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A Good Standing Certificate (GSC) is a legal document that assesses the background and confirms that only professional, ethical, and legal healthcare professionals are practising their healthcare services in the UAE. The GSC verifies a professionalโs ethical, legal, and disciplinary status by checking their background through official sources and is issued by authorities such as DHA, DOH, and MOHAP. This certificate is legal proof that the medical professional has a clean personal and professional record, has practiced healthcare services responsibly, and has followed all the highest standards of healthcare professionalism. The GSC is often compulsory for getting a medical license, renewing a medical license, transferring a license from one Emirate to another Emirate, and seeking employment in the UAE.
The application process for a Good Standing Certificate varies in each Emirate, but the general steps include signing up on the health authorityโs portal, completing the online application form for the GSC, uploading professional and personal documents like a passport copy, healthcare license, and experience certificates, and paying a GSC fee that varies from AED 300 to AED 500 for different professions. The average processing time is one working day in the DHA. The respective authority checks the background, verifies the documents, and issues the Good Standing Certificate (GSC) on the official portal.
The GSC application process has specific conditions, such as licenses under suspension not being accepted, and gaps of more than two years in clinical practice also not being accepted, especially under MOHAP. The GSCs do not mention employment facilities or a validity period. The healthcare professionals require a GSC for licensing, transferring a license, and employment in all medical institutions, as outlined by the Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), which are outlined by the MOHAP, DHA, and DOH.
What is a Good Standing Certificate (GSC) in UAE Healthcare?
A Good Standing Certificate (GSC) is a legal document that verifies the clean professional record of healthcare professionals by confirming that there is no history of malpractice, disciplinary actions, or unethical behaviour in their careers. It validates that the applicants for UAE healthcare licenses have a history of safe practice and ethical conduct and comply with all the legal aspects of the state. A Good Standing Certificate is a mandatory requirement for all healthcare professionals in the UAE who are applying for a license, transferring the license between authorities, renewing their licenses, and finding employment in the UAE.
What is the Purpose of a Good Standing Certificate (GSC)?
The purpose of a Good Standing Certificate (GSC) is to validate that the healthcare professionals have no history of misconduct and follow all the ethical and legal standards in the UAE. This professional certificate is the legal proof that the medical professionals have not been involved in any type of malpractice, have no disciplinary actions or complaints, and have maintained ethical and professional behaviour.
Who Can Apply for a Good Standing Certificate?
The healthcare professionals who can apply for a Good Standing Certificate (GSC) are currently licensed healthcare professionals from authorities like MOHAP, DHA, and DOH, previously licensed professionals who are renewing their licenses, and medical professionals who are applying for medical licenses in the United Arab Emirates.
Here is the list of healthcare professionals who can apply for a Good Standing Certificate:
- Licensed applicants include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and allied health professionals.
- Previously licensed healthcare professionals who are applying for the renewal of the license or transfer of the license from one authority to another.
- Healthcare professionals who are applying for verification to migrate and work in the United Arab Emirates.
What Are the Prerequisites for Requesting a Good Standing Certificate?
The prerequisites for requesting a Good Standing Certificate (GSC) are no pending fines, no disciplinary actions, a good professional record, updated personal information, and no gap in clinical experience as per MOHAP, DHA, and DOH.
Here are the prerequisites for requesting a Good Standing Certificate:
- Licensed Professional: You must be licensed under DHA, DOH, or MOHAP.
- Clean Record: There should be no disciplinary actions or investigations.
- No Fines: All fines and violations must be cleared.
- Valid License: The License should be active or recently expired.
- Good Conduct: There should be no history of malpractice or unethical behavior.
- Updated Information: Personal details (e.g., passport) must be current.
- End of Service Letter: Required for DHA government staff.
- Practice Gap: No career break over 2 years (for MOHAP).
- Certified Experience: MOHAP may require a verified experience letter.
- Meets PQR: Education/experience must meet UAE standards.
- Recognized Certificates: Academic documents must be UAE-accredited.
- Use Correct Portal: Apply via DHA, DOH, or MOHAP online portals.
- Pay Fees: Pay AED 300 to AED 500, depending on the authority and profession.
Which Documents Are Required for a Standing Certificate Application?
The documents required for a Good Standing Certificate application are a valid passport copy, a UAE healthcare license copy, an experience certificate, and a No Objection Certificate (NOC), as mentioned on the official websites of MOHAP, DHA, and DOH.
Here are the documents that are required for a Good Standing Certificate application:
- Valid passport copy
- UAE healthcare license copy (DHA, DOH, or MOHAP)
- End of Service Letter
- Experience certificate
- No Objection Certificate
- Recent passport-sized photo
- Good conduct declaration
- Updated contact information
- Fee payment confirmation
How to Apply for a Good Standing Certificate in the UAE?
You can apply for a Good Standing Certificate in the UAE by going to the official health authority, like DOH, DHA, or MOHAP, going to the services option, and choosing the Good Standing Certificate service. You have to fill out the online application form for the Good Standing Certificate and pay the mentioned fees, which are AED 500 in the Dubai Health Authority. The healthcare authority will review the application within one working day and issue the license. The applicant can download the license from the account on the respective healthcare authority’s official website.
How to Get an MOH Good Standing Certificate (GSC) in the UAE?
Here are the key steps to apply for a MOH Good Standing Certificate in the UAE:
- Open the official portal of MOHAP using your personal information.
- Go to the services section and select the Good Standing Certificate (GSC) service.
- Fill out the online application form for the Good Standing Certificate (GSC) and upload all the required documents.
- Pay the mentioned fees.
- Wait for the processing time, which is 1 working day if you meet all their requirements.
- You can download the GSC from your account on the official website.
How to Get a DOH Good Standing Certificate (GSC) in Abu Dhabi?
To get a DOH Good Standing Certificate (GSC), consider the steps mentioned below:
- Open the DOH TAMM official portal and register on it.
- Go to the services option and select the Good Standing Certificate service.
- Fill out the online application form for a Good Standing Certificate and upload all the mentioned documents.
- Pay the required fees and wait for processing.
They will issue the license, and you can download it from the account on the official website.
How to Get a DHA Good Standing Certificate (GSC) in Dubai?
To get a DHA Good Standing Certificate (GSC), follow the steps given below:
- Open the DHA Sheryan portal and sign up using your details.
- Go to the services section and select the Good Standing Certificate services.
- Complete the application form for the GSC and upload the required documents.
- Pay the GSC fees of AED 500 and wait for 1 working day for processing.
Download the Good Standing Certificate from the account on the Sheryan portal once the GSC is issued.
Which Service Channels Are Available for Submitting the GSC Request?
The service channels that are available for submitting the Good Standing Certificate request are the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH).
Here are the service channels that are available for submitting the Good Standing Certificate request:
- MOHAP official website or app
- DHA Sheryan Portal
- DOH TAMM Portal
What Is the Average Processing Time for a Good Standing Certificate?
The average processing time is 1 working day for a Good Standing Certificate when you apply from the DHA Sheryan portal, while the processing time is not specified on the MOHAP and DOH official websites.
What Is the Cost of Getting a Good Standing Certificate?
The cost of getting a Good Standing Certificate is AED 500 to AED 300, which depends on the type of profession and the Emirate. Here is the list of costs for getting a Good Standing Certificate (GSC) in different Emirates of the UAE.
- The cost of getting a Good Standing Certificate is AED 500 in Dubai.
- The cost of getting a Good Standing Certificate is AED 500 for physicians, dentists, and nurses, while AED 300 for pharmacists.
- The exact cost of getting a Good Standing Certificate in Abu Dhabi is not explicitly mentioned.
What Limitations Should Applicants Know About the GSC Service?
The limitations that applicants should know about the GSC service are the following:
- The authority that is issuing the GSC will not accept the application of a candidate who has a suspended license.
- The GSC does not mention the names of facilities where applicants have worked.
- The GSC has an issuance date but does not mention a validity period.
- The applicants of GSC must have at least 2 years of clinical experience, and the gap in clinical experience does not exceed 2 years.
What happens if I don’t have a GSC?
You will not get a medical license from MOHAP, DHA, or DOH if you do not have a Good Standing Certificate. Medical facilities will not give you a job if you do not have a Good Standing Certificate.
Good standing certificate from DHA in Dubai
If you hold or previously held a DHA licence, you request the certificate through the Sheryan portal. The service is listed as Request Good Standing Certificate / License Details Verification and is open to physicians, dentists, nurses and midwives, allied healthcare professionals and practitioners of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine.
- Where to apply: Sheryan portal, Services for Professionals
- Documents: valid passport copy, plus an end of service letter if you worked in a government healthcare facility
- Fee: AED 500, plus Knowledge and Innovation fees at checkout
- Processing time: 1 working day for the good standing certificate
- Related service: a license details verification through the same service takes 5 working days
Good standing certificate from MOHAP
The Ministry of Health and Prevention issues the certificate under the service Issue a Good Standing Certificate for a Health Professional. It covers doctors, dentists, specialists and consultants, technicians, nurses and midwives, alternative medicine practitioners, pharmacists and assistant pharmacists.
- Where to apply: MOHAP website or the MOHAP smart app, with e-payment. Support is available on 800 11111
- Documents, private sector: passport copy and an experience certificate from your employer
- Documents, government sector: HR experience letter, evaluation certificates, licence copy and passport copy
- Fee: AED 500 for doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, AED 300 for pharmacists and assistant pharmacists
- Processing time: 3 working days
- Validity: 6 months from the date of issuance
Who is not eligible: you must have been licensed by MOHAP for more than three months. Trainees, visitors and holders of an initial licence only cannot apply.
Good standing certificate from MOH: what the name means today
Many applicants still search for a MOH good standing certificate. MOH stands for the former Ministry of Health. Since the merger it is called the Ministry of Health and Prevention, abbreviated MOHAP. There is no separate MOH certificate and no separate MOH process. If a hospital, recruiter or overseas regulator asks you for an MOH good standing certificate, they mean the MOHAP certificate described above.
Good standing certificate from DOH in Abu Dhabi
In Abu Dhabi the Department of Health, formerly HAAD, issues the certificate against your existing professional licence file. The request is submitted through the DOH online services rather than through Sheryan or the MOHAP app, so an Abu Dhabi licence holder cannot use the Dubai route.
- Where to apply: DOH online services for healthcare professionals, using the account linked to your DOH licence
- Documents: passport copy and, for government employees, an end of service or HR letter, in line with the DHA and MOHAP requirements
- Fee and processing time: unlike DHA and MOHAP, DOH does not publish a single fixed fee and turnaround for this certificate. Confirm both in the service screen before you submit, because they are set per service category
What to do when DOH does not issue a separate letter
Many regulators outside the UAE do not actually need a paper certificate from DOH. They need proof that your Abu Dhabi licence is real, active and free of disciplinary action, and there are three accepted ways to give them that.
- Primary source verification. The receiving regulator or its verification agency contacts DOH directly and DOH answers them. This is the standard route for the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and most Gulf states.
- A licence verification letter from DOH. Request it through the DOH online services account that holds your licence and state which authority it is for, so the wording matches what they expect.
- A print of your licence record with the QR code. Some employers accept this for internal HR files, but almost no regulator accepts it as a good standing document.
How long a DOH good standing certificate stays valid
Most receiving authorities accept the certificate for three months from the issue date, and some accept six. DOH does not print a longer validity than the receiving side will accept, so request the certificate only once you know your application date. A certificate issued too early is the most common reason applicants pay for a second one.
DHA, DOH and MOHAP good standing certificate compared
| Authority | Channel | Fee | Processing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHA (Dubai) | Sheryan portal | AED 500 | 1 working day |
| MOHAP (federal, formerly MOH) | MOHAP website or smart app | AED 500, pharmacists AED 300 | 3 working days |
| DOH (Abu Dhabi) | DOH online services | set per service category | set per service category |
One point that catches people out: the validity of the certificate is not the same everywhere. MOHAP states six months from the date of issuance, while other authorities issue the certificate with an issuance date only. The regulator that receives your certificate may also apply its own age limit, often three to six months, so request it close to the date you actually need it.
A good standing certificate only confirms your record. What the receiving authority checks next are your qualifications and your continuing education, so keep the professional qualification requirements and your CME points in order at the same time.
How Do You Handle a Good Standing Certificate When You Apply From Abroad?
The sections above describe how the UAE authorities issue a good standing certificate. The more common situation is the opposite one: you hold a licence in your home country and you need a good standing certificate from that authority to apply for a DHA, DOH or MOHAP licence. Our licensing consultant explains that case in the video below, and the key points are written out underneath it.
How Long Is a Good Standing Certificate Valid?
Under the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), a good standing certificate is valid for six months from the date of issue. If the certificate is six months and one day old on the day you submit your final application to the DHA or the DOH, the system flags it as invalid. Regulators look at the date printed on the certificate, not at the date you uploaded it.
This is the single most frequent reason applications stall. Applicants complete their primary source verification, pass the Prometric exam, and then find that the good standing certificate expired while they were waiting.
When Should You Request It?
Treat the certificate as a perishable document. Requesting it too early, before primary source verification has even started, starts a countdown that works against you. Request it only once your primary source verification is close to completion, and allow for the time your home authority needs to process the request.
What If Your Home Country Has No Medical Board?
In some countries the Ministry of Health handles licensing directly, and no document under the name good standing certificate exists. The PQR allows for these variations, and two alternatives are normally accepted.
- A letter from your Ministry of Health. It must state explicitly that you are licensed, that your licence is active, and that there are no disciplinary records against you. All three statements are required.
- A notarised employment statement from your last place of clinical employment. This route is accepted only in specific circumstances and is scrutinised the most closely.
What matters is the content of the letter, not its title. An alternative document that is vague, or that omits the clause about disciplinary action, is rejected immediately.
Is Your Active Licence the Same as a Good Standing Certificate?
No, and assuming otherwise is a common cause of rejection. A licence proves that you are authorised to work. It does not prove that no disciplinary case has been opened against you since it was issued. The UAE authorities require a good standing certificate because it is a current snapshot of your professional conduct, not a record of your qualification.
Three further pitfalls are worth knowing before you submit:
- Registration is not good standing. In some countries these are issued by two different departments. Ask for the certificate of good standing by that name.
- Signatures and stamps. A digital certificate must be verifiable through a QR code or an official link. A paper certificate needs the official seal or stamp.
- Translation. A certificate issued in another language must be translated by a legal translator recognised in the UAE. An ordinary translation is not accepted.
Finally, check that the name on the certificate matches your passport and your degree exactly. Even a small difference in how your name is written can put the application into a pending status and add weeks to the timeline.
