What you need to know

If you are planning to move abroad and work as a doctor in another country, you may need the following certificates. Please be advised there is a fee for each certificate which are non-refundable. For a full list of fees, please see the Fees section of our website here.

Certificate of Good Standing

The Certificate of Good Standing is used by competent authorities when considering applications for registration and shows the current registration status of the doctor.

To be eligible for a Certificate of Good Standing you must currently be in good standing with no ongoing proceedings, conditions or findings against you. You can choose to send this directly to yourself or to the competent authority.

Certificate of Experience

The Certificate of Experience is a document which confirms that a doctor has successfully completed their internship to the standards set by the Medical Council.

In order to be eligible for a Certificate of Experience you need to have completed your internship in Ireland and the Medical Council need to have received final sign-off from your intern network coordinator.

You can request your certificate of experience through your online registration account.

Please note that prior to 2011 Certificates of experience were issued by the universities. Applicants who completed their internships prior to 2011 can request a letter from the Medical Council confirming that their certificate of experience was accepted for the purposes of registration. Alternatively, the original certificate can be requested from the university where you graduated.

EU/EEA Freedom of Movement Certification

You may need one of the following for your qualifications to be recognised in other EU Member States.

Certificate of Specialist Doctor (CSD)

A Certificate of Specialist Doctor is a document which confirms you completed the majority of your specialist training in Ireland. This certificate is issued by the Medical Council for the purposes of and in compliance with Articles 25 and 26 and Annex V 5.1.2. of EU Directive 2005/36/EC of September 7, 2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council. This Certificate is not and may not be used as evidence of identity and is not your registration certificate. To apply for a CSD please log on to your online registration account.

Certificate of Specific Training or Acquired Rights (CSTAR)

To apply for a CSTAR please log on to your online registration account.

Article 3(3) Certification

This certificate is for medical practitioners who wish to be certified as medical practitioners who have had their basic and/or specialist medical training, obtained in a non-EU/EEA member state, recognised in accordance with Article 2(2) of the Directive, and who have subsequently obtained three years professional experience in Ireland, in accordance with Article 3(3) of the Directive.

For recognition of your basic medical qualification

Please provide letters from employers providing evidence that you have been employed in the full-time practise of medicine for at least three years following the granting of registration in Ireland by the Medical Council.  These letters can be sent to registration@mcirl.ie.

For recognition of evidence of 3 years in specialist registration

Please provide letters from employers providing evidence that you have been employed in the full-time practise of medicine as a specialist in a recognised specialty for at least three years following the granting of registration in Ireland as a specialist by the Medical Council. These letters can be sent to registration@mcirl.ie.

Article 23.1

Acquired Rights certification confirming your EU/EEA primary medical qualification was recognised in Ireland in accordance with EU Directive 2005/36/EC, and that you have three years continuous professional experience in Ireland in the last three years. Please note that references from your employers in Ireland need to be submitted to support an application for Article 23.1 certification confirming your dates of employment. This evidence can be sent to registration@mcirl.ie.

Article 24 Compliance

An Article 24 letter confirms to another competent authority that your training led to the award of your Primary Medical Qualification which is compliant with Article 24 of EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

Moving to Australia 

A letter confirming that you are a graduate of an Irish medical school is required when applying to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA). You can apply for this by filling out this application form.

This letter will be sent directly to the address in which you registered. Please send this form to registration@mcirl.ie A member of team will then make the fee available to pay on your online account.

Voluntary Withdrawal from the Register

Doctors who are moving abroad can voluntarily withdraw their name from the Medical Council register. When voluntarily withdrawn, a doctor does not have to pay the annual retention fee. You can voluntarily withdraw your name by logging into your online registration account and selecting the voluntary withdrawal request option.

Please be advised fees for the above certificates are non-refundable.

If you are unsure of what certificate you need, please contact registration@mcirl.ie.