Before you can sit the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE), the General Dental Council (GDC) asks for a short document from an organisation many dentists have never heard of.
That document is the UK ENIC Statement of Comparability. It is simple to obtain, but ordering it at the right time, with the right papers, can save weeks.
Key points
- The Statement shows how your degree compares with UK qualification levels. It does not comment on grades, subjects or English.
- The GDC asks for it with your ORE application, together with a certified copy of your degree certificate.
- It has no expiry date, so there is no reason to wait. Order it early and keep it safe.
What is a Statement of Comparability?
A Statement of Comparability is a certificate that shows how an international qualification compares with the education systems of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 1.
UK ENIC issues it. To use the service, your qualification must be officially recognised in the country where you studied and show that a specific level of education was completed 1.
What does it show, and what does it not show?
The Statement includes 1:
- your full name
- your UK ENIC reference number (10 digits)
- the name, country, year and awarding school of each qualification
- how the qualification compares with UK education systems
It does not include 1:
- comments on grades or grade comparisons
- comments on specific subjects
- any statement about English proficiency
It is also not a professional licence, and UK ENIC lists professional licences as unsuitable for this service 1. UK ENIC describes the Statement as guidance to support your original documents. The final decision rests with the institution that receives it 5.
Why does the GDC ask for it?
To apply for the ORE, you upload a certified copy of your qualification certificate and a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability 6. The GDC says you must provide the Statement together with your degree certificate 7.
The GDC's application pages do not explain its reasoning in detail. What the Statement gives is an independent comparison of your degree with UK qualification levels, which is what UK ENIC exists to provide.
It does not replace anything else. You still need the clinical experience, English language evidence and other documents the GDC lists 6.
Which documents do you need?
When you apply to UK ENIC, you upload 2:
- final certificates from your completed qualifications (up to four)
- official transcripts showing all subjects and grades, signed and dated by the awarding institution
- certified translations, if your documents are not in English
- proof of identity, such as a passport or driving licence
- evidence of any name change, if your current name differs from the one on your qualifications
UK ENIC recommends including your high school qualification with up to three other qualifications 2. For the GDC, make sure your dental degree is included.
Two practical rules from UK ENIC 2:
- It accepts documents only from the awarding institution, not an affiliate college.
- Upload clear colour photographs or scans in JPEG, PDF or bitmap format, up to 5 MB each, with all four corners visible.
Do your documents need translating?
If your documents are not in English, UK ENIC asks for certified translations 2.
UK ENIC also runs a Translation Waiver Service, which lets you submit certain languages without translation. It covers languages such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish, plus a short list including German, Italian and Polish. Turkish does not appear on the published list (checked November 2026) 4.
For languages the service does not cover, UK ENIC accepts certified translations from professional translators 4. Check the Translation Waiver page before you order, because the list can change.
How much does it cost, and how long does it take?
| Item | Detail (checked 3 November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Fee | £69.60, including an e-Statement 3 |
| Standard time | 15 working days once UK ENIC has all documents and payment 3 |
| If more information is needed | The 15 days restart 5 |
| Refunds | Only if you cancel before the evaluation team starts checking 3 |
| Paper copy | Must be requested within 3 months of the e-Statement. £12.60 for UK delivery, £75.60 international 3 |
| Expiry | None 5 |
An optional Fast Track Service also exists 5. Check the official page for current prices, as fees change.
When should you order it?
Our advice is to order it early.
The Statement has no expiry date 5, so a Statement obtained now stays usable later. Several GDC documents do not work that way. The Certificate of Current Professional Status must be dated within three months of the GDC receiving your application. Your declaration, character reference and clinical references must also be signed and dated within three months 7.
So it makes sense to order the Statement first, then keep it safely until you are ready to apply.
What should you check before you submit to the GDC?
- Your name must be identical on every document. If it varies, the GDC asks for a sworn affidavit or statutory declaration 7. UK ENIC also asks for evidence of name changes 2.
- Send the Statement itself. The GDC says it does not accept UK ENIC certificates 7.
- Certify your degree copy correctly. The GDC accepts certified copies only from listed professionals, such as a notary public or an embassy official. You cannot certify your own documents 6.
What should you do next?
- Gather your certificates, transcripts and identity document.
- Order certified translations if your language is not covered by the waiver service.
- Apply to UK ENIC through its online account.
- Keep the e-Statement safe until your GDC application is ready.
Knightsbridge Academy provides consultancy support through the whole ENIC process, translations included, and the ORE Preparation Programme page explains how we help dentists prepare for registration.
This article is general information. It is not legal or immigration advice, and Knightsbridge Academy is not a law firm.
References
- UK ENIC. Statement of Comparability. https://www.enic.org.uk/individuals/statement-of-comparability
- UK ENIC. Documents you will need. https://www.enic.org.uk/individuals/statement-of-comparability/documents-you-need
- UK ENIC. Cost. https://www.enic.org.uk/individuals/statement-of-comparability/cost
- UK ENIC. Translation Waiver Service. https://www.enic.org.uk/individuals/statement-of-comparability/translation-waiver-service
- UK ENIC. After you have applied. https://www.enic.org.uk/individuals/statement-of-comparability/after-you-apply
- General Dental Council. How to apply: Overseas Registration Examination (ORE). https://www.gdc-uk.org/registration/overseas-registration-exam/how-to-apply--overseas-registration-examination-(ore)
- General Dental Council. Common ORE application errors. https://www.gdc-uk.org/registration/overseas-registration-exam/applying-for-ore/how-to-apply-for-the-ore/common-ore-application-errors
Last reviewed: November 2026
Internal links
- Consultancy hub (consultancy support for the ENIC process)
- ORE Preparation Programme
- UK dentist pathway (uk-dentist-pathway.html)
Image idea
A desk with a degree certificate, a passport and a laptop showing an upload screen. Use our own archive photos or a neutral stock image. No logos.
Open points (not for publication)
- No "common mistakes" section: UK ENIC's official pages do not list one, so it was left out as agreed. The "What should you check" list comes from official requirements, not from observed mistakes.
- Turkish is not on the Translation Waiver list shown on the page. The page is collapsible, so please check it once more before publishing.
- The fee (£69.60) and 15 working days are from UK ENIC's official cost page, checked 3 November 2026. An older UK ENIC price PDF still shows £49.50, so the fee must be re-checked at publication.
- "Order it early" is Knightsbridge Academy's advice, based on the Statement having no expiry date and several GDC documents being time-limited.