Preparing for your move to the UK

On this page, we have put together a list of links and resources to help you prepare for the practical things you’ll need to consider before moving to the UK.

Visas
GMC registration, licensing and identity check
Recruitment
Finding accommodation in the UK
Suggested important documentation

Visas

To gain information on the different types of visas, eligibility, and the application process, please follow the below GOV.UK website links:

UK Visas and Immigration – GOV.UK Visas and Immigration (part of Home Office) home page.
What you need to do: Check if you need a UK visa, how to apply and manage your application.
Work in the UK: Skilled Worker visa, Graduate visa, other work visa, right to work.
Live permanently in the UK: Ways to settle in the UK, indefinite leave to remain (IRL) and routes to British citizenship.

Additional visa advice can be found at the below links:

BMA guidance - Applying to work as a doctor in the UK
NHS – Moving to England from outside the European Economic Area (EEA)
NHS – Moving to England from EU countries or Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland
If you have been charged the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), as an NHS worker you may be entitled to a refund of this surcharge.

GMC registration, licensing and identity check

GMC Registration is a requirement for all doctors wishing to practice in the UK. All doctors must be registered with a license to practice before they work in the UK. Please see the information on the GMC, including links on registration and identity checks.

Recruitment

For information and advice on applying for different roles within the O&G workforce, please see our dedicated section on recruitment. Please remember that international medical graduates will need the relevant visa to work in the UK.

Clinical attachments

It is still possible to come to the UK as a visitor without GMC registration if you can secure a clinical attachment (also known as an observership). These generally last between 2 to 6 weeks and are usually unpaid. You will need to pay for your accommodation and for any checks of health status etc. If accepted, you would be there as an observer only and would not be permitted to treat any patients.

The RCOG does not arrange clinical attachments; you need to make arrangements directly with the hospital where you will be doing the attachment. We suggest that you write to the Clinical Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology asking if you can do an attachment. For a list of hospitals, please see the NHS hospital directory.

Many hospitals do not provide clinical attachments, so be prepared to try many hospitals before getting a positive response. Further guidance is also available from the BMA.

Finding accommodation in the UK

Before you arrive in the UK, it is essential that you arrange either temporary or more permanent accommodation. This will be important for setting up a UK bank account and obtaining the National Insurance number through the post.

Check with Human Resources (HR) at your trust or health board to see if there is on-site hospital accommodation available. HR may also be able to recommend a particular estate agent or private housing organisation that can give priority assistance for you in securing accommodation.

For temporary accommodation, you may find the following links useful: Doctor in the House, Booking.com, Hotels.com, Trivago, Expedia, and Airbnb.
For rental properties or properties for sale, we recommend the following: Rightmove, Zoopla, PrimeLocation and OnTheMarket.
If you are looking to rent a room within a shared property, we recommend SpareRoom.

The UK government website provides for a checklist for renting.

For confidential advice on consumer and housing issues in the UK, visit Citizens Advice.