Eligibility, Documents, DataFlow, Examination Review, Fees and Application Steps
By NursingManthra | Updated 23 October 2026
Moving from a healthcare job in Dubai to an opportunity in Abu Dhabi involves more than changing employers. Your qualifications, professional status and intended role must be reviewed through the Department of Health—Abu Dhabi licensing process.
The process is commonly called a “DHA-to-DOH licence transfer.” For applicants, the important distinction is between transferring existing verification records and obtaining approval to practise under DOH.
This guide helps doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, allied health professionals and other regulated healthcare practitioners prepare for that move.
1. What does “DHA-to-DOH transfer” mean?
DOH’s published licensing guidance directs professionals holding qualifying DHA licences to apply through TAMM, using the healthcare professional licensing service.
The guidance covers valid DHA licences and licences cancelled or expired within the previous six months. Applicants undergo review against the PQR applicable when they apply. Examination exemption depends on the licence status and granted professional title.
DOH also requires verification of the DHA licence, valid good-standing evidence and recent experience. Existing verification reports must be reissued to DOH. doh.gov.ae
An existing DHA licence supports your application; the DOH decision establishes your Abu Dhabi licensing outcome.
2. Who can use this guide?
This guide is relevant to professionals considering a move between the two jurisdictions, including:
| Professional group | Points to check before applying |
|---|---|
| Physicians | Intended GP, specialist or consultant title; specialty qualifications and clinical history |
| Dentists | General or specialist title; qualifications and relevant practice |
| Nurses and midwives | Exact registration category, qualification pathway and recent clinical practice |
| Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians | Correct professional category and relevant employment |
| Laboratory professionals | Technician, technologist or specialty classification |
| Medical imaging professionals | Exact discipline, qualification and clinical scope |
| Physiotherapists and other therapists | Profession-specific qualifications and practice history |
| Other allied health and complementary medicine professionals | Whether the intended title and service are recognised within the DOH framework |
Use this table to organise your initial review. It is not confirmation that every DHA title has an identical DOH counterpart.
The Unified Professional Qualification Requirements—PQR provide the framework for evaluating education, experience and licensing evidence. Always check the current profession-specific requirements.
3. First identify your actual DHA status
Before requesting a quotation or starting an application, establish which of the following describes your situation.
A. You hold a valid DHA professional licence
Prepare your current licence and supporting professional records for the DOH review.
B. Your DHA licence was recently cancelled or expired
Check the exact date. DOH’s published transfer FAQ includes licences cancelled or expired within the previous six months, subject to its conditions. Do not interpret this as a guarantee of approval.
C. You hold DHA eligibility or registration but never activated a licence
Present your status accurately. An eligibility document is different from evidence of a licence and actual clinical employment.
Ask DOH to determine the appropriate application and examination treatment for your file. Do not purchase a service based on an unqualified promise of “automatic transfer without examination.”
D. Your licence expired or was cancelled more than six months ago
Do not assume the published recent-licence route applies. Request an individual review of your qualifications, practice history and current application requirements.
E. Your licence has restrictions, suspension or disciplinary history
Disclose the relevant decisions and provide the records requested. Do not describe a restricted professional status as unrestricted good standing.
4. Eligibility: what needs to be reviewed?
A useful review should address:
- Your intended DOH professional title.
- The qualifications supporting that title.
- Relevant clinical employment and its dates.
- Registration covering the claimed practice.
- Your current professional standing.
- Any interruption in clinical practice.
- Previous UAE examination attempts.
- Any additional requirements associated with the intended role.
Avoid applying one profession’s experience rule to everybody. For example, a nursing category, a pharmacy category and a specialist medical category should each be checked against their own PQR requirements.
The PQR also allows different assessment formats, including written, oral and OSCE examinations, according to the professional title.
5. Documents to prepare
The following is a preparation checklist, not a declaration that every document must be uploaded for every profession.
Identity and account records
- Valid passport.
- Emirates ID, where available or requested.
- Recent photograph.
- Name-change evidence, if names differ between documents.
- Previous DOH identification or application details, if applicable.
DHA professional records
- Current or most recent DHA licence.
- Cancellation or expiry details, where relevant.
- DHA good-standing or current-status certificate.
- DHA assessment or examination records, if relevant to the review.
Education and training
- Primary professional qualification.
- Academic transcript.
- Internship or clinical training certificate, where applicable.
- Postgraduate and specialist qualifications.
- Additional programme details requested for your title.
Employment and verification
- Updated CV with a clear employment timeline.
- Recent experience certificates.
- Existing DataFlow reports and case numbers.
- Professional registration records.
- Signed verification authorisation.
Profession-specific or activation documents
Prepare additional evidence when requested—for example, procedural records, clinical logbooks, relevant training certificates, facility nomination and employment-related documents.
Check the personalised TAMM document list before ordering new certificates or paying for additional verification.
6. Obtaining the DHA Good Standing Certificate
DHA’s Sheryan service is available to current and previously licensed professionals. It lists:
- Base fee: AED 500, with Knowledge and Innovation fees applied at checkout.
- Published average processing time: one working day for a Good Standing Certificate.
- Outstanding fines must be settled.
- A valid passport may be needed if the system record is outdated.
Certain professional-status histories result in a Certificate of Current Status rather than a Good Standing Certificate.
DHA explains that its certificate carries an issue date; the receiving authority decides whether it is sufficiently recent. Therefore, plan the request around DOH’s acceptance requirements rather than treating an old certificate as permanently usable.
An employer’s experience letter and a regulator’s professional-standing certificate serve different purposes. Keep both organised.
7. Transferring your DataFlow report
DataFlow report transfer and professional licence issuance are separate steps.
DOH’s published guidance requires PSV reports addressed to DOH. A report originally prepared for DHA should therefore be reissued through the appropriate report-transfer process. Further documents can be added where required.
DataFlow states that report transfer requires a new signed Letter of Authorisation. The receiving regulator may require additional checks, including information not verified previously. Fees vary by regulator.
Practical preparation
Before starting, locate:
- Your previous DataFlow case number.
- The completed report.
- The passport details used in that case.
- Certificates issued since the original verification.
- Any discrepancy or “unable to verify” findings.
Do not assume that paying for transfer resolves an unresolved verification finding. Review the report itself.
Use the official DataFlow DOH page to access the relevant service.
8. Application process through TAMM
Step 1: Confirm your title and licence history
Compare your intended Abu Dhabi role with your supporting qualifications and DHA status.
Step 2: Organise your professional evidence
Check names, dates, certificates and missing records before submission.
Step 3: Access the appropriate DOH service
DOH directs applicants to TAMM’s healthcare professional licensing services, with digital identification/UAE PASS access.
Step 4: Complete the verification requirements
Arrange the report transfer and additional checks required for your case.
Step 5: Submit the licensing documents
Monitor the application for requests and respond against the correct reference.
Step 6: Follow the assessment decision
DOH determines whether the application proceeds to examination or another required stage.
Step 7: Complete facility-related requirements
Coordinate the remaining licensing and onboarding actions with the intended Abu Dhabi facility.
Step 8: Check the issued licence
Before arranging your clinical start, confirm the issued title, facility association, validity and any conditions.
Portal labels and screens can change. Follow the current application workflow rather than relying solely on screenshots from an older guide.
9. Is another examination required?
Do not assume either that everyone must repeat an examination or that every DHA licence guarantees exemption.
DOH’s transfer guidance links exemption to the licence status and granted title. Submit the relevant evidence and obtain the decision for your application
If a computer-based examination is required, Pearson VUE explains the booking sequence:
- DOH approves the application for examination.
- The applicant completes the required DOH payment through TAMM.
- TAMM provides the link to Pearson.
- The applicant selects an available date, time and location.
- The booking confirmation should be brought to the test centre. Abu Dhabi Healthcare Professional Licensing
Do not book an unrelated examination independently and assume it will satisfy your application.
10. Fees: what should you budget for?
There is no reliable single transfer total covering every profession and document history.
| Cost item | How to budget |
|---|---|
| DHA Good Standing Certificate | AED 500 base fee, plus applicable checkout charges |
| DataFlow report transfer | Confirm the selected DOH service quotation |
| Additional verification | Depends on the documents and checks required |
| DOH application | TAMM currently lists an AED 100 application fee |
| Examination | Applicable only if required; check the authorised booking charges |
| Licence issuance | Confirm the amount for your professional category and selected service |
| Other expenses | Translations or additional records where necessary |
| Consultancy assistance | Obtain a separate written service quotation |
The DHA and TAMM figures above come from their published service information. Confirm all payable amounts before payment.
When comparing quotations, ask whether they cover report transfer, additional documents, authority fees, examinations and final issuance. A low initial quotation may cover only one stage.
11. When is the Abu Dhabi employer involved?
Ask the prospective facility which actions it will complete and which documents it expects from you.
DOH defines a nomination letter as an official offer from the hiring Abu Dhabi facility identifying the professional and offered title.
For safe planning, agree the responsibilities before resigning or committing to a start date:
- Who submits the facility-related request?
- Who pays each official charge?
- Which title is the facility requesting?
- Are any privileges or restrictions relevant?
- What remains outstanding before clinical work begins?
Professional licensing and the facility’s clinical privileges also need to be distinguished. DOH describes clinical privileging as the facility’s authorisation of specific procedures or services based on credentials and competence. Department of Health Abu Dhabi
12. Common mistakes that can complicate the process
Describing eligibility as an active licence
Send the actual document and identify its status.
Uploading an old DHA-addressed report without arranging DOH reissuance
Check the receiving authority shown on the report.
Requesting the wrong professional title
Resolve the title question before paying for unnecessary stages.
Using vague experience certificates
Ask employers to describe your role and actual employment accurately.
Ignoring expiry and cancellation dates
Record the dates at the beginning of the review.
Cancelling existing arrangements too early
Coordinate your professional and employment transition around confirmed requirements.
Assuming verification equals approval
A completed report does not replace the authority’s licensing decision.
13. Frequently asked questions
Can I apply if I have only DHA eligibility?
Your file needs an individual DOH route and assessment review. Do not describe it as an active-licence transfer.
Can a recently expired DHA licence be considered?
DOH’s published FAQ includes licences expired or cancelled within the preceding six months, subject to its conditions.
Must I repeat all DataFlow checks?
Not necessarily. Report transfer allows existing records to be presented to the receiving regulator, but additional verification may be required.
Does transferring my report activate the DOH licence?
No. Treat verification and licensing as separate milestones.
How long will everything take?
Build your schedule around the stages still outstanding: document collection, verification, authority review, examination where required and facility actions. Avoid a guaranteed completion date before reviewing the individual file.
14. NursingManthra assistance
NursingManthra can assist with agreed document review and administrative application tasks, including:
- Reviewing your DHA status and document readiness.
- Organising the application file.
- Assisting with DataFlow report-transfer requests.
- Supporting TAMM application tasks.
- Helping prepare responses to document requests.
- Assisting with examination-booking steps where required.
For an initial discussion, share your profession, intended DOH title, DHA licence or eligibility document, expiry/cancellation dates, qualifications, recent experience and DataFlow report.
Official decisions remain with DHA, DOH, DataFlow and the responsible organisations. Consultancy charges and official payments should be quoted separately.
📲 WhatsApp: +971 50 251 5717
🌐 www.nursingmanthra.com
Requirements and fees can change. Follow the current DOH service instructions, PQR and conditions communicated for your application.
About the Author
Shincy George, RN, MSN (Cardiothoracic Nursing), SCFHS-RN, DHA RN, MOH UAE RN, NCLEX-RN (USA), is the Founder of Nursing Manthra Academy.
With extensive international clinical and academic experience, she is dedicated to guiding healthcare professionals through global licensing pathways. Through Nursing Manthra, she supports internationally educated healthcare professionals in achieving their career goals across Canada, USA, UAE, Middle East, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries.
Her mission is to simplify complex licensing processes and empower healthcare professionals with the right knowledge, guidance, and support to succeed globally.
If you need further assistance, kindly contact us through Whatsapp number: +971502515717
