Obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing in Ukraine for Continuing Education Abroad

After the start of the full-scale war, thousands of Ukrainian students and medical professionals were forced to leave the country. Many of them are striving not only to continue their careers but also to pursue further education or obtain professional recognition in their new country of residence.

However, there is one mandatory requirement without which these plans may remain unrealized: confirming one’s professional status and impeccable reputation.

In international practice, this is done through a Certificate of Good Standing, a document recognized by educational and medical institutions around the world. What does it include? And how can you obtain a Certificate of Good Standing in Ukraine even while living abroad, avoiding bureaucratic mistakes? Using a real case from our Client, we explain the entire process, from preparing documents to receiving the certificate that enabled her to continue her career abroad.

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What Is a Certificate of Good Standing and Who Needs It

This certificate is issued by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (MOH) and confirms that a person has:

1. Valid medical education or professional qualifications;
2. The right to practice professionally;
3. No disciplinary sanctions or restrictions;
4. Good professional standing with the regulatory authority.

In most EU countries, as well as Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, a Certificate of Good Standing is a mandatory requirement for:

• admission to postgraduate medical education programs;
• validation of a Ukrainian diploma for future employment;
• obtaining a local medical practice license.

Why Obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing on Your Own Is Difficult

Although the document is issued in Ukraine, obtaining it from abroad can be challenging. You must know the procedure for submitting a request to the Ministry of Health, correctly prepare the application, attach proof of education, provide translations, and also plan the stages of apostille and legalization for use outside Ukraine.

For this reason, many professionals turn to lawyers experienced in international document support to save time, avoid bureaucratic complications, and receive a fully valid certificate recognized abroad.

How We Helped a Doctor in Germany Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing in Ukraine

A Client approached our company. She is a doctor who received her medical education in Ukraine, completed her internship, and worked for several years in a state medical institution. After the start of the full-scale war, she was forced to relocate to Germany, where she later received an opportunity to continue her career in healthcare.

To move forward, she needed to confirm her medical qualifications and professional reputation in accordance with the requirements of German regulatory authorities. She decided to enroll in a program for further professional training, but one mandatory requirement was a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

This certificate had to include information about:

• the doctor’s education and places of employment;
• the absence of disciplinary actions or legal proceedings;
• confirmation of her right to practice medicine.

Without this document, admission to an educational institution or obtaining permission to work as a doctor in most European countries is impossible.

In addition, Germany and many other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Poland, Spain, the UAE, and Australia, require that the document be issued officially in Ukraine, contain the signature and seal of the Ministry of Health, and be translated into the official language of the destination country.

The Client came to us with several questions:

• what specific document she needed in her situation;
• how to obtain it while living abroad;
• which documents must be submitted;
• whether she could authorize representatives in Ukraine to collect and submit the documents on her behalf.

An additional difficulty was that the Client could not travel to Ukraine in person, while the procedure required preparing a substantial package of documents, including:

• her diploma and its transcript with the number of academic hours;
• certificates confirming completion of internship, clinical residency, and advanced training courses;
• documents confirming academic degrees or assigned professional categories;
• employment record book;
• Ukrainian passport and foreign passport.

It was also important to consider the validity period of the document used to confirm a doctor’s qualifications abroad. As a general rule, it is six months, while in some countries, such as the United Kingdom, a Certificate of Good Standing is accepted as valid only for three months from the date of issue.

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Process of Obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing

After the initial consultation, we carefully analyzed the Client’s situation, her documents, and the requirements set by Germany. Throughout the process, we provided complete legal support for obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing in Ukraine. The work included several key stages.

We determined which specific institution would receive the document, since each country or organization may have additional requirements for its format. It was decided to obtain an official certificate from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in English, followed by a translation into German.

Together with the Client, we collected and prepared the full set of supporting documents:

• a completed questionnaire;
• copies of the diploma and transcript with academic hours;
• documents confirming completion of the internship;
• certificates of advanced training;
• an extract from the employment record book;
• copies of both the internal and international passports.

The documents were submitted electronically to the Center for International Programs of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Our lawyers prepared the application in accordance with all requirements regarding the format, purpose, and language in which the document needed to be issued. After official review, the Certificate of Good Standing was issued.

After receiving the certificate, we arranged an official translation into German with notarized certification.

The final stage was secure courier delivery of the original documents abroad so the Client could submit them to the educational institution on time.

As a result, the doctor successfully provided the certificate within the required timeframe and received confirmation of her qualifications. The document gave her access to further education and employment abroad and confirmed her professionalism and status. The entire process was fast, transparent, and reliable, even at a distance, thanks to the support of our specialists who understand all the nuances of Ukrainian and international regulations.

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Why Legal Support for Obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing Is the Most Reliable Option

At first glance, obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing on your own may seem simple. One might think it is enough to submit an application and wait for the document from the Ministry of Health. In reality, for doctors who are already abroad, the process can turn into a real maze. Even a single mistake can block the possibility of working or studying in another country

It is very common for medical professionals to prepare documents on their own, spend weeks gathering materials, and then face difficulties because:

• the wrong type of document was requested (a work reference instead of a Certificate of Good Standing, which happens often);
• one important document is missing, such as a certificate or an attachment to the diploma, or the documents are prepared incorrectly;
• inaccuracies in the application or translations, personal data is entered incorrectly, dates do not match, or there are errors in the transliteration of the surname which makes the document unusable abroad;
• issues with legalization and translation.

Professional legal support helps avoid all these risks. Lawyers ensure that every document is prepared correctly, monitor the deadlines, coordinate communication with government authorities, and guarantee that the certificate will be accepted by a foreign university or employer without any objections.

Full Legal Support for Doctors Living Abroad

Our law firm specializes in assisting clients who need to confirm their Ukrainian education or professional qualifications for use abroad. We work with both Ukrainian citizens and foreign nationals who completed their studies in Ukraine.

As part of the service for obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing, we provide complete, end-to-end support from a lawyer specializing in medical law. Our work includes:

1. Analyzing the client’s situation, the purpose of obtaining the certificate, the destination country, and the requirements of the receiving institution.
2. Forming the correct document package, verifying the accuracy of translations, and providing templates of the required applications to avoid mistakes.
3. Submitting requests and communicating with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Our lawyers handle the submission, monitor the review process, and track deadlines.
4. Arranging apostille or consular legalization of the certificate, translation into the foreign language, and notarization.
5. Organizing secure delivery of the certificate to the client or directly to the receiving institution.

With our assistance, clients receive a valid and correctly prepared certificate that is accepted by foreign authorities without additional clarifications or checks.

Planning to work or continue your education abroad? Submit a request for legal assistance and continue your professional path without obstacles.