Non-EU, EASA path – where do I actually start?
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Joined: Dec 2025
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From: Bosnia
Non-EU, EASA path – where do I actually start?
Ever since I was a child i wanted to become a pilot and nowI’m 26, and for the first time it finally feels like I might be able to finance training and make it happen. But honestly, I’m scared.
My idea was to start with my PPL and Night Rating in Arad, then continue in Romania (Tuzla) with CPL, IR, Multi-Engine, ATPL credits, the whole path… and eventually try to build hours, get experience, and hopefully one day get an airline job.
The problem is I’m a non-EU citizen with no automatic right to live or work in the EU. My home country isn’t really an option either — we basically have one airline and it’s not exactly full of opportunities. So realistically I’d probably end up looking somewhere like India, Africa, or maybe Turkey. And that makes me wonder… is EASA even the right move for someone like me?
I don’t plan to jump straight into airlines anyway. My idea was to build a few thousand hours first, prove myself, and then maybe an airline would be willing to sponsor a visa if I’m experienced enough. But it still feels like I could spend years, tens of thousands of euros, and so much effort… just to end up stuck because of where I was born.
So that’s my big question: does this plan make sense for someone who’s non-EU, or am I being unrealistic?
Are my ambitions just too big?
I’d really appreciate honest advice from people who’ve actually been through something similar or know how this works. 🙏
My idea was to start with my PPL and Night Rating in Arad, then continue in Romania (Tuzla) with CPL, IR, Multi-Engine, ATPL credits, the whole path… and eventually try to build hours, get experience, and hopefully one day get an airline job.
The problem is I’m a non-EU citizen with no automatic right to live or work in the EU. My home country isn’t really an option either — we basically have one airline and it’s not exactly full of opportunities. So realistically I’d probably end up looking somewhere like India, Africa, or maybe Turkey. And that makes me wonder… is EASA even the right move for someone like me?
I don’t plan to jump straight into airlines anyway. My idea was to build a few thousand hours first, prove myself, and then maybe an airline would be willing to sponsor a visa if I’m experienced enough. But it still feels like I could spend years, tens of thousands of euros, and so much effort… just to end up stuck because of where I was born.
So that’s my big question: does this plan make sense for someone who’s non-EU, or am I being unrealistic?
Are my ambitions just too big?
I’d really appreciate honest advice from people who’ve actually been through something similar or know how this works. 🙏
