What Happens to Your Part-66 Licence Records During an EASA Authority Transfer?

If you hold an EASA Part-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence (AML) issued by one EASA Member State and want another competent authority to take responsibility for it, the process is a transfer of regulatory oversight, not simply a licence reissue or renewal.

This distinction matters because your licence records are controlled by the competent authority that issued the AML. During a transfer, the original authority must co-operate with the receiving authority so that your licensing history, privileges and compliance status can be verified before a new document is issued.

The transfer does not create a second licence

Under Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014, EASA Member State AMLs are mutually recognised within the applicable regulatory framework. However, each licence must be managed by one competent authority. An engineer cannot normally retain separate Part-66 AMLs issued by several EASA authorities for the same licensing record.

If the transfer is approved, the receiving authority becomes responsible for:

• future licence amendments and renewals;
• recording additional categories, type ratings and limitations;
• assessing supporting experience and examination evidence;
• maintaining oversight of the licence holder's compliance; and
• handling relevant administrative or disciplinary matters.

The original AML must generally be returned to the authority that issued it. The receiving authority then issues or reissues the licence under its own administrative control. The intended result is one continuous licensing record, not two independently active licences.

What happens to records held by the original authority?

The outgoing authority does not simply post your file to the new authority as part of an automatic EASA-wide database transfer. The transfer is an authority-to-authority process, and the precise administrative method differs between national aviation authorities.

The receiving authority will normally ask the issuing authority to confirm the authenticity and status of the AML. This may include confirmation of:

• the licence number, issue date and current status;
• the categories and subcategories held;
• aircraft type ratings and associated limitations;
• examination credits and module results;
• previous licence amendments;
• the experience used to support issue or amendment;
• open findings, restrictions, suspensions or enforcement action; and
• whether the licence has been lost, revoked, surrendered or replaced.

The receiving authority uses this information to establish that the licence is genuine, valid and eligible for transfer. It may also request supporting documents directly from you, even where the authorities exchange information themselves.

The receiving authority normally starts the process

The first practical step is to contact the competent authority to which you want to transfer the AML. Do not assume that an authority will accept an application merely because you live or work in its territory. Each authority applies its own administrative criteria and may require a specific reason for accepting regulatory responsibility.

The receiving authority will usually provide:

• a transfer or amendment application form, often Form 19 or a national equivalent;
• a document checklist and guidance notes;
• instructions for authority-to-authority verification; and
• the applicable fee and accepted payment methods.

The application commonly requires a copy of the current AML, identity evidence, proof of address or professional connection, and an explanation of why the transfer is being requested. The authority may also ask for evidence relating to employment, aircraft maintenance activity or the reason it should assume responsibility for the licence.

For the wider European licensing framework, consult the official EASA Part-66 guidance and confirm the current procedure directly with the relevant authority.

How experience records are treated

A transfer does not normally erase the experience used to obtain or amend your licence. However, experience records are not automatically accepted without verification. The receiving authority must establish how the relevant experience was recorded, assessed and credited by the outgoing authority.

This is why engineers should retain supporting evidence, including employer statements, task records and maintenance logbooks. In the UK, CAP 741 logbooks are commonly used to document aircraft maintenance experience. They can support an authority's review, but a CAP 741 logbook is evidence of experience, not a replacement for the AML or the issuing authority's official licensing record.

It is also useful to review common CAP 741 logbook mistakes before submitting documents. Vague entries, missing supervisor details or inconsistent dates can create avoidable questions during a licensing review.

Where experience was gained through UK military service, supporting evidence may involve the appropriate UK Ministry of Defence recognition or certification pathway. Any such evidence should be retained with the original service documentation. The receiving EASA authority, not the applicant, must determine whether the evidence can be recognised for the relevant Part-66 purpose.

Preserve copies of historical licence issues, amendment sheets, examination certificates, employer statements and experience records before surrendering the original AML. If an old document is unavailable, reconstructing the licensing history can significantly delay the transfer.

Keep your licensing evidence organised before you apply: Analyse Your Part-66 Logbook Today to identify missing details and improve the consistency of your experience records.

What happens to type ratings and limitations?

Type ratings and limitations are transferred only to the extent that the receiving authority can verify them and is satisfied that they were lawfully entered on the original AML. A transfer is not an opportunity to add new privileges without completing the applicable Part-66 requirements.

The receiving authority may compare the outgoing licence with supporting records and query:

• the basis on which a type rating was added;
• whether practical experience requirements were met;
• whether a limitation was later removed;
• whether an amendment remains valid; or
• whether the licence reflects a previous corrective action.

A discrepancy does not necessarily mean that the transfer will fail, but it must be resolved before the receiving authority can reproduce the relevant privileges on the new document. Engineers should also understand the distinction between EASA certification privileges and FAA A&P sign-off privileges, since national licensing systems do not provide identical privileges.

Is the transfer automatic because EASA licences are mutually recognised?

No. Mutual recognition allows a valid EASA AML to be used within the EASA system, subject to applicable conditions. It does not create an automatic right to move the licence file from one competent authority to another.

Part-66 establishes the licensing framework, but the transfer of regulatory responsibility is handled through co-operation between the authorities. In practice, the transfer can proceed only when both the outgoing and receiving authorities agree. The applicant cannot compel one authority to accept the transfer simply by submitting a form.

This differs from applying for a routine renewal or amendment with the authority that already manages the AML. A transfer changes which authority is responsible for the record and therefore requires additional verification. The EASA Part-66 information and FAQs should be checked alongside the receiving authority's current instructions.

The importance of returning the original AML

Once the transfer is approved, you will normally be instructed to surrender or return the original AML to the issuing authority. This prevents two active licences from circulating and ensures that the previous authority no longer presents itself as the regulator responsible for your licence.

Keep evidence that the original licence was returned, such as tracked delivery records or written confirmation from the authority. Retain copies of the surrendered licence and amendment pages for your professional records, provided that doing so does not conflict with the authority's instructions.

Until the transfer is formally completed, the original issuing authority remains responsible for the AML. Submitting an application to the new authority does not immediately change the status of your licence or give the receiving authority control over its privileges.

UK CAA and EASA authority transfers

A UK CAA Part-66 AML and an EASA Member State Part-66 AML should not be treated as interchangeable documents. Following the UK's departure from the EU aviation system, the UK CAA operates the UK Part-66 framework, while EASA Member State authorities administer EASA Part-66 licences.

Consequently, transferring an AML between two EASA competent authorities, such as from the Netherlands to another EASA Member State, is not the same process as moving between an EASA AML system and the UK CAA system. Any UK-EU licensing route must be considered under the applicable UK regulations, bilateral arrangements and UK CAA aircraft maintenance licensing procedures.

If your record includes both UK CAA and EASA licensing activity, maintain the evidence for each system separately. A UK CAA record, a CAP 741 logbook or a Ministry of Defence service document may support an application, but none of these documents automatically transfers regulatory responsibility from one authority to another. You can also read our guide to transferring an EASA Part-66 AML between authorities.

Common causes of delay

Transfers are often delayed when the authorities cannot quickly reconcile the applicant's documents. Typical problems include:

• an incomplete Form 19 or equivalent application;
• failure to explain the reason for the transfer;
• unpaid or incorrectly paid fees;
• differences between the AML and supporting records;
• missing type-rating or limitation evidence;
• unverified examination or military-service documentation;
• an outstanding investigation or restriction; or
• failure to return the original AML.

Contact the receiving authority before submitting the application. This is usually the most effective way to identify local requirements and confirm whether the authority will contact the outgoing authority directly or expects you to obtain particular records first.

What continuity should you expect?

A correctly completed transfer should preserve the continuity of your professional standing within the EASA Part-66 system. The transfer does not normally require you to start your entire licensing history again, provided that the original authority can verify the record and the receiving authority accepts the evidence.

There may, however, be a period during which the transfer is being assessed and the new AML has not yet been issued. Plan accordingly, particularly if an employer requires the licence to be available for maintenance certification duties. Obtain written confirmation from the relevant authority if you need to clarify what evidence of current status can be used while the application is pending.

The key principle is that the records move through regulatory co-operation, not through the applicant holding multiple licences. The outgoing authority verifies the history, the receiving authority accepts responsibility, and the original AML is surrendered so that one authoritative Part-66 record remains in force.

Final checklist for an EASA Part-66 transfer

• Contact the receiving competent authority before submitting an application.
• Confirm its eligibility, document and fee requirements.
• Prepare copies of your AML, amendment pages and supporting evidence.
• Check that type ratings, limitations and examination credits are consistent.
• Organise CAP 741 or other experience records.
• Obtain written confirmation of the transfer outcome.
• Return the original AML as instructed and retain proof of delivery.

Planning your next aviation career move? Keep your Part-66 records accurate and ready for review with our Part 66 Logbook Analysis, or start a product demo before you apply.