DHA Eligibility Certificate for Nurses: How to Get it

Why it exists — purpose in practical terms

The Eligibility Letter serves three operational goals:

1. It verifies the authenticity of credentials to protect patients and maintain professional standards.
2. It signals to employers that a candidate has cleared core checks and can be hired without having to repeat verification.
3. It shortens onboarding time because license activation becomes an administrative step rather than a full re-assessment. DHA issues this eligibility to ensure safe, verifiable hiring in Dubai’s health system.

Who needs it

Any nurse who plans to practice in Dubai in a DHA-regulated facility must have DHA eligibility recorded on Sheryan before an employer can activate a license. This includes foreign-trained nurses, UAE-trained nurses seeking DHA registration, and practitioners transferring from other UAE authorities who plan to work in Dubai.

Core prerequisites

1. Recognized qualification — usually a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an acceptable diploma based on DHA PQR rules.
   
2. Active home-country nursing license/registration (must be in good standing).
   
3. Minimum clinical experience — typically 2 years post-registration for Registered Nurse categories (exceptions and alternate categories assessed case-by-case).
   
4. Good Standing Certificate and employer experience letters with clear dates, titles, and duties.
   
5. Primary Source Verification (DataFlow) completed for education, license and employment documents.
   

Verification: DataFlow (step-by-step and timelines)

DHA mandates Primary Source Verification (PSV) through DataFlow:

1. The applicant uploads scanned originals to DataFlow, pays the verification fee, and DataFlow contacts issuing authorities (universities, licensing boards, employers) to confirm authenticity.
2. Typical timeline: 30–60 working days, subject to the responsiveness of original issuers; expect longer if documents require further attestation. Start DataFlow immediately — it is the most common bottleneck.

How to obtain the Eligibility Certificate — exact workflow

1. Create Sheryan account (DHA) and complete the basic profile.
   
2. Initiate DataFlow PSV and link DataFlow reference to Sheryan. Upload high-quality scans of degree, transcript, license, passport, experience letters, and Good Standing.
   
3. Pay DHA application/credentialing fees on Sheryan when prompted. DHA reviews the DataFlow result and your submitted materials.
   
4. If required, pass DHA assessment (CBT/Prometric) — DHA may require the computerized licensing assessment depending on category and background. When the assessment is required, DHA indicates this on the _Sheryan outcome. The DHA nursing CBT is 150 questions, 165 minutes, pass score 50% per the DHA exam guideline.
   
5. DHA issues Eligibility Letter (Eligibility Registration) — certificate downloadable from Sheryan; valid typically one year (the registration itself is valid for one year and must be activated into a license by an employer).
   

Fees and direct costs

• DataFlow PSV: variable by document count and origin; reported ranges for complete sets are roughly USD 150–400+; aggregate packages often cited AED 1,000–1,500 depending on vendor/package.
  
• DHA CBT (Prometric) fee for nurses: published guideline lists USD 240 (vendor fee); local reporting confirms similar test fees.
  
• DHA application/registration and activation fees: modest administrative fees appear on Sheryan (sample service fees ~AED 200–300) and vary by category. Total applicant outlay typically USD 500–1,200 excluding document attestation and embassy/legalization costs.
  

Timing — realistic end-to-end

• Document preparation & attestation: 1–3 weeks (depends on home country).
  
• DataFlow PSV: 30–60 working days typical.
  
• DHA eligibility review after PSV: ~10 working days.
  
• If exam required: scheduling and sitting exam add 2–6 weeks depending on Prometric seat availability.
  Total practical timeline: 8–14 weeks in standard cases; plan for longer if verification stalls.
  

Validity and activation 

The Eligibility Certificate (DHA registration/eligibility) is valid one year; a DHA-licensed employer must activate it into a professional license for the nurse to begin clinical practice. The final DHA professional license (once activated) also follows the standard DHA validity and renewal cycles (annual renewal, with options and fees per Sheryan). 

Employer role and activation

Employers verify your eligibility on Sheryan and perform licensing activation — they submit employment contract details and sponsor the professional license. For candidates, the Eligibility Certificate is the proof employers require to proceed; without it, most DHA facilities will not progress to formal hiring. 

Converting other UAE licenses and holding multiple licenses

An active MOHAP (federal) or DOH (Abu Dhabi) license can be used to support a DHA application, but a direct automatic “conversion” is not guaranteed — the applicant must submit through Sheryan and complete DataFlow; DHA will assess requirement for CBT or additional steps. Professionals can hold multiple UAE authority licenses simultaneously if they meet each authority’s conditions.

Common reasons for delays or rejection (practical checklist)

• Experience or employment letters lacking clear dates, duties, or official letterhead.
  
• Good Standing Certificates older than required window or missing.
  
• Degree or license not primary-source verifiable due to institutional changes or missing records.
  
• Incorrect DataFlow reference linkage in Sheryan.
  
• Booking CBT before DHA indicates eligibility (pass but license not issuable until PSV completes).
  

What to do immediately?

1. Obtain and scan high-quality originals of degree, transcripts, license, passport, employer letters, and Good Standing.
   
2. Start DataFlow PSV the day documents are ready.
   
3. Create Sheryan account and link DataFlow reference. Use DHA’s self-assessment (PQR) to confirm category early.
   
4. Prepare for CBT with timed 150-question mocks; aim for ≥70% in practice. services.dha.gov.ae
   

Benefits of holding DHA Eligibility (summary)

• Immediate hireability by DHA-regulated employers.
  
• Faster license activation and onboarding.
  
• Credible, verified status that supports negotiation for better packages.
  

Common Cross-Authority Questions (DHA, MOH, DOH)

Difference Between DHA License and DHA Eligibility Letter

The DHA Eligibility Letter (or Certificate) confirms that a nurse meets all qualification, verification, and exam requirements but has not yet been linked to a Dubai employer. It is a pre-licensure approval valid for one year.

The DHA License is the active authorization to practice nursing in a DHA-regulated facility. It can only be issued after an employer in Dubai links your eligibility on the Sheryan system and completes the activation process. Without employer sponsorship, an eligibility holder cannot practice.

Can DHA Eligibility Be Converted to MOH or DOH?

There is no automatic conversion mechanism between DHA, MOHAP, or DOH licenses or eligibilities.
If you hold a DHA Eligibility Certificate, and you wish to work under MOHAP or DOH (Abu Dhabi), you must apply anew through the respective authority’s portal:

• MOHAP → via eServices Portal
  
• DOH → via TAMM or DOH eLicensing
  

Each authority performs its own Primary Source Verification (DataFlow), and may accept existing DataFlow results only if they match their standards. However, candidates can reuse DataFlow reports (by requesting report redirection) instead of paying for re-verification.

Thus, while you cannot “convert” eligibility across authorities, you can transfer verified documents between them to shorten processing.

Quick FAQ About DHA Eligibility Letter

• Is Eligibility the same as the license? No — eligibility is pre-approval; the employer activates the final license.
  
• How long until DataFlow completes? Plan 30–60 working days typically.
  
• What is the DHA exam format? 150 MCQs, 165 minutes; pass mark 50% per DHA guideline.