Airlines / Ryanair / Requirements
Ryanair cabin crew requirements
The hard filters Ryanair applies before a recruiter reads your CV — age, reach, tattoos, languages and documents, with how strict each one is compared to the rest of the industry.
Minimum age
18 years
Most carriers set 18; Gulf and US majors usually 21.
Height & reach
157 cm min · 210 cm reach
6 airlines ask for the same 210 cm; 16 demand more.
Tattoos
Nothing visible in uniform
No tattoos visible in uniform; coverable tattoos are acceptable, visible hand, neck or face tattoos are not. Like most of the 59 airlines we index, nothing may show while you are in uniform.
Languages
Fluent English
Fluent English; local base language useful for sales announcements but not mandatory.
Education
No formal education requirement.
Also required
Medical, swimming & documents
EU/EEA passport or unrestricted right to work in the base country, ability to swim, willingness to accept any assigned base initially, and payment or bonding of the initial training course.
Work rights matter here
Ryanair expects the right to work in base country. Without it, applications are usually filtered out before assessment regardless of how strong the rest of your profile is.
Do you meet these Ryanair requirements?
Check your answers against Ryanair and every other airline in the index — two minutes, no sign-up.
Stricter or softer than its rivals?
| Airline | Min age | Reach | Visible tattoos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 18 | 210 cm | Not allowed |
| British Airways | 18 | 201 cm | Not allowed |
| Virgin Atlantic | 18 | 210 cm | Not allowed |
| Lufthansa | 18 | 160 cm height | Not allowed |
| SWISS | 18 | 158 cm height | Some allowed |
| KLM | 18 | 158 cm height | Not allowed |
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum height for Ryanair cabin crew?
Ryanair measures reach rather than height alone: you must touch 210 cm, with a minimum height of 157 cm. Practise against a wall on tiptoes before the assessment day.
Can you join Ryanair cabin crew with tattoos?
No tattoos visible in uniform; coverable tattoos are acceptable, visible hand, neck or face tattoos are not. Covered tattoos are not a problem; anything showing in uniform is.
What age do you need to be to apply to Ryanair?
The minimum is 18. There is no published upper limit at most carriers, and experienced applicants in their 30s and 40s are hired regularly.
Requirements change without notice — tattoo and grooming rules in particular have been relaxed at several airlines since 2022. Always confirm on Ryanair's official careers page before ruling yourself out.