The UAE employs many nurses from the Philippines in public and private hospitals. The most important thing to know first is that the UAE has three health regulators, and the one you need depends on where your employer is:
- दुबईका लागि DHA (Dubai Health Authority)
- अबु धाबीका लागि DOH (Department of Health)
- उत्तरी इमिरेट्स र संघीय सुविधाहरूका लागि MOHAP (Ministry of Health and Prevention)। शारजाहको आफ्नै स्वास्थ्य अधिकारी पनि छ।
All three follow shared national rules, the Unified Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR). This guide uses Dubai (DHA) as the worked example and notes where the others differ. The licence steps below are the same for every nationality. Every fee was checked on 31 Oct 2026 on the official page named next to it.
छोटो सारांश
| चरण | यसलाई को ले चलाउँछ | आधिकारिक शुल्क वा नियम (जाँच गरिएको 31 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| योग्यताको आत्म-मूल्याङ्कन | DHA (Sheryan पोर्टल) | Free (DHA Get Registered) |
| Primary Source Verification (PSV) | DataFlow Group | Check the official site. DataFlow's DHA guide quoted AED 935 for nurses in 2023 (DataFlow) |
| लाइसेन्स परीक्षा (CBT) | Prometric, आवश्यक परेमा | आधिकारिक साइट हेर्नुहोस् |
| DHA registration | DHA | AED 200 credentialing शुल्क, साथै checkout मा knowledge र innovation शुल्क (DHA) |
| MOHAP licence (MOHAP areas) | MOHAP | AED 100 application and AED 1,000 licence (MOHAP) |
| कार्य अनुमति र बसोबास भिसा | Employer, through MOHRE and ICP | Paid by the employer, under UAE rules (u.ae workers' rights) |
चरण 1: आफू योग्य हुनुहुन्छ कि जाँच गर्नुहोस्
DHA को Sheryan portal मा रहेको निःशुल्क Self-Assessment Tool बाट सुरु गर्नुहोस्। यसले तपाईंको पदका लागि PQR अनुसार तपाईंको शैक्षिक योग्यता र अनुभव जाँच गर्छ (DHA Get Registered)।
In 2022 the UAE health regulators jointly removed the two-year post-qualification experience requirement for registered nurses holding a bachelor's degree in nursing (reported by Khaleej Times, 18 July 2022). Diploma holders and assistant nurse roles have different rules. The PQR is updated from time to time, so confirm your own category in the Self-Assessment Tool before you rely on this.
Good standing. DHA requires a good standing certificate from your nursing regulator, dated no more than 6 months before you apply (DHA licensing manual). For a Filipino nurse, this comes from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Ask for it close to your application date, not months earlier.
चरण 2: DataFlow सँग Primary Source Verification
The UAE regulators do not accept your certificates at face value. DataFlow Group contacts your school, your regulator and your past employers directly to confirm them. DHA says a registration cannot be processed until the PSV report is complete, and that PSV can run alongside your exam (DHA).
- Fee: check the official site. DataFlow's own DHA page (dated May 2023) quoted AED 935 for nurses and allied health, with extra certificates possibly costing more (DataFlow).
- Time: the same page says reports take 15 to 24 working days. Delays usually come from schools or past employers that are slow to reply, so warn them in advance.
- If a result says "unable to verify", DHA allows re-verification twice. A "discrepancy" can be re-verified once (DHA manual).
चरण 3: आवश्यक परे लाइसेन्स परीक्षा पास गर्नुहोस्
DHA says a computer-based test (CBT) delivered by Prometric is required for some professionals, depending on the position, and that you must pass within three attempts across the UAE authorities (DHA). MOHAP says its Prometric results are pass or fail, with a minimum passing score of 60%. After three failures you may apply through another authority (MOHAP evaluation).
The exam fee and question count are on the official site. DataFlow's guide describes a two-hour exam of roughly 100 to 150 questions, in English. Practise with our free UAE licence question banks before you book.
Step 4: Get registered, then get your licence activated
दुबईमा तपाईंले Get Registered का लागि Sheryan मार्फत आवेदन दिनुहुन्छ। DHA ले यस्तो उल्लेख गरेको छ:
- Fee: AED 200 credentialing fee, plus knowledge and innovation fees at checkout
- प्रक्रिया समय: 5 कार्यदिन
- Validity: one year. You are not licensed to practise until a DHA-licensed facility hires you and activates your licence
So you can register before you have a job, then use the registration to apply to Dubai employers within the year.
Abu Dhabi (DOH) ले स्वास्थ्यकर्मीका नयाँ लाइसेन्सका लागि TAMM पोर्टल प्रयोग गर्छ (TAMM)। MOHAP ले AED 100 आवेदन शुल्क र AED 1,000 लाइसेन्स शुल्क उल्लेख गरेको छ (MOHAP)।
Step 5: Job, work permit and visa
Your employer applies to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) for your work permit. MOHRE lists a 2 working day processing time for the overseas recruitment permit, and nurses need a professional licence from the health authority (MOHRE). After arrival, you complete a medical fitness test, then your Emirates ID and residence visa are arranged through your employer.
Who pays? The UAE government states that charging recruitment fees to workers is illegal, and that recruitment, travel and residence costs are borne by the employer (u.ae workers' rights).
Philippine rules. Overseas employment for Filipino workers also follows Philippine government rules. We did not open the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) pages for this guide, so check the current DMW requirements on dmw.gov.ph before you sign a contract.
सामान्य समयरेखा
| चरण | आधिकारिक मार्गदर्शन | योजनाका लागि अनुमानित दायरा |
|---|---|---|
| स्व-मूल्याङ्कन | तत्काल | 1 दिन |
| DataFlow PSV | DataFlow ले 15 देखि 24 कार्यदिन उल्लेख गरेको | 3 देखि 8 हप्ता |
| Prometric परीक्षा | PSV चलिरहेको बेला बुक गर्नुहोस् | 2 देखि 6 हप्ता |
| DHA Get Registered | 5 कार्यदिन | 1 देखि 2 हप्ता |
| Job, work permit and visa | MOHRE परमिट 2 कार्यदिन | 1 देखि 3 महिना |
ठगीको चेतावनी
- You should not pay for a UAE job. The UAE says charging recruitment fees to workers is illegal. Ask any agency for its licence and check it with the Philippine government before you pay anything.
- Visit visas do not allow work. Arriving on a visit visa does not give you the right to work. Your employer must arrange your work permit.
- अनुभव पत्र कहिल्यै नक्कली नबनाउनुहोस्। DataFlow ले तपाईंले उल्लेख गरेका हरेक रोजगारदातासँग सम्पर्क गर्छ। discrepancy ले तपाईंको लाइसेन्स रोक्न सक्छ।
- Check the facility's licence. Confirm the DHA, DOH or MOHAP licence of any facility that hires you.
हाम्रो निःशुल्क नक्कली एजेन्ट जाँचकर्ता बाट कुनै पनि एजेन्ट जाँच गर्नुहोस्।
निःशुल्क अभ्यास गर्नुहोस्
DHA, DOH र MOHAP शैलीका परीक्षाका लागि हाम्रा UAE लाइसेन्स प्रश्न बैंकहरू सधैं निःशुल्क छन्। समय तोकिएको सेट दिनुहोस् र आफ्नो निःशुल्क PDF रिपोर्ट कार्ड डाउनलोड गर्नुहोस्।
FAQ
Which licence should I get first: DHA, DOH or MOHAP? Get the one for the emirate where you most want to work. A DHA registration lets Dubai employers activate your licence. Moving between authorities later needs a transfer or a new application.
Can I get a DHA registration without a job? Yes. The registration is valid for one year. A licensed facility must then activate it before you can practise.
Who pays for my UAE visa? UAE rules say the employer bears recruitment, travel and residence costs. Ask your employer to confirm this in writing before you sign.
स्रोतहरू (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- DHA: Get Registered सेवा, स्वास्थ्यकर्मीहरूलाई इजाजतपत्र दिनेसम्बन्धी म्यानुअल
- MOHAP: नर्सिङ पेशाकर्मीहरूका लागि इजाजतपत्र, स्वास्थ्य पेशाकर्मीको मूल्याङ्कन
- DOH Abu Dhabi: TAMM licence journey
- UAE सरकार: MOHRE विदेशी कार्य अनुमति, कामदारका अधिकार
- DataFlow: DHA guide (company page, dated 2023)