If you are trying to work in Dubai as a nurse or another healthcare professional, you have probably seen employers ask for a DHA eligibility letter before they even shortlist you. In practical terms, it is a formal confirmation from the Dubai Health Authority that you have cleared the core checks and can move forward toward a job offer and eventual license activation.
I have seen strong candidates lose weeks simply because they treated this like “just another document.” It is not. The purpose is simple: the system verifies authenticity of your credentials to protect patients and maintain professional standards in Dubai’s health system.
Let’s break it down clearly, without fluff, so you can finish it the right way the first time.
What is a DHA Eligibility Letter, and what it is not
A DHA Eligibility Letter (often described by people as a DHA eligibility certificate or Eligibility Certificate) is a pre-licensing approval that signals you are eligible to be hired by a DHA-regulated facility and then have your professional license activated by the employer in the Sheryan system.
What it is not:
- It is not your active license to practice.
- It is not the same as being fully licensed, employed, and allowed to start work clinically.
- It does not replace employer-side steps like contract upload and activation.
DHA itself is very clear in its service wording that eligibility assessment does not give the right to practice.
Who needs it
In real-world hiring, who needs it includes:
- foreign-trained nurses moving to Dubai
- UAE-trained nurses who still need to go through DHA pathways depending on category and documents
- other healthcare practitioners applying under Dubai’s licensing system
- practitioners transferring from other jurisdictions (with separate rules and assessments)
Employers use it because it shortens onboarding time and reduces hiring risk. When a candidate is already “cleared,” the facility can move faster on license activation.
Core prerequisites for nurses
DHA requirements can vary by category, but these are the common core expectations you should align with early.
1) Recognized qualification
- Recognized qualification such as Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an acceptable diploma depending on the pathway and category under DHA PQR rules.
2) Active nursing license and good standing
- Active home-country nursing license
- Proof of good standing, commonly via a Good Standing Certificate (GSC)
3) Minimum clinical experience
- Minimum clinical experience, often quoted as typically 2 years post-registration, but exceptions and alternate categories exist and are assessed case-by-case.
4) Clean, verifiable employment evidence
- employer experience letters with clear dates, titles, and duties on official letterhead
If your letters are vague, your case stalls. This is one of the biggest avoidable mistakes.
Primary Source Verification and why it is the bottleneck
DHA licensing relies heavily on Primary Source Verification. This is usually done through DataFlow as PSV.
Here is what PSV actually means: the verification provider contacts the original sources (universities, licensing bodies, employers) to confirm authenticity of your submitted documents. DataFlow itself describes PSV as a process designed to verify credentials directly from the primary source.
Typical timeline
Most candidates should plan around 30–60 working days for PSV depending on how responsive the original issuers are and whether your documents need attestation. (Slow universities and old employers are the usual blockers, not DHA.)
Step-by-step: exact workflow to obtain the DHA Eligibility Letter
Step 1: Create a Sheryan account
You will use the Sheryan portal for most actions, tracking, and outcomes.
Step 2: Review registration eligibility
Use the eligibility review service so the system can evaluate your category, title, and readiness for further steps.
DHA’s “Get Registered” and “Review Registration Eligibility” services show the process is online and includes standard credentialing fees, and that Knowledge and Innovation fees may apply at checkout.
Step 3: Initiate DataFlow PSV and link the reference
Start PSV early. Link your DataFlow reference correctly inside Sheryan. Wrong linkage can create long delays.
Step 4: Upload high-quality scans
Upload clear, legible files:
- degree and transcript
- license documents
- passport
- experience letters
- Good Standing Certificate
Step 5: Pay DHA application and credentialing fees
For several professional categories, DHA’s service pages show Credentialing Fees AED 200, with additional fees applied at checkout.
Step 6: DHA reviews PSV results and your submitted file
Once PSV is positive and your file is complete, DHA can proceed to confirm outcome.
Step 7: CBT assessment, if required
For many Nurses, DHA may require a computerized exam (Prometric CBT) depending on your category and assessment route.
Step 8: DHA issues your eligibility outcome
Once approved, DHA issues the eligibility outcome in Sheryan, usually downloadable, and typically valid for a limited window that must be activated by an employer.
DHA’s own “Get Registered” page states the registration is valid for one year and must be activated by a healthcare facility into a license to start practicing.
H3: Review Registration Eligibility
This part is where many applicants get confused, because they assume eligibility means “I can work tomorrow.” No.
Think of this as the system confirming you meet baseline requirements for the applied position, and that you can progress to verification and assessment steps. DHA service wording emphasizes the eligibility assessment does not grant practice rights.
H3: DHA Prometric Exam: General Guidelines, Validity & Attempt Rules
For many Nurses, the licensing assessment is a Prometric CBT.
Commonly referenced exam structure for DHA nursing CBT includes:
- 150 questions
- 165 minutes
- pass mark often referenced as 50% for Registered Nurse categories (varies by role)
These values are widely repeated across DHA-prep resources, and match the typical CBT patterns published by multiple exam guidance sources.
Attempt rules are also commonly stated as limited attempts (often 3), but always treat the Sheryan portal and DHA’s current guidance as the final source for your exact category.
Costs and fees: what to budget
Here is a practical budgeting snapshot. Exact amounts vary by profession, document count, and vendor pricing.
| Cost Item | What you pay for | Typical notes |
|---|---|---|
| DHA credentialing fees | Eligibility and registration processing | DHA service pages show AED 200 credentialing fee (plus checkout fees). |
| DataFlow PSV | Primary Source Verification | Depends on number of documents and issuing countries. PSV timelines can be the real cost driver. |
| Prometric CBT | Exam booking fee | Varies by category and exam. Always confirm in your booking flow. |
| Attestation and legalization | Embassy, MOFA, translations | Often forgotten, can add significant cost and time. |
Timing: realistic end-to-end timeline
This is what a realistic plan looks like for a standard nurse application:
| Phase | Realistic time range | Why it varies |
|---|---|---|
| Document preparation | 1–3 weeks | Getting correct letters, scans, translations, attestations |
| DataFlow PSV | 30–60 working days | University, licensing board, employer responsiveness |
| DHA eligibility review after PSV | Often faster once PSV is positive | Depends on completeness and category |
| Exam scheduling (if required) | 2–6 weeks | Prometric seat availability and candidate readiness |
If you want speed, do not “wait to start PSV.” Start it immediately once your documents are correct.
Validity and activation: what happens after you get it
This part is where people waste the most time.
- Your eligibility outcome is typically valid for a limited period, and it must be activated by a DHA-licensed employer.
- The employer is the one who proceeds inside Sheryan to sponsor and activate your professional license.
- Until that happens, you are not cleared to practice in a clinical role.
DHA’s “Get Registered” description clearly states activation into a license is done by the healthcare facility.
Employer role: what hiring teams actually check
When employers see your eligibility outcome, it signals:
- you have cleared core verification steps
- your file is in a state that supports faster hiring
- your credentials are more likely to be accepted without full re-assessment
It supports verifiable hiring and reduces the risk of onboarding a candidate with unclear documentation.
Common reasons for delays or rejection
Here is the practical checklist that prevents 80% of problems:
- Experience letters missing:
- clear employment dates
- correct title
- duties
- official letterhead and signature
- Good Standing Certificates:
- expired or outside required window
- missing stamp or verification ability
- PSV failures:
- institution cannot be contacted
- name mismatch across documents
- old licensing board records not retrievable
- Sheryan linkage errors:
- incorrect DataFlow reference linkage inside Sheryan.
What to do immediately (to keep this bulletproof)
- Scan originals in high resolution: degree, transcript, license, passport, experience letters, Good Standing.
- Start PSV as soon as documents are ready.
- Create Sheryan account and link the DataFlow reference correctly.
- Use the self-assessment and category confirmation early, so you do not waste time in the wrong track.
- If you are taking the CBT, prepare like an adult: timed 150-question practice sets until your average is comfortably above the pass line.
Quick FAQ
Is the DHA Eligibility Letter the same as the DHA license?
No. The eligibility is a pre-approval. You still need an employer to activate the final license in Sheryan. DHA’s own service wording makes clear eligibility does not grant practice rights.
How long does DataFlow PSV usually take?
Most candidates should plan for weeks, and delays often come from slow universities or employers responding to verification. DataFlow PSV is widely treated as the main bottleneck.
How do employers use the eligibility outcome?
It helps them move faster on hiring because you have already cleared key checks, reducing back-and-forth and helping shorten onboarding time.