ICAO English is the language proficiency rating you need to operate internationally. It runs from Level 1 (Pre-Elementary) to Level 6 (Expert). Most pilots hold Level 4 or Level 5. Which one you need depends on where you want to fly, and the gap between them is bigger than the certificate makes it look.
What ICAO actually tests
The rating evaluates six skills against ICAO Doc 9835:
- Pronunciation
- Structure (grammar)
- Vocabulary
- Fluency
- Comprehension
- Interactions
Your overall rating is the lowest score across the six. Score Level 5 on five skills and Level 4 on one — you walk out as Level 4. This catches a lot of pilots who think they're Level 5 candidates.
Level 4 (Operational): the minimum
- Validity: 3 years.
- Sufficient for standard radiotelephony in routine situations.
- Required by every ICAO-compliant airline and CAA for international operations.
- The bar most ATPL candidates clear at the first attempt.
Level 5 (Extended): the operator preference
- Validity: 6 years.
- You can handle non-routine situations: tech failure communications, ATC disagreements, weather diversions discussed in plain English.
- Most Middle East, Asian, and U.S. operators prefer or require Level 5 for First Officer hires.
- Most European low-cost and legacy carriers accept Level 4 but score Level 5 candidates higher on the recruitment matrix.
Level 6 (Expert): rarely tested
- Lifetime validity. No renewal.
- You'd only test for Level 6 if you're a native or near-native English speaker who wants to skip future renewals.
- Examiners are conservative — many fluent pilots end up at Level 5 because Level 6 demands no accent intrusion that *could possibly* confuse another speaker. It's a high bar.
Which airlines require which level?
We track this in the Veejo Network. Snapshot for 2026:
| Operator group | Minimum | Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| EU legacy (AF, LH, KLM, IAG) | Level 4 | Level 5 |
| EU low-cost (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz) | Level 4 | Level 4 |
| Gulf carriers (Emirates, Etihad, Qatar) | Level 5 | Level 5+ |
| Asian carriers (SIA, CX, ANA) | Level 5 | Level 5 |
| U.S. majors (post-FAA conversion) | Level 4 (FAA) | n/a |
| Business jet (corporate / charter) | Level 5 | Level 5+ |
If you're applying outside the EU low-cost segment, optimize for Level 5.
How to upgrade from Level 4 to Level 5 without re-sitting the full test
This is the part most pilots don't know:
- Several Veejo-network examiners offer a targeted re-assessment in the specific skill you scored lowest on. If you scored 4 on Pronunciation and 5+ on everything else, you can re-test pronunciation alone. The full Level 5 rating gets issued.
- Cost: €180–€350 vs €450–€900 for a full Level 5 test.
- Timeline: 2 weeks instead of 6.
When to renew
- Level 4: every 3 years. Set a reminder at the 30-month mark — examiner availability slips in summer.
- Level 5: every 6 years. Renew 6 months ahead if you're job-hunting (operators see expiry dates and downgrade your file).
- Veejo's Career Log auto-alerts at 90 / 30 / 14 / 7 days before expiry.
The interview-day reality
Examiners we work with all say the same thing: pilots fail Level 5 not because their English is weak, but because they freeze during the non-routine scenario. The fix is rehearsal. Veejo Tutor sessions (rolling out to ATPL students from June 2026) pair you with examiner-rated pilots who run the exact scenario format you'll face — book one the week before your test.