Medical requirements
Check your medical before you commit to training.
Every pilot needs a medical certificate, and the rules change from country to country. Use this as a starting point — then book an approved aviation medical examiner before you spend money on training.
Captain Chris says
It would be heartbreaking to find out you had a medical condition that stopped your career after you'd already started training. Get your medical done first — and remember private and commercial flying have different requirements.
Australia · CASA
- Medical class needed
- Private: Class 2 (other medical routes exist for some flying). Commercial and airline: Class 1.
- Vision & glasses
- Glasses allowed. If you need distance correction you must wear it and carry a spare.
- Colour vision
- Tiered testing, starting with the Ishihara plates, then further practical tests. Restrictions may apply.
- Laser eye surgery
- Check — ask a CASA-approved examiner.
- Other health
- Conditions and medication are assessed individually; conditions may be placed on a certificate.
Official sources
Minimum ages at a glance
Ages for a first solo or licence issue — not the age you can start lessons. "Check" means we couldn't confirm it from official sources.
| Country | Authority | First solo | Private | Commercial | Airline (ATPL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | CASA | Check | Check | Check | 21 |
| Brazil | ANAC | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 |
| Mexico | AFAC | Check | Check | Check | Check |
| Canada | Transport Canada | 14 | 17 | 18 | 21 |
| European Union | EASA | 16 | 17 | 18 | 21 |
| India | DGCA | Check | Check | Check | Check |
| New Zealand | CAA New Zealand | 16 | 17 | 18 | 21 |
| Philippines | CAAP | 16 | 17 | 18 | 21 |
| South Africa | SACAA | Check | 17 | 18 | 21 |
| United Arab Emirates | GCAA | 16 | 17 | 18 | 21 |
| United Kingdom | UK CAA | 16 | 17 | Check | 21 |
| United States | FAA | Check | Check | 18 | Check |
Summarised from official authority websites, checked October 2026. Rules change and individual cases differ — this is not medical advice. Only an approved aviation medical examiner can assess you. Questions? Ask Captain Chris.
From my aviation medical examiner
Pilot Medical App
This app was created by my own aviation medical examiner. It offers useful information about medical examinations, staying fit to fly and managing medical emergencies on board.
The website describes guidance from a UK and EU aviation medical examiner, so treat its medical-regulation advice as UK/EU-focused, not a worldwide eligibility guide. If you fly under UK CAA or EASA rules, confirm the advice applies to your certificate with your examiner. Elsewhere, the general health information may be useful, but check local requirements with your own authority and an approved examiner.
Visit Pilot Medical AppAn independent resource, not an official aviation authority or a substitute for your medical assessment.