherlands through the relevant Dutch licensing arrangements, such as KIWA or ILT, an amendment or renewal application would normally be addressed to that issuing authority.</p>

<p>If you need to move the management of your licence to another EASA authority, this is generally handled as a formal licence file transfer rather than as a new initial application. First contact the proposed receiving authority and ask whether it will accept the transfer and what evidence it requires.</p>

<p>Once the receiving authority accepts the request, it will normally contact your current authority and formally request the licence file. The current authority may provide information concerning:</p>

<ul>

<li>The original application and supporting evidence</li>

<li>Licence history and previous amendments</li>

<li>Examinations and type ratings</li>

<li>Recorded limitations or restrictions</li>

<li>Open findings, investigations, or enforcement matters</li>

<li>Licence validity and administrative status</li>

</ul>

<p>A licence that is expired, suspended, under investigation, or subject to unresolved administrative issues is unlikely to be transferred until those matters have been addressed.</p>

<h2>Do not choose an authority only because of processing time</h2>

<p>Processing times vary by authority, but a complete application or transfer commonly takes approximately two to six months. The actual period depends on the authority’s workload, the complexity of the application, the quality of the evidence, and whether information must be obtained from another authority or organisation.</p>

<p>An authority advertising a shorter administrative timeframe may still need additional information if the application is incomplete. In practice, a well-prepared file submitted to the appropriate authority is usually more effective than a rushed submission based only on an assumed processing advantage.</p>

<h2>Common mistakes when selecting a competent authority</h2>

<p>Applicants frequently encounter delays because they:</p>

<ul>

<li>Submit an initial application to an authority without first confirming jurisdiction or acceptance</li>

<li>Assume that EASA itself will issue the licence</li>

<li>Apply to a new authority for an amendment when the issuing authority should handle it</li>

<li>Choose an authority solely because its fee appears lower</li>

<li>Rely on a general training certificate as proof of Part-66 examination compliance</li>

<li>Submit experience records that are not signed, dated, or independently verifiable</li>

<li>Fail to disclose an existing licence, limitation, suspension, or investigation</li>

<li>Send documents in a language or format the authority does not accept</li>

<li>Assume that mutual recognition eliminates the need for national administrative approval</li>

</ul>

<p>Mutual recognition means that a valid licence issued under the applicable rules can generally be recognised throughout the EASA system. It does not mean that every authority can amend, renew, replace, or transfer every licence without following its own procedures.</p>

<h2>A practical decision-making checklist</h2>

<p>Before choosing a competent authority, ask yourself:</p>

<ul>

<li>Is this an initial application, an amendment, a renewal, or a transfer?</li>

<li>Which authority issued my current licence, if I already hold one?</li>

<li>Where do I live and where do I work?</li>

<li>Where were my examinations, training, and practical experience completed?</li>

<li>Can I provide complete and verifiable evidence for the authority I am considering?</li>

<li>Has the authority confirmed that it will accept my application?</li>

<li>Have I obtained the correct Form 19 and current fee information?</li>

<li>Are my documents in the required language and format?</li>

<li>Have I explained any unusual employment, training, or licence history?</li>

<li>Have I allowed sufficient time for processing?</li>

</ul>

<h2>Contact the authority before submitting</h2>

<p>The safest approach is to contact the proposed competent authority before preparing the final application. Explain your circumstances clearly, including your nationality, residence, employer, training location, examination history, and whether you already hold an AML.</p>

<p>If you are transferring an existing licence, contact both the proposed receiving authority and the current issuing authority. Do not submit parallel applications to multiple authorities without first obtaining guidance, as this can create duplicate records or uncertainty over which authority is responsible for your licence file.</p>

<h2>Final considerations</h2>

<p>Choosing the right EASA competent authority is primarily a matter of regulatory responsibility, documentary evidence, and practical administration. For an initial application, select an authority with which you have a genuine and supportable connection. For an amendment or renewal, normally apply to the authority that issued your licence. For a transfer, follow the receiving authority’s formal process and allow it to coordinate with your current authority.</p>

<p>Prepare a complete application, use the authority’s current forms, pay the correct fee, and communicate openly about your employment, training, experience, and licence history. These steps will give your Part-66 application the best chance of being processed efficiently and without avoidable delays.</p>

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