BMA IMG Routes NonEEA Doctors Oct 19

International
medical graduate
coming to work
in the UK
1/16
Explanatory notes
This resource focuses on the journey of an International

medical graduate who wishes to work in the UK.
It will provide you with a high level overview of the

sequence of key steps you will need to take to work as
a doctor in the UK. Such as getting GMC registration
and a visa.
The content of this resource will break these down

into several key steps. We have also developed the
journeys of:
– International medical students who wish to study at a

UK Medical School and
– EEA doctors coming to work in the UK
We strongly recommend you familiarise yourself with

guidance issued by the Home Office.
2/16
The process of securing a job in the
UK, which includes getting a visa
and becoming registered with the
GMC, can take longer than you might
expect. Timescales will depend on
your level of English and how much
time you take to prepare.
Tier 2 is the main immigration route

for doctors working in the UK and is
for skilled workers with a job offer.
10/15
3/16
UK Immigration
system
The UK Immigration system is based on a

points-based system. Before applying for your
visa, you must have an offer of a skilled job in
the UK and enough money to support yourself.
Your employer must be a licensed sponsor
and satisfy the Resident Labour Market Test
(also known as the RLMT).
This means they are required to advertise

certain jobs initially for a set time to see if
the job can be filled by a UK or EEA national,
before the job can be offered to someone
from outside the EEA, in order to comply with
their sponsorship licence rules.
You can read the Home Office guide for the

full list of documents and how much money
you’ll need.
4/16
GMC
Registration
To practise medicine in the UK you must be

registered with a licence to practise. To apply for
registration you must (amongst other things):
– Hold an acceptable overseas qualification

– Demonstrate your knowledge and skills
(usually by passing the Professional and
Linguistic Assessments Board test)
– Provide evidence that you have
completed clinical experience
– Provide evidence that you are in good
standing with your regulator and
– Be able to demonstrate that you have the
necessary knowledge of English to practise
safely in the UK
Step 1 and 2, later in the resource, will provide
further information on the PLAB and English
language tests.
5/16
Working as a GP
If you want to practice as a General Practitioner

(GP) you will need to:
– Join the GMC GP register. You can find more

information here.
– Apply to join the National Performers List which

is a list of approved GPs, who satisfy a range of
criteria necessary for working in the NHS.
– Register on the NHS GP Induction and

Refresher scheme which offers dedicated
practical support and a range of assessments
including placements and simulated surgeries.
NHS England also provides financial support

for those wishing to work in general practice in
England. You can also apply for the International
GP recruitment programme
6/16
STEP
1
Demonstrate your English
language proficiency
You can take the International

English Language Test System
(IELTS) or the Occupational
English Test (OET) to demonstrate
you have the appropriate level of
English.
To pass these tests you will need a

good standard of English and must
prepare well in advance.
The tests are available in a number of

different countries. You may choose
to take the test before you arrive in
the UK.
7/16
STEP
2
Take the Professional and
Linguistic Assessments Board
test, also known as the PLAB test.
This helps the GMC to make sure that you
have the right knowledge and skills to practise
medicine in the UK.
You do not need to take the PLAB test if you are

applying directly for GP or specialist registration
through the GMC equivalence routes
The exam is run four times a year in the UK

and in a number of overseas locations. You can
choose to take the test before you even arrive
in the UK
8/16
The PLAB test is in two parts:
– Part 1 which is a written multiple choice

exam, with 180 single best answer questions.
– Part 2 which is a practical objective structured

clinical exam, known as an OSCE.
You can get information on booking the test

and the cost on the GMC website
Once you’ve passed both parts, you can apply

for registration with a licence to practise. Your
application must be approved within two
years of passing part 2 of the test. Once the
GMC approve your application and you gain
registration you can work as a doctor in the UK.
When you take the PLAB test, your IELTS or OET

certificate must be no older than 2 years after
the date it was issued.
9/16
STEP
3
You are now at the stage
where you can apply for
jobs
You can search for jobs

that match your skills, and
apply for NHS jobs online
by registering at NHS
jobs
10/16
STEP
4
Apply for GMC registration with a
licence to practise
– If you have met the requirements set

down by the GMC, you will be granted
registration. You must have your
registration in place before you start
your job.
– You
can find more information on the
registration fee on the GMC website
The process usually takes between one
and three months and you should allow
yourself plenty of time to complete it.
– You
can find out more information on
the GMC website
11/16
STEP
5
Your employer, a licensed sponsor
has satisfied the Resident Labour
Market Test and offers you a job
Your employer then becomes your

sponsor, but only when they have
checked that you are appropriately
qualified, experienced and have a
good level of English and you can do
the job they’re hiring you for. They
will then assign you a certificate of
sponsorship to prove this.
You must receive this within six months

of the job being advertised.
12/16
A certificate of sponsorship is an
electronic record and holds your
personal details and information
about the job you’ve been
offered. Your sponsor will give
you a certificate of sponsorship
reference number to add to your
Visa application.
13/16
STEP
6
Submit your visa application and pay
the health surcharge
– A Tier 2 visa costs £610. The health

surcharge costs £400 a year and you
will need to pay this upfront for the
duration of your visa.
– You can bring family members with you
to the UK on this visa. They must have
a visa if they are from outside of the
European Economic Area (EEA) or
Switzerland and they too will have to
pay the health surcharge upfront.
– The earliest you can apply for your visa
is up to 3 months before the day you
are due to start work in the UK.
– The date is included in your certificate
of sponsorship and you will usually get
a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
14/16
STEP
7
The Home Office approves your Tier 2 visa
application. You can now start your post.
– You can start your stay up to 14 days

before the start date of your certificate of
sponsorship.
– The maximum length of stay for this type of visa

is 5 years and 14 days or the time given on your
certificate of sponsorship plus one month.
– Remember, before you start your course, you

must have your biometric residence permit.
You will get one automatically when your visa
is approved. You can then use this to confirm
your identity, right to study or work in the UK
and right to any public services or benefits
you’re entitled to. Further information,
including where you can apply for your BRP
can be found on the Home Office website
15/16
Key resources
BMA immigration page
BMA overseas resource
GMC registration page
NHS England support for international doctors

completing GP training
NHS Employers: Working and Training in the

National Health Service – A guide for international
medical and dental graduates thinking about
working or training in the UK (May 2015)
16/16
The British Medical Association
(BMA) is the trade union and
professional association for
doctors in the UK. It also offers
specialist support for doctors
new to the UK.
By becoming a member of the BMA

you’ll be joining thousands of other
doctors who also qualified overseas.
You’ll also benefit from an initial 50%
discount on membership fees.
To find out more about how

membership can benefit you as an
overseas qualified doctor
click here
10/15

BMA IMG Routes NonEEA Doctors Oct 19

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International

This resource focuses on the journey of an International

It will provide you with a high level overview of the

The content of this resource will break these down

– International medical students who wish to study at a

– EEA doctors coming to work in the UK

We strongly recommend you familiarise yourself with

Tier 2 is the main immigration route

The UK Immigration system is based on a

This means they are required to advertise

You can read the Home Office guide for the

To practise medicine in the UK you must be

– Hold an acceptable overseas qualification

If you want to practice as a General Practitioner

– Join the GMC GP register. You can find more

– Apply to join the National Performers List which

– Register on the NHS GP Induction and

NHS England also provides financial support

You can take the International

To pass these tests you will need a

The tests are available in a number of

You do not need to take the PLAB test if you are

The exam is run four times a year in the UK

– Part 1 which is a written multiple choice

– Part 2 which is a practical objective structured

You can get information on booking the test

Once you’ve passed both parts, you can apply

When you take the PLAB test, your IELTS or OET

You can search for jobs

– If you have met the requirements set

Your employer then becomes your

You must receive this within six months

– A Tier 2 visa costs £610. The health

– You can start your stay up to 14 days

– The maximum length of stay for this type of visa

– Remember, before you start your course, you

BMA overseas resource

GMC registration page

NHS England support for international doctors

NHS Employers: Working and Training in the

By becoming a member of the BMA

To find out more about how

You might also like

– International medical students who wish to study at a

– EEA doctors coming to work in the UK

– Hold an acceptable overseas qualification

– Join the GMC GP register. You can find more

– Apply to join the National Performers List which

– Register on the NHS GP Induction and

– Part 1 which is a written multiple choice

– Part 2 which is a practical objective structured

– If you have met the requirements set

– A Tier 2 visa costs £610. The health

– You can start your stay up to 14 days

– The maximum length of stay for this type of visa

– Remember, before you start your course, you