Licensing for nurses and doctors in Saudi Arabia
Two bodies are involved in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) classifies and registers every health practitioner, on one portal, Mumaris Plus; the practice licence itself is issued by the Ministry of Health, and SCFHS registration is one of its conditions.
General information, written in our own words from the official pages linked under each step; not advice on your case. Rules, fees and processing times change: check the regulator before you apply or pay. Sources checked 26 October 2026.
The regulators
- Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) (opens in new tab)
Classifies and registers every health practitioner in Saudi Arabia.
- Ministry of Health (opens in new tab)
Saudi Arabia: issues the practice licence through its regional directorates.
How licensing works
Read the requirements for your specialty
The SCFHS publishes a short description card for each specialty with the minimum qualification and core competencies it expects. Find yours before you apply: it tells you which professional category your degree can be classified in.
Source: SCFHS: professional classification and registration requirements (opens in new tab)
Get your documents authenticated
Your qualifications and experience are checked by an authentication company that the SCFHS approves, and you upload its result with your application. A qualification that is not on the SCFHS's approved list goes through a separate qualification study by its specialty councils; the SCFHS gives 50 business days as the service time for that study.
Sources: SCFHS: professional classification and registration requirements (opens in new tab); SCFHS service guide: New Qualification Study (opens in new tab)
Take the licensing exam if your category needs one
Classification can depend on an exam. The SCFHS lists its classification exams by specialty and books them through Prometric; its registration guide also mentions written exams with Pearson VUE, a national electronic licensing exam and practical assessments.
Sources: SCFHS: classification exams (opens in new tab); SCFHS service guide: Professional Registration (opens in new tab)
Register with the SCFHS
You must be registered before you can practise. For non-Saudis registration asks for a residence permit (iqama), so this step normally comes after you arrive on your work visa; currently employed applicants add an employment letter from the last three months, and applicants over 65 a medical report.
The SCFHS publishes these service times for registration, depending on the route of your file: 7 business days for a direct decision, 30 for an electronic written exam, 45 for a practical assessment and 60 for the national electronic licensing exam.
Source: SCFHS service guide: Professional Registration (opens in new tab)
The practice licence from the Ministry of Health
The Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions forbids practising without a licence from the Ministry of Health, which its directorates in the regions issue. Registration with the SCFHS is one of the conditions. In a government health job, the employment itself counts as the licence once you are registered; in the private sector, your employer will tell you how the licence is obtained for your post.
Source: Saudi Ministry of Health: Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions (opens in new tab) (read from the Wayback Machine copy of 5 August 2026)
Keep it valid
Renewing the registration needs the continuing professional development (CPD) hours set for your category, a valid residence permit and, if you are employed, a recent employment letter.
Source: SCFHS service guide: Professional Re-Registration (opens in new tab)
Questions
- Can I start before I move to Saudi Arabia?
- The checks on your qualifications and any exam come before registration, and registration itself asks non-Saudis for a residence permit; the Ministry of Health licence follows registration. Mumaris Plus shows which steps your file needs.
- How much does it cost?
- Fees are listed per service on the SCFHS site and change; we don't quote them. Check the service guide before you pay, and pay only through Mumaris Plus.