Will it be accepted?
Foreign dental qualifications for GDC registration
What the General Dental Council's official guidance requires when your dental qualification and supporting documents were issued outside the UK or in another language.
Every fact below links to its official source. Last checked 21 July 2026.
The short answer
Every document that is not in English needs a certified, signed translation. The GDC spells out what that translation must contain, and it is stricter than most UK regulators.
Prepare these before you apply
- A certified (signed) translation for every document or certification not in English, including any stamps or statements written by the person who certified a photocopy of your document
- An exact translation into English made by a qualified translator, on company letterhead, with the translator's signature, name and address
- Your primary dental qualification as the original or a certified copy, those are the only two forms the Council accepts
- A Certificate of Good Standing emailed to the GDC directly by the dental regulator in the country where you last worked, no more than three months old at the time of registration
- Your full name matching exactly on all documents, with evidence such as a certified copy of a marriage certificate or a statutory declaration for any change
Source: GDC, Key facts about registration, application pages and application advice sheet
No apostille asked for, but strict copy and translation traps
The GDC guidance we checked never mentions apostilles or legalisation. It runs its own certified copy system instead. Copies must be certified by a notary public, commissioner of oaths, justice of the peace, lawyer, solicitor, or an authorised official of an embassy or consulate, who must write in English that they have inspected the original document and certify it is a true copy. The certifier cannot be you, your partner or a relative, typed signatures are not accepted, and the application advice sheet adds that a mayor or police officer cannot certify documents.
One trap is unique to the GDC among the health regulators we have checked: the Council will not accept a translation of a translation. Its own example is a Romanian diploma translated into Greek, then from Greek into English. The translation must go straight from the original language into English. And if you want any original documents back after your application, the GDC charges a £10 administration fee to return them.
£102.83
Initial application fee for an overseas qualified dentist
£549.09
Initial application fee for an overseas qualified dental care professional
3 to 4 months
GDC's aim for assessing complete applications: three months for dentists, four for DCPs
What the certified translation must contain
Putting the GDC's key facts page and its application advice sheet together, the published spec is:
- 1An exact translation from the original language into English, made by a qualified translator
- 2Presented on the company letterhead, with the translator's signature, name and address
- 3Attached to a copy of the specific document it translates
- 4A written confirmation, in English, that the translation is an exact translation of the copy attached
- 5The translator's contact details, including the full street address
Sources for this page
We only publish what an official source says, and we re-check these pages on a schedule. If a source changes, this page is reviewed before we rely on it again.
| What it confirms | Official source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| The certified translation rule, its definition and the Certificate of Good Standing rule | GDC, Key facts about registration | 21 Jul 2026 |
| Certifier rules, dentist application fee, assessment time and the £10 document return charge | GDC, How to apply, overseas qualified dentist | 21 Jul 2026 |
| DCP application fee, assessment time and the translation requirement on that route | GDC, How to apply, overseas qualified DCP | 21 Jul 2026 |
| Translation spec detail, the translation of a translation ban, and originals or certified copies only | GDC, ORE dentists application advice sheet (PDF, dated December 2019) | 21 Jul 2026 |
| The same translation standards on the temporary registration route | GDC, Temporary registration guidelines (PDF) | 21 Jul 2026 |
This page is general information based on the official guidance linked above, as it stood on the date shown. It is not legal or immigration advice, and requirements can change. The decision on any application always rests with the receiving organisation, so confirm the current requirements with them before you apply. Lingo Service is not responsible for decisions made by third parties.
Need your dental documents translated to the GDC's spec?
Our certified translations come on letterhead with the signed statement of exactness, the translator's name and full contact details, attached to a copy of your document, exactly the elements the GDC's guidance sets out.
Get Instant QuoteCertified translations accepted across the UK. No obligation.
Common questions
Who does the GDC accept translations from?
The GDC says a certified translation must be made by a qualified translator, on company letterhead, with the translator's signature, name and address. The official guidance never defines qualified and names no professional body, register or accreditation. So the letterhead, the signature and the translator's details are the published spec, and the GDC's application advice sheet also asks for a written confirmation in English that the translation is exact, plus the translator's full street address.
Does the GDC ask for an apostille or legalisation?
The GDC guidance we checked does not mention apostilles or legalisation at all. It uses its own certified copy system instead: copies must be certified by a notary public, commissioner of oaths, justice of the peace, lawyer, solicitor, or an authorised official of an embassy or consulate, with the written statement that they have inspected the original and certify it is a true copy. The certifier cannot be you, your partner or a relative, and typed signatures are not accepted.
Can I use a translation that was made via a third language?
No. The GDC's application advice sheet states that the Council will not accept a translation of a translation, and gives the example of a Romanian diploma translated into Greek and then from Greek into English. The translation must go from the original language directly into English.
How much does a GDC application cost and how long does assessment take?
The initial application fee is £102.83 for an overseas qualified dentist and £549.09 for an overseas qualified dental care professional. The GDC aims to assess complete dentist applications within three months and DCP applications within four months, and says the dentist timeframe can increase during peak processing times. Figures from the GDC's own application pages, checked 21 July 2026.
Will my qualification definitely be accepted?
No page can honestly promise that, and you should be cautious of any that does. What we can tell you is what the official guidance requires, with the source, so you can prepare your application exactly as the GDC asks. The decision is always the GDC's.
