UK Immigration Rules for Foreign Trained Graduates of Medicine and Allied Health Professions

This article is a guide for internationally trained graduates of medical and allied courses (doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, lab scientists, etc) who intend to migrate and work in the United Kingdom. This information summarises some of the main points relating to immigration rules. For the full and latest official information, please visit the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website.

In an earlier article, we established that if you are not a British citizen, a national of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you will need permission from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to work in the UK. This page describes information about immigration rules for EEA and non-EEA citizens, and also defines who a resident worker is.

European Economic Area citizens

For an individual in this category, no visa/certificate of sponsorship is needed and the UK immigration points-based system does not apply because there is free movement of labour within the EU.

See up-to-date information for EU citizens and their families on the gov.uk website.

Non-European Economic Area citizens

If you are not a British citizen, or a national of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you will need a visa before you travel to the UK. To obtain a visa, you need to meet the requirements of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), which is responsible for managing migration in the UK.

The points-based immigration system governs the way individuals from outside the EEA can work, train or study in the UK. Information for all new applications from non-EEA nationals can be found on the points-based system page of this website.

Some occupations are recognised by UKVI as 'shortage occupations'. If an occupation is on the national shortage occupation list, it means that there are not enough suitably qualified and skilled workers from the resident labour market to fill the available vacancies. In these instances, a non-EEA national may be appointed to the job if they meet all the eligibility crietria without the employer having to advertise to the resident labour market in the first instance.

Definition of a resident worker

A resident worker is a person who is an EEA national or has settled status in the UK within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1971, as amended by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Member countries of the EEA include:

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Republic of Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
UK

Nationals from Switzerland and their family members also have the same free movement and employment rights as EEA nationals.

UK/EEA citizens

If you are a British citizen, a Swiss national or a national of a country in the EEA, you do not need permission from the UKVI to work in the UK.

Turkish nationals (already residing in the UK)

If you are a Turkish national, you may benefit from the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) with Turkey. The agreement provides Turkish nationals, who are already working legally in the UK, with certain rights when they need to extend their stay. If you meet the criteria set by the UKVI you will be issued with a vignette in your passport and receive a letter confirming your status. For further information, visit the UKVI website.

Related reading: Guide to live and work in the UK for medical and allied health professionals

Source:
The above article is reproduced from material entitled 'Immigration rules' as provided by NHS Health Careers. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.