Primary Source Verification (PSV) confirms your credentials directly with the original issuers (university, regulator, employers). In Dubai (DHA), Abu Dhabi (DOH), Saudi Arabia (SCFHS) and Qatar (QCHP), DataFlow (or an equivalent PSV provider) is mandatory. Most start-date slippage comes from incomplete files or unresponsive issuers—not from the regulators themselves.
Who this is for: Western-trained Nurses, Physiotherapists and Doctors moving into permanent roles in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia or Qatar.
1) What DataFlow actually checks
Education — degree/diploma title, dates, awarding body, transcripts/hours
Professional licence — current/most recent licence + Good Standing
Employment history — roles, dates, full-time/part-time, duties
Identity consistency — names and dates matching across every file
Outcome types:Verified, Unable to Verify (UTV), or Discrepant. Only Verified keeps your process moving without conditions.
2) Build a clean document pack (before you open any portal)
Create colour PDFs, legible stamps, and consistent file names.
Core set
Passport (≥6 months validity) + passport photo (plain background)
Degree/diploma + full transcripts (programme, dates, hours/credits)
Current/most-recent licence + Good Standing Certificate (recently issued)
Employment reference letters (letterhead, signed/stamped; role, dates, FTE, responsibilities)
CV (chronological; month/year; no gaps)
Police clearance (often for immigration/employer)
Name-change evidence (if applicable)
Certified translations and apostille/notarisation where required by the issuing country
File hygiene: Use a uniform convention (e.g., Surname_Name_Degree_2019.pdf). Avoid photos of documents—scan at high resolution.
3) Sequence with licensing & visas (avoid critical-path delays)
Run PSV/DataFlowbefore or in parallel with your regulator application:
DHA (Dubai) → Sheryan + DataFlow
DOH (Abu Dhabi) → e-services + DataFlow
SCFHS (Saudi Arabia) → Mumaris+ + DataFlow
QCHP (Qatar) → MoPH portal + DataFlow
Immigration runs with your employer in parallel: Entry/Work Visa → Residency (Emirates ID / Iqama / QID). You may not practise until licence + residency + facility privileging are all active.
4) Contact issuers early (this single habit saves weeks)
Send a concise email to universities, regulators and former employers before you file PSV.
Template (copy/paste):
“Dear [Office/Name], I will undergo Primary Source Verification via the DataFlow Group. You may receive a verification request for my [degree/licence/employment].
Full name (as in passport): [ ]
Previous names (if any): [ ]
Student/registration/employee number: [ ]
Dates of study/employment: [ ]
Please confirm the correct contact email for verification replies and typical response time. Thank you.”
Store the reply. If DataFlow requests bounce, forward the correct address the same day.
5) How to fill your PSV forms without creating discrepancies
Copy names/dates from the source documents exactly (including middle names).
Employment dates: use month + year; match the CV and the reference letter.
Titles/duties: mirror the reference letter wording; do not upgrade titles.
Contact details: give an official mailbox (HR/records/registry), not personal emails.
Gaps: add one-line explanations (parental leave, study, relocation) with evidence where possible.
6) Special cases (prepare evidence upfront)
Closed hospital/university: obtain regulator letters, archived records, or notarised attestations.
Agency/locum work: include assignment letters + timesheets + supervisor contact.
Name changes: attach passport + official change document + updated regulator printout.
Part-time roles: ensure FTE/weekly hours appear on the letter.
Older qualifications: confirm the registry still holds your cohort’s records.
7) Timelines & costs (signals, not guarantees)
PSV review: commonly several weeks; the issuer’s response speed is the main variable.
Addenda: each “additional document” request restarts the clock; answer within 24–48 hours.
Who pays: many employers cover regulator/immigration fees; translations/apostilles and police clearance are often candidate costs—check your contract.
8) Reading the report (and what to do if it’s not “Verified”)
Verified: proceed to the next licensing step.
Unable to Verify (UTV): usually missing contacts, inactive inboxes, or unclear scans—fix and ask for re-verification.
Discrepant: a factual mismatch (dates, titles, licence status). Provide authoritative evidence and a clear explanation; request re-assessment.
Golden rule: the quickest fix is often a new, clearer letter on letterhead that states full dates, role, FTE, duties, and contact.
9) Pre-submission audit (copy/paste)
Passport name = all portal names = all document names
CV month/year lines up with every reference letter and licence record
Good Standing and police clearance are recent (valid through submission)
Translations/apostilles attached where required
Issuer contact emails confirmed and expecting PSV requests
Exam (if required) booked/passed and linked in the regulator portal
10) Common pitfalls—and how to avoid them
Inconsistent dates across CV, references and licence history → reconcile before filing.
Low-quality scans / cropped stamps → rescan in colour at high resolution.
Personal email contacts for issuers → use official registry/HR addresses.
Wrong category exam (e.g., Prometric variant) → confirm blueprint first.
Starting clinical work on a visit visa → never do this.
Contract title ≠ regulator category → align title, category and privileging at offer stage.
Short FAQs
Can I start DataFlow without a job offer?
Yes. It shortens the critical path once sponsorship begins.
Will a previous GCC PSV report transfer?
Sometimes partially; each authority (DHA/DOH/SCFHS/QCHP) sets its own reuse rules—plan for gaps.
Do I need OET/IELTS for PSV?
Usually not; language tests are employer/regulator policy for licensing, not a PSV requirement.
What if my university is slow to answer?
Call the registrar, confirm the exact mailbox, and share it with DataFlow. Provide cohort details and student ID to speed lookup.