DHA ⇄ DOH Licence Transfer for Western-Trained Clinicians: Clean Steps to Move Between Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Moving cities changes regulator, portals and employer HR; it must not create a gap in insurance, privileges or income. Treat the move as two parallel projects: regulator transfer and hospital onboarding. Your file moves fast when names, dates and settings align the first time.

Clean sequence (signals, not promises)

Step 1 — Pre-check (7–10 days)

• Role mapping: your target title must match the destination regulator’s category (e.g., Registered Nurse → Registered Nurse; Specialist → Specialist).

• Employer readiness: confirm offer letter title, malpractice (occurrence or claims-made + tail), and committee dates for privileging.

• DataFlow status: list what’s Verified (Education, Licence/Good Standing, Employment). Gather colour PDFs.

Step 2 — DataFlow strategy (1–3 days to initiate)

• If you already have a Verified DataFlow case, request case transfer/reuse to the destination regulator when available.

• If components are stale or not reusable, open a new case and upload the same clean pack: one colour PDF per item, 300–400 dpi.

Step 3 — Regulator path

• DHA → DOH: create DOH account, submit Eligibility with DataFlow mapping + current Good Standing (≤90 days recommended). Exam/waiver per category.

• DOH → DHA: create DHA account, submit Eligibility with DataFlow mapping + Good Standing. Exam/waiver per category.

• Name hygiene: passport-exact (all middle names) across every portal and document.

Step 4 — Employment, residency & insurance (time with HR/PRO)

• Maintain your current malpractice until your new policy (with correct settings—hospital/clinic/domiciliary if relevant) is live.

• Coordinate residency switch (visa cancellation/issuance) with payroll cut-over; avoid days off cover.

• Bank/tenancy admin: plan completion windows to avoid salary or housing interruptions.

Step 5 — Credentialing & privileging (destination hospital)

• Submit credentialing pack: licence/eligibility status, DataFlow PDFs, Good Standing, insurance schedule, life-support cards (BLS/ACLS/PALS/ATLS as relevant), and case logs for advanced scope.

• Privilege request: core first; advanced with proctoring plan (named proctors, N cases, timeframe).

• No independent practice until privileges are active.

Week-by-week move plan

Week 0 (still employed)

• Offer signed; malpractice terms confirmed (tail if claims-made).

• DataFlow transfer/reuse initiated; new regulator account created.

• Good Standing requested (passport-exact name).

Week 1

• Regulator Eligibility submitted with mapped DataFlow components.

• Destination hospital books committee slot; draft privilege list (core + staged advanced).

• Residency/visa switch pencilled with PRO; payroll cut-over date set.

Week 2–3

• If exam required, book now; if waived, ensure proof uploaded.

• Credentialing pack uploaded; life-support cards in date.

• Housing/tenancy aligned to new city; utilities planned.

Week 4

• Eligibility decision → Licence issuance path.

• Committee meets; core privileges expected; proctoring schedule for advanced items.

• Start date after insurance policy start; domiciliary rider added if home/hotel/yacht work is expected.

Evidence pack that keeps both regulators happy

• Education: degree + transcript (legalised → then sworn translated).

• Licence/Good Standing: current/most recent regulator; digital verifiable where possible.

• Employment: letters with exact DD/MM/YYYY dates and setting (ICU/ward/OP).

• Identity: passport page; name-change link (marriage/deed) if applicable.

• Life-support: BLS for all; ACLS/PALS/ATLS per unit.

Privileging continuity (the “triangle”)

1. Licence active with the destination regulator.

2. Insurance schedule in your name, settings listed (hospital/clinic/domiciliary).

3. Privileges granted (core scope) before independent work.
   Any missing side → narrowed scope or delayed start.

Red flags—and calm fixes

• Offer title ≠ regulator category → amend offer before credentialing.

• Claims-made policy with no tail → negotiate run-off in writing before exit.

• Old DataFlow scans (cropped/low-res) → rescan colour 300–400 dpi; re-upload.

• Domiciliary expectations but no rider/privileges → add both before first off-site visit.

• Exam surprise at new regulator → confirm category rules early; book or seek waiver evidence now.

Copy-paste checklists

Candidate (pre-move)

• DataFlow case reusable? Y/N → action chosen

• Good Standing ordered (≤90 days)

• Life-support cards in date

• Case logs ready for advanced privileges

• Insurance: occurrence / claims-made + tail confirmed

Manager/HR (destination)

• Committee date booked; proctors named

• Insurance schedule received; start ≥ policy start

• Roster: post-call and orientation protected first 2 weeks

• EMR access + ID badges ready before first list

Short FAQs