Foreign Cabin Crew Applicant FAQ
“I’m not from the UK – I’m a foreign Cabin Crew Applicant. Am I allowed to be UK Cabin Crew?”
We get asked this question a lot, and we’ve laid out the current rules and regulations in place.
If you’re not a British national, can you still be Cabin Crew for a UK-based airline? The short answer is yes, as long as you fulfil certain criteria.
You MUST have the right to live and work in the UK
Applying for a Cabin Crew job works in the same way as applying for any job based in the UK. You need to prove that you are legally permitted to live and work in the country.
Do I have the right to work in the UK?
If you’re unsure of whether or not you’re eligible to work in the UK, here’s a handy list.
At this time you’re entitled to work in this country without having to apply for a work permit if either of the following apply:
- You’re a British citizen
- You have a Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa
If you’ve already successfully applied for a work permit or visa, you will need to prove your right to work in the UK by using a share code to state your UK immigration status or providing original documents.
If you don’t already have the right to live and work in the UK, this will be a stumbling block. It’s very rare for airlines to sponsor visas for foreign applicants who want to apply to be Cabin Crew at UK bases.
Background checks and documentation
You must be able to fulfil all the requirements laid out by the UK Civil Aviation Authority before you can legally work as Cabin Crew in Britain. Airlines will require you have the following documents sorted before they’ll offer you a contract:
- Valid UK DBS Check Certificate
- EASA Medical Certificate
- Overseas criminal record check certificate (CRC)
Obtaining the relevant documents from your native country, or anywhere else overseas you’ve lived, can be quite a lengthy process so it’s important to have everything in order well in advance.
You can find the lowdown on Cabin Crew pre-employment checks here.
Get organised!
It’s essential that you have all your certificates and documentation ready before you begin training. Airlines will often have you send copies of your paperwork ahead of time to check that they’re valid as well as checking the originals at the start of your training period.
Get yourself organised to make sure you don’t miss anything.
We’ll keep you updated with any changes to the regulations, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email our team at team@cabincrewwings.com!
