Fees and steps checked on
UK nurses, midwives and doctors licensing in the UAE handle their good standing and their attestation separately. The NMC's certificate of current professional status and the GMC's certificate of good standing are sent by the UK regulator straight to the UAE health authority, so they do not go through the FCDO or the UAE Embassy. What you attest is the paper that stays with you: the nursing or medical degree, often the transcript, and experience letters. Those follow the UK chain: solicitor or notary, FCDO apostille, then the UAE Embassy in London with MOFA.
Price: for each document you attest, from AED 985 plus VAT on standard (22 to 24 working days), AED 1,200 on express (18 working days) or AED 1,600 on premium (12 to 14 working days). FCDO, embassy, MOFA and courier fees included, solicitor's fee confirmed in your quote. See attestation fees.
NMC and GMC: how good standing reaches the UAE
| NMC (nurses, midwives) | GMC (doctors) | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Certificate of current professional status (CCPS) | Certificate of good standing (CGS) |
| Where to request | Your MyNMC account | GMC Online, My registration |
| Time | Usually within 24 hours once references are in | Usually up to 10 working days |
| Validity | 3 months | 3 months |
| Delivery | Secure download link sent to the regulator | Sent only directly to another medical regulator |
Neither body issues a paper certificate for you to carry, so there is nothing to apostille. Request it when the UAE regulator's application asks for it, so the 3 months do not run out. Details are on the NMC's CCPS page and the GMC's good standing page.
What you do attest
- Your nursing or medical degree. Solicitor or notary first, then the FCDO and the UAE Embassy. See UK degree attestation.
- Transcripts, where the regulator or employer checks clinical hours or modules. See UK transcript attestation.
- Experience letters from NHS trusts or private employers, signed by HR. See UK experience letter attestation.
- A police certificate, if the employer asks. See ACRO police certificate attestation.
Dataflow is a separate check
UAE health regulators verify your degree, licence and experience at the source through Dataflow. It contacts your university, the NMC or GMC, and your employers. It does not replace attestation, and attestation does not replace it. Your employer may want both done before your start date. See Dataflow verification and attestation for medical professionals.
If a UAE office asks for an attested NMC or GMC document
Occasionally an employer or a non-health authority asks for an attested copy of your registration. In that case a UK notary certifies a copy of the document, the FCDO apostilles the notary's signature, and the UAE Embassy in London attests it with MOFA. Ask the office first whether the direct certificate to the regulator is enough.
What goes wrong
- Requesting good standing too early. It expires after 3 months.
- Asking the NMC or GMC for a paper copy to attest. They send to regulators, not to applicants.
- Experience letters without dates or hours. Regulators count them. Ask HR to state your role, dates and hours.
- Name differences between the degree, the NMC or GMC register and the passport. Attest a UK marriage certificate or a deed poll as the link.
