From the UK CAA's website, I have just had a read of:
Part H - Class and Type Ratings / Subpart 1 - EASA - Class and Type Ratings for Aeroplanes / FCL.740 - Validity & renewal of class and type ratings:
(a).....
(b) Renewal. If a class or type rating has expired, the applicant shall:
(1) take refresher training at an ATO, when necessary to reach the level of proficiency necessary to safely operate the relevant class or type of aeroplane; and
(2) pass a proficiency check in accordance with Appendix 9 to Part-FCL.
Surely the relevant & guiding statement in the above item
(1) is the '
when necessary' ?
Would it not be the case that if wishing to revalidate / re-activate ones (
expired 4 years ago) UK CAA / JAR B737 Type Rating (
on the NG), it being a Type which one is currently flying here in the UAE, if one were to pitch-up at a UK TRTO and ask them to conduct a PC (
IR, whatever?), in that instance one would expect the requirement for '
refresher training at an ATO, when necessary' to be a "not required" - what with already being extremely current on the exact same type - or did I miss something somewhere in amongst all those new regs ?!
Also, where in the EASA stuff is the precise amount of required '
refresher training' stipulated (
regulated), and / or is that perhaps up to an 'arrangement' between the candidate pilot and the specific TRTO ?
I can certainly predict various TRTO's trying to up-the-ante by saying that one needs all manner of 'training', simply as a means to make more money out folk whom are trying to get (
return) into the EASA system.
Ps (
hence the edit). Fwiw, I was planning to nip back to the UK in the next few months and revalidate my B757/B767 Type Rating (
and latterly exchange my JAR license to an EASA one), wherein my last sim on the B767 was in Apr 2008. I was planning to do a (
hopefully 
) modest number of '
refresher training' sims prior to actually doing the PC/IR (
'coz quite frankly, after so many years off of it, I can barely remember how to start the bloomin' thing 
).