Good Standing Certificate for Doctors: How to Obtain a Ukrainian Certificate of Professional Status

Ukrainian doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals often encounter the same requirement when applying abroad: to provide a document confirming their professional qualifications, professional experience, and professional reputation.

In correspondence from foreign authorities and universities, this document may be referred to by different names, including a Certificate of Good Standing, a Certificate of Current Professional Status, a Letter of Good Standing, or a certificate confirming the absence of restrictions on medical practice.

In practice, the main issue is not the name of the document. The issue is that the foreign authority requests a document in a format familiar within its own legal system, while the Ukrainian procedure has its own legal terminology, procedural framework, and limitations. As a result, a doctor may spend time obtaining a certificate that appears to be correct but does not satisfy the requirements of the particular country or authority.

In this article, we explain which official government document is available in Ukraine, how to identify the correct authority for submission and prepare the required application package, and when it may be appropriate to consider an alternative certificate instead of the government-issued certificate.

What Official Document Can Healthcare Professionals Obtain in Ukraine?

The primary official document available in Ukraine is the Certificate of Professional Qualifications, Professional Experience, and Professional Reputation of a Healthcare Professional.

The procedure is governed by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 149 of 17 February 2023, as amended by Resolution No. 246 of 25 February 2026. It was these amendments that explicitly introduced the element of professional reputation into the procedure, making it conceptually similar to a Certificate of Good Standing.

For this reason, the legally accurate term is not simply a "Ministry of Health certificate," but rather the state-issued Certificate of Professional Qualification, Professional Experience, and Professional Reputation of a Healthcare Professional. It is issued after verification of the applicant's documents, employment history, education, medical specialty, and information concerning their professional reputation.

Understanding which official document is available is only the first step. It is equally important to follow the correct sequence of actions, as each stage of the process affects the next.

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Step 1. Verify the Foreign Authority's Requirements

The process of obtaining a certificate should begin not with submitting an application in Ukraine, but with reviewing the requirements of the foreign authority. Different countries may use similar names for documents while referring to entirely different certificates. It is important to determine whether:

• the authority requires an official government-issued document from the country of origin;
• a certificate issued by a professional organization is acceptable;
• a paper copy is required;
• an electronic document with online verification is sufficient;
• the document must be issued within a specific validity period;
• the document must be sent directly to the foreign authority.

For example, one procedure may only require a Certificate of Current Professional Status with online verification, while another may specifically require an official government certificate confirming the healthcare professional's qualifications, professional experience, and professional reputation.

Step 2. Identify the Correct Authority in Ukraine

A common mistake is assuming that the application for the certificate must always be submitted directly to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Under the applicable procedure, the first step is to determine the competent authority responsible for the healthcare institution where the applicant was employed before leaving Ukraine.

Depending on the circumstances, this may be:

• the Ministry of Health of Ukraine or another central executive authority;
• the regional military administration or the Kyiv City Military Administration;
• the regional health department or another authority responsible for managing the relevant healthcare institution.

If the doctor was employed by a private healthcare provider or worked for an individual entrepreneur, the appropriate route must be assessed separately. The key is to identify which authority is able to verify the applicant's employment history, medical specialty, professional experience, and the absence of disciplinary issues.

For example, we recently described a case from our practice in Obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing in Ukraine for Continuing Medical Training Abroad. The doctor was preparing documents for Germany, and the key issue was not only which certificate to obtain, but also who would confirm her most recent place of employment, medical specialty, and professional reputation. A standard employment certificate from the employer was helpful, but for the government procedure, the questionnaire completed by the head of the healthcare institution in the form prescribed by the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution was the critical document.

Once the competent authority has been identified, the next step is to compile the application package so that it can successfully pass the verification process.

Step 3. Prepare the Application, Questionnaire, and Documents

The government procedure generally requires the following documents:

• an application;
• a Healthcare Professional Verification Questionnaire;
• copies of identity documents;
• educational documents;
• documents confirming professional qualifications;
• documents confirming medical specialization;
• documents confirming the qualification category, if applicable;
• documents confirming professional experience;
• a full criminal record certificate;
• documents or information confirming the applicant's professional reputation;
• information about the employers or individual entrepreneurs with whom the healthcare professional was employed.

Particular attention should be paid to the transliteration of the applicant's name. If different spellings appear across Ukrainian documents, the passport, diplomas, or certified translations, these discrepancies should be identified before the application is submitted.

Step 4. The Competent Authorities Verify the Healthcare Professional's Status

After the application has been submitted, the designated verification officer reviews the information provided in the Healthcare Professional Verification Questionnaire together with the supporting documents. Where additional confirmation is required, the officer may send official requests to:

• the institution of professional pre-higher or higher education where the healthcare professional completed their education;
• healthcare institutions, or their legal successors, where the applicant was employed during the five years preceding their departure from Ukraine;
• the licensing division of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine responsible for medical practice licensing, or the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control, if the licensing records contain information confirming that the applicant met the required educational and professional qualification standards.

In other words, the procedure involves more than simply submitting copies of diplomas. The authority may independently verify the information through educational institutions, employers, and licensing records.

Step 5. Questionnaire Completed by the Head of the Healthcare Institution or Individual Entrepreneur

When the verification officer sends a request to a healthcare institution or an individual entrepreneur, the head of that institution or the individual entrepreneur must include a completed Questionnaire for the Head of the Healthcare Institution or Individual Entrepreneur with their response. This questionnaire plays a key role in the procedure because it confirms not only the applicant's employment details but also information relevant to their professional reputation.

In practice, it is advisable not to wait until the authority begins determining who should provide the required confirmation. If it is known where the doctor has worked during the past several years, it is best to contact the former employer in advance, verify their current contact details, and explain which questionnaire they will be required to complete.

For clients, this is a critical stage of the process. If the employer does not respond, the healthcare institution has been reorganized, the individual entrepreneur has ceased operations, or inconsistencies exist in the records, the verification process may be delayed.

Step 6. Deadlines and Outcome

Under the procedure, the verification process must be completed within  30 calendar days from the date the competent authority receives the application. However, this timeframe should not be viewed as a guarantee of a quick result. In practice, the deadline may depend on:

• the completeness of the application package;
• whether the correct competent authority has been identified;
• the time required for educational institutions and former employers to respond to official verification requests;
• whether legal successors exist for reorganized healthcare institutions;
• the validity of the criminal record certificate;
• the absence of inconsistencies in the submitted documents;
• any validity or recency requirements imposed by the foreign authority requesting the certificate.

Upon completion of the procedure, the applicant should receive either the Certificate or a reasoned decision explaining the circumstances that prevent its issuance.

Format of the Government Certificate: Where the Paper Copy Issue Arises

Under the government procedure, the certificate is signed by the head or deputy head of the competent authority using an electronic signature based on a qualified public key certificate. Following the amendments introduced by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 246, the document is issued as an electronic PDF certificate, which is sent to the email address provided by the healthcare professional in the Healthcare Professional Verification Questionnaire.

For this reason, applicants should not assume that the competent authority will issue a paper original on official letterhead or send a hard copy by post. A practical issue may arise where the foreign authority expects a paper document, while the Ukrainian procedure provides only an electronically signed PDF certificate. In such cases, it is advisable to present the Ukrainian certificate format to the foreign authority before submitting the application and obtain confirmation that this electronic document will be accepted.

This distinguishes the government certificate from certain alternative certificates. For example, according to the Ukrainian Medical Council, its Certificate of Good Standing may be available as a paper original, a scanned copy for preliminary review by a foreign authority, and may be sent directly to the receiving authority. These arrangements apply solely to the Council's certificate and do not apply to the government-issued Certificate issued under the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution.

Alternative Certificates for Doctors: When They May Be Useful

Alongside the government procedure, several professional and non-governmental organizations in Ukraine issue certificates such as a Certificate of Good Standing and a Certificate of Current Professional Status.

These certificates may be appropriate if the foreign authority accepts documents issued by a professional organization, requires online certificate verification, or specifically requests a Certificate of Current Professional Status.

According to information published by the Ukrainian Medical Council, obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing requires registration with the Council, submission of an application, payment of an administrative fee, and preliminary verification of the applicant's documents. The Council also states that the certificate may be sent by post directly to the competent foreign authority or to another designated address, while a scanned copy is provided to the applicant after issuance.

Based on a practical response received from the Ukrainian Medical Council, applicants were asked to provide:

• educational documents;
• documents confirming professional experience;
• the identification page of their passport;
• a 3.5 × 4.5 cm photograph.

The Council also indicated that a paper original of the certificate is available. Applicants may first send the scanned copy to the foreign authority to confirm that the document will be accepted and then arrange for the paper original to be dispatched. The fee was stated to be USD 400, or the equivalent amount in Ukrainian hryvnia, and it was noted that an official payment receipt could be issued.

Please note! These requirements should always be verified immediately before applying, as the fee, registration procedure, list of required documents, and delivery options may change. In addition, the foreign authority will assess not the title of the certificate, but whether its contents satisfy the applicable regulatory requirements.

The Ukrainian Medical Academy also describes both the Certificate of Good Standing and the Certificate of Current Professional Status on its website. According to the information published there, these certificates may include details of the healthcare professional's current status, any restrictions or the absence of restrictions on medical practice, educational qualifications, and online verification. The stated processing time is approximately 7 to 10 business days, provided that the applicant is already registered.

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Government Certificate or Alternative Certificate: How to Choose

There is no universal answer. The correct choice depends on the requirements of the foreign authority.

If the foreign authority requires an official confirmation from the applicant's country of origin regarding their professional qualifications, professional experience, and professional reputation, the appropriate route will generally be the government-issued Certificate of Professional Qualification, Professional Experience, and Professional Reputation of a Healthcare Professional.

If the foreign authority accepts a certificate issued by a professional organization, requires online verification, or specifically requests a Certificate of Current Professional Status, an alternative certificate may be appropriate.

The best approach is not to choose a document based on its title alone. Instead, compare the foreign authority's requirements with the Ukrainian documents that are available and, where necessary, confirm that the proposed document and its format will be accepted before paying any fees or submitting an application.

Why Doctors Receive Verification Refusals: Common Mistakes

Most often, doctors encounter problems because of rushed decisions:

• ordering an alternative certificate without checking whether it is suitable for their specific procedure;
• submitting a certificate that is already too old by the time it is reviewed;
• using different transliterations of their name;
• failing to confirm their last place of employment or professional reputation;
• failing to prepare their employer for the questionnaire;
• submitting documents to the wrong authority;
• failing to take into account the issue of the paper copy;
• confusing a criminal record certificate with a document confirming professional status.

Legal Assistance with Obtaining Good Standing Certificates for Doctors for Use Abroad

As the stages described above demonstrate, the procedure for obtaining a certificate is not merely a technical process. The choice between a government certificate and an alternative certificate, identifying the correct authority for submission, and preparing the employer for the questionnaire all affect whether the foreign authority will accept the document without requesting additional clarification.

For this reason, doctors who complete the process on their own often spend weeks clarifying issues that a lawyer with experience handling similar cases can identify at the outset.

Pravova Dopomoha Law Firm provides comprehensive legal assistance with the verification process and the obtaining of documents confirming the professional reputation of healthcare professionals for submission to foreign authorities. We begin not with the formal completion of an application, but with an assessment of the foreign authority's requirements. This is important because the title of the document requested by a foreign authority does not always correspond to the terminology used under the Ukrainian procedure.

As part of our legal assistance, we can:

• analyze the requirements of the foreign authority;
• determine whether a government certificate, an alternative certificate, or a combination of documents is required;
• review documents relating to education, medical specialty, professional experience, and professional reputation;
• identify the competent authority for submission in Ukraine;
• prepare the application, questionnaire, and supporting documents;
• prepare both the applicant and the employer for official requests and questionnaires;
• assist with communication with the competent authority;
• review the issued certificate, the qualified electronic signature (QES), transliteration, and official details;
• assist with issues relating to the document format, including the electronic document, a paper copy, verification of the QES, or explanations required by the foreign authority.

We do not guarantee that any document will automatically be accepted abroad. However, we can reduce the risk of choosing the wrong procedure and help the applicant submit the document that best meets the requirements of their particular case.

If you need a Certificate of Good Standing, a Certificate of Current Professional Status, or another certificate for a doctor for use abroad, the first step should always be to verify the requirements of the specific foreign authority. This helps avoid wasting time on a document that does not satisfy the applicable procedure and allows you to choose the most appropriate course of action from the outset.

If you are planning to verify your professional medical status abroad or have encountered difficulties in collecting the required documents, contact our medical law lawyers. Submit a request through our website or call our free legal helpline.