This motion doesn’t establish any government policy. It does, however, set out the BMA’s position.  

IMGs have always played a crucial part in our health service and are valued colleagues. If the BMA’s current policy were implemented by the UK government in full, IMGs would be able to apply for specialty training on the same basis as UK medical school graduates once they had completed five years of NHS experience. The policy is intended to recognise doctors who have built up substantial experience in the UK health system, while also responding to the immediate pressure on UK graduates caused by the shortage of training places. 

At ARM 2026, delegates considered data and BMA modelling on how different definitions of ‘significant NHS/HSC experience’ would affect competition ratios. The argument for a five-year definition was that a shorter threshold would not sufficiently address the training bottleneck or the risk that UK graduates would continue to face rising competition for a limited number of places if previous policy were implemented (the ARM 2025 policy called for an exception for IMGs who were GMC registered and practising in the NHS/HSC on or before 5 March 2025, and who had two years of NHS/HSC experience or went on to gain it). Delegates also heard concerns about the impact of this policy on IMG members. The debate was close and difficult, but ARM is the BMA’s sovereign policy-making body and the five-year definition is now the BMA’s position. 

The BMA will continue to make clear that the underlying problem is the failure of governments to create enough training places, not the contribution of IMGs. We will continue to lobby for a major expansion in foundation, specialty, GP and consultant posts, alongside fair treatment and support for all doctors working in the NHS. 

No. At ARM 2026, delegates voted against adopting specific protections for IMGs who hold UK citizenship. Under current BMA policy, our position is that prioritisation should be based on where a doctor obtained their primary medical qualification. This reflects the view that UK medical training is specifically designed to prepare doctors for UK systems, including NHS practice, GMC standards, UK clinical governance and the particular pressures and structures of the health service. It also recognises the substantial contribution made by UK taxpayers and the NHS to the education and clinical training of UK medical students.  

If BMA policy were adopted by government, UK citizens who qualified abroad would therefore be treated in the same way as other IMGs unless they meet the five-year significant NHS experience threshold or another agreed priority route applies. 

ARM 2026 agreed that refugee doctors should not be treated in the same way as doctors applying directly from overseas. The BMA will therefore lobby for refugee doctors who have completed NHS-supported requalification programmes, or equivalent supervised and assessed NHS pathways, to be added to the priority group or provided with a clear career pathway that allows them to apply for foundation and specialty training on a level playing field with locally trained graduates. 

This reflects the particular circumstances of refugee doctors, many of whom have already trained overseas, may have substantial postgraduate clinical experience, cannot safely return to their country of origin, and have undertaken NHS-supported requalification in the UK. The numbers likely to be training-ready in any given year are expected to be small, so this policy is not expected to materially affect competition ratios. 

IMGs bring a diverse range of skills, knowledge and experience to their medical practice in the UK, which has been hugely beneficial to patients and the NHS.  

We offer IMGs a year of free membership when coming to the UK, and provide lots of resources to assist in settling into the NHS and the UK.  
 
We are also committed to breaking down the barriers with the UK immigration system. We have lobbied extensively on visa issues, provide legal support to our members through our immigration advice service, and can help individual members. 
 
On the ground, our staff and members are campaigning for doctors within LED roles, many of whom are IMGs, to get the right national contract (usually a SAS contract). Getting on a substantive and agreed contract reduces exploitation, visa difficulties, and can help ensure terms and conditions adequately reflects a doctor’s expertise and commitment, including improving opportunities for career development.