Authentication and translation 

Authenticating your evidence

Qualifications gained outside the UK will need to be authenticated.

Evidence that has been authenticated must be uploaded to your application. You will also need to post the evidence to us in hard copy once your application has been submitted.

We won’t accept original certificates. These will be returned to you, and you’ll be asked to send an authenticated copy instead.

Who can authenticate evidence for you?

• A solicitor or notary
• The awarding body.

What does authentication mean?

Authentication is often referred to as ‘certifying a true copy’.

A solicitor or awarding body must stamp, sign and date a copy of the registration or qualification to confirm that it’s a genuine copy of the original document. They’ll need to see a copy of the original to confirm this.

You may need to pay the solicitor or awarding body for the authentication of your documents. Costs for authentication are your responsibility.

Translation

You will need to translate any documents that are not in English.

You must submit a complete and accurate translation of these documents, along with the document in its original language.

It is important that your translated documents show the contact details of the translation service or translator. A copy of the original document should be attached to the translation, and stamped and signed by the translation service.

Any evidence that has been translated must be uploaded to your application. You will also need to post the translated evidence to us as a hard copy once your application has been submitted. This is because we need to see an original stamp and signature from the translation service you have used.

Guide to translating your evidence

For documents which require verification and translation:

• Take the original document (A)
• Take (A) and make a photocopy (B)
• Have (B) verified by a medical supervisor from the relevant hospital or institution, with the other evidence from that hospital or institution
• Take (B) to a translation service where they will create an English version (C)
• Ensure that both (B and C) have been stamped and signed by the translation service
• Submit both (B and C) to the GMC – you’ll keep the original (A).

For documents which require authentication and translation:

• Take the original document (A)
• Take (A) and make a photocopy (B). Have (B) authenticated either by a solicitor or the awarding body. They’ll stamp, sign and date (B) to confirm that it’s genuine, when they view it alongside the original (A)
• Take (B) to a translation service, where they will create an English version (C)
• Ensure that both (B and C) have been stamped and signed by the translation service
• Submit both (B and C) to the GMC – you’ll keep the original (A).

Any evidence which isn’t translated in line with the above requirements will be returned to you.