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Australian medical professionals who are considering relocation to Dubai need to obtain a healthcare license from the Dubai Health Authority. The Dubai Health Authority is responsible for issuing licenses to healthcare professionals after evaluating their personal and professional profiles and clinical competency.
Although Australians enjoy certain relaxations in the licensing process due to Australia’s Tier 1 status, which reflects its high-quality medical education system, they are still required to complete the licensing process, including passing the Prometric exam, unless they are exempt based on recognized Australian qualifications or certifications.
The licensing process for doctors with Australian medical degrees accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) is pretty much the same as for other nationalities. They must meet the eligibility criteria, provide the required documents, complete document verification through DataFlow, pass the Prometric exam, obtain a job offer, and activate their license.
In this guide, we have covered in detail how Australian medical graduates can move to Dubai, how much time and money are required, what technical issues may arise, and tips on how to obtain a license more easily if you are moving from Australia to Dubai.
How can Australian doctors work in the Dubai Healthcare System?
To work as a doctor in Dubai after graduating from Australia, you must obtain a professional license from the DHA. The DHA license allows you to legally work in the Dubai healthcare sector. Without a DHA license, none of the Australian healthcare professionals can work in Dubai, as per DHA Law No. (14) of 2021, which amended certain clauses of Law No. (6) of 2018.
What are the requirements for Australian Doctors to get a DHA License?
To practise medicine in Dubai, Australian doctors must meet a combination of educational, professional, and clinical requirements. The DHA sets these requirements to allow only competent ash professionals to work and serve patients in Dubai.
Educational Requirements:
- The minimum qualification required is MBBS, MBChB, or equivalent from a recognized institute of an AMC (Australian Medical Council).
- The speciality or consultant role requires specific qualifications.
Professional License Requirements
- An active medical license from the home country is a must, which is accredited by the AMC.
- Specialists need additional certification alongside MBBS, MBChB, or any equivalent qualification.
Medical Internship Requirements
- All Physicians need to complete a one-year internship (12 months) after graduation, unless it is part of the program completed after the final year exam.
- Two years of experience is considered as a replacement if no internship proof is provided.
Clinical Experience Requirements
- Experience should be relevant to the professional title and should be hands-on experience.
- Specialists need to provide a surgical logbook that has enough case history with procedures, including the common aspects of the specialty.
- Teaching experience is not considered as it comes in non clinical side.
Below are the details of how much experience an Australian intern, GP, or specialist requires to get a DHA license in Dubai.
| Position | Required Experience |
|---|---|
| Position | Required Experience |
| Intern | No experience required |
| General Practitioner | 2 years of clinical experience after internship |
| Specialist | No additional experience required after obtaining the specialty qualification |
| Consultant | 2 years after the main specialty or 1 year after a subspecialty |
PSV Verification Requirements
- All your documents will be verified directly through Primary Source Verification via Data Flow from the issuing body.
- No duplicated, expired, or fraudulent documents can be approved by the DHA. Such documents may also lead to a permanent ban on the professional.
Examination Requirements
- All Australian professionals are required to pass the DHA exam within the allowed 3 attempts to obtain a professional license in Dubai, except those holding an exam-based Fellowship of the Royal Colleges recognized by the AMC.
Good Standing Certificate Requirements
- An active Good Standing Certificate (GSC) not older than six (6) months is required for the healthcare professional to confirm he/she is not prohibited or restricted from serving patients.
- Irrespective of the GSC, the DHA can investigate the professional further if required.
CME/CPD requirements
Healthcare professionals with a gap in clinical practice exceeding three years may be required to complete CME/CPD requirements or need to undergo additional clinical training. However, if the gap exceeds 5 years, no Australian physician is eligible for the licenising process. The details are provided in the table below.
| Gap of Practice | CME/CPD credits | Additional Training |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to less than 4 years | 80 credits | 6 months of training |
| 4 to less than 5 years | 120 credits | 8 months of training |
Which Australian professionals are exempt from the DHA Exam?
All those Australian professionals who have obtained a fellowship of the Australian Medical Council recognized Royal College through examination are exempt from the DHA Exam. It is important to note that fellowships granted by endorsement or election are not eligible for the exam exemption criteria.
How can an Australia-qualified medical professional get a DHA license in Dubai?
To get a DHA license after graduating from Australia, you have to follow a systematic process designed by the Dubai Health Authority to evaluate professionals before they can work in the thriving market of Dubai. Below is the 7-step process to follow to get a DHA license as an Australian doctor.
Check your DHA Eligibility
Check whether you are eligible for a DHA license or not. To check your eligibility, you can use the self-assessment tool provided by the DHA, or you can review the eligibility criteria for the specific professional title and assess it manually.
Create an account on the Sheryan Portal
The Sheryan portal is the most important part of the licensing process, as you will manage every licensing step through it. Go to the Sheryan portal and create your account. Save your login information so that the next time you want to log in, it will be easier to access your account. If you forget your login credentials, you can click “Forgot Password” and create new login details.
Fill out the application form
Once the account is created, go to the Sheryal portal and click on ” Get a professional license. Add all your personal details as per your selected title.
Submit all your documents
Submit all the required documents in the correct format. Missing any document or providing any false data would either cancel the application or cause delays. The major documents required are
- Your photo and passport copy
- Australian degree certificates
- Internship completion certificate
- Current professional registration with the Australian regulator
- Good Standing Certificate
- Experience certificates
- Logbook (for surgical specialties)
Primary Source Verification of Documents
Primary source verification is done for document checks to see whether the provided documents are real or fake. For this purpose, the authority contacts the issuing body directly, taking several weeks to complete the process.
Pass the DHA exam
This is the most crucial step. Passing the DHA exam requires at least 60% marks, as per the PQR. Professionals who have completed an exam-based fellowship from the Royal Colleges in Australia are exempt from the exam. However, this exemption is limited to the exam only; the remaining steps must be completed as discussed. After passing the test, get the eligibility letter.
Apply for DHA Registration
After passing the test, you have to get registered with the Dubai Medical Registry. The registration is only valid for 1 year, within which you have to get a job offer from a recognized facility, which will then activate the license. This process costs you a fixed amount of AED 200, which is about 77 Australian dollars.
Get a job offer
The eligibility letter enables you to apply for jobs in the Dubai healthcare sector. However, you can only apply for jobs related to your professional title and the job title based on your experience and qualifications.
Activate the license and start serving in Dubai
After receiving a job offer from a recognized facility, you can activate your professional license through that facility. They will submit your license activation form to the DHA. The DHA will review the form and activate the license, enabling you to practice in Dubai.
How much does a DHA license cost for a healthcare professional from Australia?
The DHA license costs between AUD 1,162 and AUD 1,937 for general practitioners, and between AUD 2,324 and AUD 3,874 for specialists and consultants. The total cost is the sum of fixed and variable expenses, including the registration fee, examination fee, translation and attestation fees, travel costs, consultation fee (optional), and the final license activation fee. Below is a breakdown of each cost.
| Cost Item | Fee (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Application / Registration Fee | AUD 84 |
| Primary Source Verification (DataFlow PSV) | AUD 393 |
| Examination Fee | AUD 210–420 |
| Translation and Attestation Fees | AUD 9–18 |
| Consultation Fee (Optional) | AUD 420–1,260 |
| License Activation Fee | AUD 420–1,260 |
How much time is required for Australian-based doctors to get a DHA license?
The time required for Australian doctors to get a DHA license in Dubai is 9 to 14 weeks, although it varies depending on the professional status of the applicant. This is because the DHA conducts additional verifications for specialist and consultant roles. The timeline may also depend on the number of examination attempts made by the professional. You can understand the time required for each step through the following breakdown:
| Licensing Process Step | Estimated Time (Weeks) |
|---|---|
| Self-assessment to Determine Eligibility | Instant |
| Preparation of Documents | 1–2 weeks |
| Document Submission | Instant |
| Primary Source Verification (PSV) | 2–4 weeks |
| Examination Scheduling and Completion | 4–6 weeks |
| License Activation | 1 week |
| Visa Processing & Onboarding | 1–2 weeks |
| Total Estimated Time | 9–14 weeks |
Is It Worth Contacting a Licensing Agency to Obtain a DHA License?
There is no direct answer to this question because it is a subjective matter that depends on whether you know the process or not. Even some professionals who have a good understanding of the process still approach licensing agencies to save time and avoid unnecessary stress.
However, those with a tight budget often complete the process on their own. If you are not familiar with the process, there is no need to take on the headache yourself. Consultancy agencies can help you complete the process with ease and accuracy, although they charge additional fees that may vary.
How to choose a DHA licensing agency in Dubai?
It is the most important factor when choosing a licensing consultancy because, ultimately, people contact consultants to save time and energy. Therefore, the consultant should be among the most competent options available.
When choosing a DHA licensing agency in Dubai, focus on the consultant’s experience, process transparency, client testimonials, and knowledge of DHA licensing services rather than price alone. Below are the things you have to consider before opting for any.
- Check their consultancy experience
- Verify their licensing services
- Review client feedback
- Confirm their knowledge of DHA requirements
- Ask about processing times and licensing pathways
FAQs:
Can I work in Dubai with an Australian medical license?
No, you cannot directly work in Dubai with your Australian medical license. Instead, you need a DHA license.
Can I get a DHA license while living in Australia?
No, you cannot get the license virtually because you must obtain a job offer in Dubai, which requires you to be there for license activation.
How can an Australia-trained doctor get a DHA license without an exam?
After obtaining an exam-based fellowship from the Royal Colleges in Australia, a doctor can get a DHA license without taking an exam by availing of the exam exemption opportunity.
How can I schedule a DHA exam in Australia?
For scheduling a DHA exam in Australia, you have to go to the Prometric portal and select any testing centre from the approved international centres located in Australia, then choose a suitable test date for your exam.
Do I need to renew a DHA license after living in Australia for a long time?
Yes, you have to renew your license if the gap exceeds 3 years; however, a gap of more than 5 years will not allow you to renew the DHA license. The renewal requires CME/CPD points and certain certifications, which we have discussed above.
