Foreign Doctor’s Guide to Moving & Working in the UK
Hylton-Potts has many years of experience in helping foreign doctors (and other professionals) to obtain the right to live and work in the UK. This includes helping to obtain all the proper registrations and going through all the bureaucratic procedures to ensure that everything is processed quickly, completely, and efficiently.
Many professionals are confused by the complexity of the rules and, of course, there have been several changes to rules and conditions over the years, so it can happen that you might read something online that seems very discouraging to your chances, or conversely you may read something that gives you false hope, when in fact the information may be years out of date.
We are dedicated to helping doctors with this process because we understand that it is mutually beneficial to the nation and to those who wish to make the move. As we have mentioned many times on this blog, the UK is facing a critical shortage of medical professionals and it is very important to avert the large-scale social crisis that could eventuate if this situation is allowed to continue unchecked.
The following case study examples and testimonials will serve to explain to some extent how others have been assisted by our services, and you may find that some of these examples are similar enough to your own situation. In this case, the following information might prove useful in your decision-making.
Example 1: Dr K from Germany
Dr K completed medical school training in Germany and practised medicine there for 10 years. During that time, he met his wife, a fellow doctor from the UK. Later they decided they would like to move to the UK and live there together.
Hylton-Pots was able to provide advice to the couple about how their circumstances were covered under EC Rights, we assisted Dr K with his PLAB tests, and assisted with applying for registration with the GMC.
In this specific situation, Dr K was able to practise in the UK under EC Rights provisions, while his wife as a UK national with existing UK qualifications automatically had the right to work and remain indefinitely in the UK (but both still needed to register with the GMC before they could actually commence practise).
Example 2: Dr S from Norway
In this case, Dr S was a recent graduate from a medical school in Norway. Her husband was offered a relocation package by his employer who had offices in the UK and Norway. The couple were very unsure how possible it would be for Dr S to obtain the right to practise in the UK due to her status as a recent graduate and with no strong link to the UK other than her husband’s work relocation, which would not necessarily be considered by UK Immigration as permanent.
We found that Dr S met the qualifying conditions for medical practice under the EEA rules, provided that she correctly applied to (and was accepted by) the GMC. This registration also required participation in PLAB tests which we were able to assist with as well.
Example 3: Dr E from Switzerland
Dr E met her partner while both were travelling around Europe. After they met and decided to travel together, they decided to move in together. Dr E is from Switzerland and her partner is from the UK. They had been living together for 5 years and even had children together, but never married during that time. Having decided to make the move back to the UK, they felt it may help Dr E’s immigration status if they went ahead and got married.
After they contacted Hylton-Potts for advice, we were able to explain that marriage was completely optional and not a requirement for her situation. While Switzerland is not currently part of the EC or EEA, there are special provisions that allow Swiss doctors to move to the UK and work in their profession.
With our advice, the couple were more confident about their plans and decided to put the wedding on hold, at least for the time being.
The typical process for applying to the GMC under EC Rights / EEA Status
Every individual situation will have some unique factors, but in general almost any qualified medical professional will have little difficulty moving to the UK and obtaining the right to practise provided that they follow the correct procedures.
In the majority of cases, the first step is to make sure that all the correct documentation is obtained and gathered together. This should be appropriately notarised to ensure there is no question as to its validity (this is not necessarily a problem, but it may introduce delays and possible costs if any facts need to be checked).
The correct visa needs to be applied for, and granted, and only then should the applicant go ahead and seek registration with the GMC. Exactly what happens and how applications are processed can depend on several factors, including whether the applicant has been offered a position of employment and other matters. In some cases, some or all of the costs may be borne by the employer (they should tell you if this is the case), and there may be some steps or conditions that could be waived at the discretion of the GMC.
As of January 2016, new rules are being applied that will place strict requirements on the amount of medical training required for doctors to be eligible for registration, both in terms of the number of hours of instruction and the number of years over which the instruction is provided.
These new rules may even affect those who have already been granted registration when they reapply, so we urge any doctor who may have concerns about these new rules to get in touch with us for clarification.
Following all of this, certain doctors may be required to take the PLAB test, while others are not required to do so. There are various criteria that are used to determine this, and we can advise you when you consult with us whether you will be required to take a PLAB test.
As of February 2016, the fees for PLAB tests are set to almost double in price. Some immigrants can qualify for a discount on the PLAB fees, if they meet certain criteria.
If all of the above is not confusing enough, then also consider that the rules vary depending on whether the medical school you graduated from was:
- Located in the UK
- Located in the EEA or Switzerland
- Located in some other country outside the EEA and Switzerland
And, if you fall into the last category, then it also makes a difference which country it was and when. After performing all of the required steps and paying all the required fees, the GMC will usually issue a provisional registration that can later be converted to full registration.
One final point is that not every foreign doctor who applies for registration with the GMC necessarily wishes to apply for a licence to practise. There can be some special (very unusual) circumstances where it is better to apply only for registration and not to bother with applying for a licence to practise.
As you can see, even though there are not many steps, it can be quite complicated and confusing to try to understand all the rules and keep up with all the changes that are being introduced over time. We can help to take a lot of the stress and concern out of the process for you.
To find out more about our services, call Hylton-Potts on 020 7381 8111 or send an email to [email protected].
We would be interested in your comments, please leave them below.
Hi, how do I start the process of becoming a client? I am a UK national and want to register with the GMC under EC rights. Can you help me? Do I have a chance of succeeding?
Thank you for your comment, Syed. We can certainly advise you on your situation. Please email us at [email protected] or call 0207 381 8111 to speak to us today.
Thank your for a very interesting and helpful article!
You are welcome Bjorn, you can find more helful information here: https://hyltonpotts.com/home/professional-law/ec-rights-gmc-gdc-law/
I wish people would understand that I have trained long and hard to become a Doctor and just because it was not in this country, it does’nt mean I am not good at my job. My husband is English and he agrees that more doctors are needed in NHS.
We agree and I wonder if you have ever sought legal advice previously to look at your case more closely ? We may be able to assist you ? Why not email me at [email protected] so we can look into the details. If it is helpful to you, our offices are in London, so easiliy accessible. Rodney
My friends have always complained to me that in the UK its very difficult to get registered inder EC Rights. It has always put me off. You have explained and made it look simple. I am a Doctor in Finland and want to register under EC Rights. Can you help me?
We can certainly help. Its not much of a complicated process. Email us at [email protected] and we can look though all your documents and advise you.