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Coming to work in the UK

The BMA provides information and guidance to international and European Economic Area (EEA) doctors wishing to come and work in the UK. The BMA International Department has published a comprehensive 'Guide for doctors new to the UK' which details the processes which international and EEA doctors need to follow in order to register with the General Medical Council and practise medicine in the UK. It also contains information on immigration, access to postgraduate training and finding a post.

In previous years doctors from outside the UK/ EEA were able to access training posts in the UK quite easily and many doctors did this through applying to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme. However, new immigration rules have been introduced in the UK as of 29 February 2008 which will make it extremely difficult for doctors outside of the UK/EEA to apply for postgraduate medical training unless they have indefinite leave to remain in the UK or have graduated from a UK medical school. Doctors coming to the UK from outside the UK/EEA will only be eligible to apply for postgraduate medical training posts if there is no suitable applicant from the UK/EEA to take the post. Opportunities for training in the UK will be much more limited for doctors coming into the country from outside of the UK/EEA. There will still be opportunities for doctors to come to the UK to work in service posts.

Many international and EEA doctors choose to undertake a clinical attachment before applying for jobs in the UK as a way to gain experience of the NHS. The BMA has published 'Clinical attachment guidelines for international medical graduates' that are intended for those involved in organising and supervising clinical attachments for international medical graduates. They also provide a useful overview for those wishing to undertake an attachment.

This section will also link you to the work currently being done by the BMA in this area.