Work abroad with a verified Pakistani credential
We verify your degree with the issuing university, handle HEC attestation and file with the destination regulator. Timelines quantified per corridor.
What this corridor requires
Pakistani credentials are accepted across the Gulf and Europe, but every destination regulator requires primary source verification before licensing. HEC attestation is the starting point for almost every corridor.
- Typical licence timeline
- 3-6 months
- Primary source verification
- 5-15 days
- Attestation authority
- HEC
Pakistan to the Gulf and Europe: the official sources
To work as a Pakistani doctor in the Gulf you need your degree attested by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), a certificate of good standing from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), primary source verification (DataFlow for SCFHS, DHA and DOH) and the destination regulator's licence and exam. Booka prepares and files that file for you.
Last updated
- Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC): registration, verification and certificate of good standing
https://pmdc.pk/
- Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan: degree attestation
https://www.hec.gov.pk/
- Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), Saudi Arabia
https://scfhs.org.sa/en
- Dubai Health Authority (DHA), UAE
https://www.dha.gov.ae/en
- Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH), UAE
https://www.doh.gov.ae/en/
- DataFlow Group, primary source verification provider
https://dataflowgroup.com/
Requirements, fees and timelines are set by each regulator and depend on the receiving country.
Which professions move on this corridor
Demand reflects active employer requests on the corridor. The route is the licensing path the destination regulator requires.
| Profession | Demand | Licensing route |
|---|---|---|
| Doctors | Very high | PSV + SCFHS / DHA / DOH licensing exam |
| Nurses | Very high | PSV + Prometric exam + regulator licence |
| Engineers | High | PEC verification + destination body assessment |
| Truck drivers | High | Licence conversion + trade test |
| Welders & industrial trades | High | Trade test + employer verification |
| Pharmacists | Medium | PSV + regulator licensing exam |
How the file moves
Primary source verification
The Verifier Agent contacts the issuing university and confirms your degree against the official registry — no third-party agents.
Document authentication
We prepare attestation, apostille and certified translation according to what the receiving regulator requires.
Regulator filing
The Regulator Agent files your licensing application with the destination authority and tracks the case until resolution.
Licence issued
Once approved, we hand over the licence and the verified credential file you can reuse for any future employer.
Frequently asked questions
What is HEC attestation and do I need it?
The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan attests degrees issued by recognised Pakistani universities. Almost every Gulf and European regulator requires HEC attestation before they will accept a Pakistani degree, so it is the first step of the file.
What is DataFlow and how is it different from PSV?
DataFlow is one provider that performs primary source verification for several Gulf regulators. PSV is the process itself — contacting the issuing institution to confirm a credential is genuine. Depending on the destination regulator, the PSV may be run through DataFlow or through the regulator directly.
How long does licensing in Saudi Arabia or the UAE take?
Between 3 and 6 months from a complete file. Verification takes 5 to 15 days, attestation and translation 2 to 4 weeks, and the regulator's own processing plus any required exam accounts for the rest. Timelines depend on the receiving country.
Do I need to sit an exam?
For most regulated health professions, yes. Saudi Arabia uses SCFHS assessments, the UAE uses DHA, DOH or MOHAP exams depending on the emirate, and several European countries require a language exam plus an aptitude test. The requirement depends on the receiving country.
Do I need DataFlow verification?
If you are licensing in Saudi Arabia, Dubai or Abu Dhabi, almost certainly. DataFlow Group lists the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) among the organisations it runs primary source verification for. The regulator decides which provider applies, so check its own instructions first.
Which body issues a certificate of good standing for Pakistani doctors?
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). Its online services include attestation and verification of a licence and the certificate of good standing that Gulf regulators ask for alongside the degree.
Get your credential verified
Tell us your profession and destination. We verify at source and file with the regulator. Requirements depend on the receiving country.