DHA Manual Review Guide 2025 – Avoid Rejection and Save Money

Updated January 2026: Important Note

Even if your Manual Review result is positive, DHA may still return your application later (during registration/eligibility steps) for additional documents, extra PSV, assessment, title change, or trainee restriction. So treat Manual Review as a risk-check step, not a “final approval.”

🔍 What Is DHA Manual Review?

The Manual Review service allows applicants to request DHA officials to manually check their eligibility documents before proceeding with costly steps such as DataFlow verification or Prometric exams.
The review helps determine:

• Whether your education and experience meet DHA requirements
• If additional documents are needed
• Whether you should proceed to the exam or verification stage
• Or if the application cannot be accepted under DHA licensing rules

✅ DHA states this is an eligibility assessment only and does not give the right to practice.

💡 Why You Should Choose Manual Review

Many healthcare professionals jump directly to DataFlow and exam registration without confirming their eligibility. If DHA later rejects the application, all fees, effort, and time are lost.
By paying a small fee for Manual Review, you can:

1. Manual Review is strongly recommended if you have:
2. Confusion about PQR eligibility (title, specialty, experience, gaps)
3. Multiple qualifications and you’re unsure which one DHA will consider
4. Distance / hybrid learning concerns (high rejection risk for some cases)
5. Employer closed / verification risk
6. Name mismatch / document inconsistencies
7. Any previous negative PSV / discrepancy history (high risk)

Fee: AED 220 (online payment through the DHA licensing portal)
Average Processing Time: 10 working days

🧾 Required Documents for Manual Review

If you are requesting a manual review of your eligibility, prepare the following files in PDF format:

1. Recent passport-size photograph
2. Valid passport copy
3. Educational qualification certificates-Degree/Diploma, marksheets, transcripts.
4. Experience certificates
5. Professional license / registration certificate
6. Good Standing Certificate (GSC) – valid and not older than 6 months
7. Logbook (for surgical specialties only)
8. Higher secondary certificate
9. Internship certificate for general practitioners

🪜 How to Apply for DHA Manual Review

1. Visit the DHA Sheryan Licensing Portal.
2. Complete the online application form.
3. Upload the required documents.
4. Pay the review fee (AED 220).
5. DHA officials will manually assess your eligibility.
6. You will receive a notification within 10 working days with the result and next steps.

🩺 Who Can Apply

All healthcare professionals aiming to work in DHA-licensed facilities can use this service:

• Physicians and Dentists
• Nurses and Midwives
• Allied Healthcare Professionals
• Traditional / Complementary / Alternative Medicine Practitioners

If you have any doubt about your eligibility, always choose the Manual Review before investing in DataFlow or exam fees. It’s a quick, affordable, and official way to ensure you’re on the right track to obtaining your DHA license.

Step-by-Step: How to Do DHA Manual Review in Sheryan

Step 1: Start with the DHA Self-Assessment Tool

The Self-Assessment Tool is instant and if it shows “not eligible,” DHA still allows you to proceed to Review Registration Eligibility.

Step 2: Choose “Review Registration Eligibility”

Upload the required documents and submit for DHA’s manual check.

Step 3: Pay the fee & submit

Then wait for DHA’s review outcome.

2026 Warning: Avoid Fake Certificates (Very Important)

Submitting incorrect information or falsified documents is not just “rejection risk.” DHA’s official licensing manual states:

• Applicants are liable for false/misleading/misrepresented documents
• A healthcare professional’s name may be added to the DHA blacklist system for reasons including negative PSV or submitted incorrect/falsified documents

Once blacklisted, future processing becomes extremely difficult, and many services require the professional must not be blacklisted.

✅ Safe advice: If your employer delays an experience letter, wait and get the original. Don’t “fix” it with shortcuts.

Distance / Hybrid Education: What DHA PQR Says (2026)

This is one of the biggest reasons people get “not eligible” or later rejection.

DHA’s PQR (April 2025) states:

• Distance learning, honorary, workshop attendance, and some e-learning certificates are not counted toward PQR requirements.
• Hybrid certificates are not accepted, except those issued during exceptional periods (example: COVID-19).

What you should do: If any part of your qualification is distance/hybrid/off-campus, do Manual Review first and don’t assume it will be accepted.

What Happens After Manual Review Approval?

Usually you proceed to:

1. Primary Source Verification (PSV/DataFlow)
2. CBT/Prometric (if required)
3. Get Registered / Eligibility steps

But remember: DHA may still return the application later for:

• additional documents/information
• additional assessment or PSV
• changing the requested title
• placing trainee restriction due to experience gaps or discontinuity

So keep all documents ready and stay alert for updates.

⚠️ Important Note About DataFlow and Exam Results

Even if DHA approves your application after Manual Review, the approval is conditional.
You will receive the final Eligibility Letter only if you later achieve:
✅ A positive DataFlow report, and
✅ A pass result in the DHA exam.

If your DataFlow result comes negative (for example, education not recognised, fake experience, or incomplete verification) or if you fail the exam, DHA cannot issue an Eligibility Letter—even though the initial manual review was approved.

🔹 Therefore, both a positive DataFlow result and a successful exam score are mandatory for final licensing.

Common Reasons for DHA Rejection (and How to Avoid)

1) PQR mismatch (title/specialty/experience)

✅ Fix: Match your documents to the exact title criteria and duties.

2) Discontinuity / gaps in practice

✅ Fix: Prepare a clear explanation + supporting proofs.

3) PSV negative / discrepancy

✅ Fix: Verify employer contact details, HR email validity, and licensing authority response capability.

4) Distance/hybrid learning issues

✅ Fix: Don’t rely on distance/hybrid to meet requirements; do manual review first.

5) Any falsified/incorrect documents

✅ Fix: Never submit fake documents — blacklist risk is clearly stated in DHA manual.

Frequently Asked Questions: DHA Manual Review & DHA License Rejection (2026)

Q1. What is DHA Manual Review?
DHA Manual Review is the “Review Registration Eligibility” service in Sheryan where DHA checks your eligibility against PQR before you spend on PSV/DataFlow or exams.

Q2. Is DHA Manual Review approval a guarantee of eligibility letter?
No. DHA may still return your application later for additional documents, PSV, assessment, title change, or trainee restriction.

Q3. What is the DHA manual review fee in 2026?
DHA lists AED 200 credentialing fee, plus Knowledge & Innovation fees at checkout.

Q4. How long does DHA manual review take?
DHA lists 10 working days average processing time.

Q5. What documents are needed for DHA manual review?
Commonly: passport photo, passport, education, experience letters, license/registration, GSC, and logbook for surgical specialties.

Q6. What happens if I leave my manual review application incomplete?
DHA states draft applications inactive for over 3 months may be cleared, so finish your steps without delay.

Q7. Does DHA accept distance education for licensing?
PQR states distance learning is not counted toward PQR requirements, and hybrid certificates are generally not accepted (except exceptional periods such as COVID-19).

Q8. Can DHA reject after DataFlow even if manual review is positive?
Yes. DHA may request additional documents/PSV or change title during later review stages.

Q9. What causes DHA blacklisting?
DHA manual states blacklisting can happen with negative PSV or submitted incorrect/falsified documents (among other conditions).

Q10. How can I avoid DHA rejection?
Do Self-Assessment, then Manual Review, submit complete documents, avoid distance/hybrid issues, ensure experience letters are verifiable, and never submit false documents.

Q11. Is manual review available for doctors, nurses, and allied health?
Yes — DHA lists it for physicians, dentists, nurses/midwives, allied health, and T&CM applicants.

Q12. Does manual review allow me to work in Dubai?
No. DHA clearly states it is an eligibility assessment only and does not grant the right to practice.

At Nursing Manthra, we help healthcare professionals prepare accurate document sets and apply correctly for DHA Manual Review, Dataflow, and Licensing.
👉 For personalized support or queries, contact our team today. WhatsApp +971502515717.