MyGDCHow to apply: temporary registration
Temporary registration allows dentists who are not eligible for full registration to practise dentistry in the UK if they have had the offer of a supervised post for training, teaching, or research purposes only, for a limited period.
You must have an offer of employment before you apply for temporary registration with the GDC. For detailed information, read Temporary registration guidelines and Approved posts.
Before you apply
Please read this section and Key facts about registration before you start the online application process for temporary registration.
Character reference
You must provide a character reference. Please download the form and ask your character referee to complete it. You should then scan and upload the document where indicated within the online application.
Who can be a character referee?
The character reference can be provided by another professional such as a doctor, dentist or lawyer who has known you for over 12 months. The character reference cannot be provided by a member of your family.
We will accept either a handwritten signature or a scanned signature. Once the form is completed, it can be printed, signed, and scanned. Alternatively, a scanned signature (for example a JPEG or PNG image file) can be inserted into the electronic document.
Typed signatures will not be accepted.
Clinical reference/s
You must provide one or more clinical references to demonstrate you have completed at least 1,600 hours of clinical experience that involve treating patients in the dental chair. Please download the clinical reference form [add link] and ask your clinical referee/s to complete it. You should then scan and upload the document where indicated within the online application.
Proof of identity
You will be taken through an online identity check, which works best on a mobile phone. For this you will need:
• A valid passport
• If you don’t have a passport due to refugee status, please provide a letter from the Home Office confirming they hold your passport and attach a copy of the passport.
Certifying documents
The person certifying your documents must be one of the professionals listed below:
- Notary public
- Commissioner of Oaths
- Justice of the Peace
- Lawyer
- Solicitor
- An authorised official of an embassy or consulate
The person certifying the photocopies of your documents will need to see your original documents before they certify a photocopy. Photocopies must be copies of the original document.
The person certifying the photocopies of your documents must write (in English) ‘I have inspected the original document and I certify that this is a true copy’. They should then write their name, address and, if they do not have an official stamp, their professional status. They must then sign the photocopy.
The person certifying the documents cannot be the applicant, their partner/spouse or a relative, even if they are one of the professionals listed above.
We will accept either a handwritten signature or a scanned signature. Once the form is completed, it can be printed, signed, and scanned. Alternatively, a scanned signature (for example a JPEG or PNG image file) can be inserted into the electronic document.
Typed signatures will not be accepted.
Qualifications
You will need to upload a certified copy of your qualification certificate. You will also need to upload a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability. More information can be found on the UK ENIC website.
Fees
You will need to pay an initial application fee of £102.83. If your application is successful, you will then be asked to pay a registration fee. The amount you pay depends on the date at which you are registered with the GDC. Please visit the registration fees section of our website for more information.
Please note: an administration charge of £10 will be added to the registration fee if you wish us to return any original documents you have submitted.
How long will it take?
Please allow a minimum of 20 working days for your application to be processed. Applications may take longer to process if they are incomplete or further information is required. Please note we do not fast track or prioritise applications for any applicant, and applications are dealt with in the order that they are received by the registration team.
Temporary registration certificates
Please note that hard copies of temporary registration certificates are not issued to temporary registrants. Temporary registrants will be able to print certificates straight from their online account. Details of how to do this will be sent by email once temporary registration has been granted.