UK Visa Requirements for Non-EU Doctors

Foreign doctors from outside of EU countries must be registered with the UK General Medical Council (GMC) in order to practise medicine within the UK. There are also three types of registration that doctors must have prior to their UK immigration. The type of registration that they have depends on the responsibilities they will have while working in the UK. These types of registration are; Full Registration, Limited Registration and Specialist Registration.

Full Registration

To undertake paid unsupervised employment in the UK as a doctor you need to have gained full registration from the GMC.
Generally medical professionals, who are citizens of an EEA county, are eligible for full registration.
Doctors who qualified in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and the West Indies may also qualify for full registration.

Specialist Registration

In order to act as consultant for the NHS you must acquire specialist registration.
Doctors who wish to practise unsupervised in a private clinic or hospital in the UK will be expected to be on the specialist register

Limited Registration

In order to carry out supervised training posts within the NHS, applicants must hold limited registration.
Applicants applying for limited registration must first ensure that their primary medical qualification is recognised by the GMC.
Once they have proved their skills and knowledge and attitude, doctors who hold limited registration can apply for full registration. This normally means taking tests by International English Language Assessment Service and the Professional and Linguistic Training Board (PLAB Test)

The tests set out by the International English Language Assessment Service and the Professional and Linguistic Training Board (PLAB). They are taken in two parts. Part one tests your knowledge of clinical management and includes science as applied to clinical problems. Part two tests you’re clinical and communication skills, it is designed so that the examiner can observe you putting these skills into practise.