What does it cost to relocate to the UK as a healthcare worker?
Relocating to work in UK healthcare has two kinds of cost: the fixed fees you pay to regulators and the Home Office, and the variable costs of actually moving. This page itemises both for a doctor (via PLAB) and a nurse (via the NMC route), using the real published figures.
Reference period: July 2026. Figures are drawn directly from the official sources named on this page.
How much does it cost to relocate to the UK as a healthcare worker?
The fixed regulatory and visa fees to relocate to the UK as a healthcare worker are about £2,036 for a doctor via PLAB (PLAB 1 £268, PLAB 2 £1,036, GMC registration £408, visa £324) and about £1,494 for a nurse via the NMC route (£1,170 NMC fees + £324 visa), per GMC, NMC and GOV.UK. An English test (about £200–£360), travel and living costs are extra; the visa is exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
The full relocation cost, itemised
The table compares the two most common routes side by side — a doctor registering via PLAB and a nurse via the NMC Test of Competence. The fixed fees are known and sourced; the variable costs (travel, exam accommodation, relocation and initial living costs) depend on your circumstances and are usually the larger part of the real budget.
| Cost | Doctor (via PLAB) | Nurse (via NMC) |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator registration & exams | £1,712 (doctor, PLAB) | £1,170 (nurse, NMC ToC route) |
| English language test (IELTS / OET) | £200–£360 | £200–£360 |
| Health and Care Worker visa (up to 3 yrs) | £324 per person | £324 per person |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £0 (exempt) | £0 (exempt) |
| Fixed fees subtotal | ~£2,316 | ~£1,774 |
| Travel, exam accommodation & prep courses | Variable | Variable |
| Relocation & initial living costs | Variable | Variable |
Break it down further
For the doctor route, our full PLAB cost breakdown itemises every GMC fee. For the visa, the Health and Care Worker visa cost page covers the application fee, the surcharge exemption and the minimum salary rule. And to see what you would earn once you arrive, compare UK doctor pay and UK nurse pay.
Cost of relocating to the UK: FAQs
- How much does it cost a doctor to move to the UK?
- The fixed regulatory and visa fees for a doctor via PLAB are about £2,036: PLAB 1 (£268), PLAB 2 (£1,036), GMC full registration with a licence (£408) and the Health and Care Worker visa (£324). Add an English test (about £200–£360), travel to Manchester for PLAB 2, and relocation and living costs.
- How much does it cost a nurse to move to the UK?
- For an internationally trained nurse, the NMC's Test of Competence route totals £1,170 in NMC fees (£140 evaluation, £83 CBT, £794 OSCE, £153 registration), plus the £324 visa — about £1,494 in fixed fees, before the English test, travel and living costs.
- Do I have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?
- No. The Health and Care Worker visa is exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge for you and your dependants. On the standard Skilled Worker route this would be charged per year of the visa, so the exemption is a significant saving when relocating on the health and care route.
- What costs are not fixed?
- The biggest variable costs are travel to the UK (and, for doctors, travel and accommodation in Manchester for PLAB 2), preparation courses, flights for the family, initial accommodation deposits and living costs before your first pay date. These depend on your country, family size and city, so budget generously on top of the fixed fees.
- Will my employer cover any of these costs?
- Some UK employers offer relocation support or reimburse certain fees for internationally recruited staff, but this varies by employer and is not guaranteed. Any such support is arranged directly with the employer — this page is independent information and does not offer or arrange it.
Earn while you prepare to move
Registration and relocation take months. GeraClinic is a separate remote telemedicine platform where clinicians who hold valid registration in their home country can consult online, set their own hours and fee, and keep skills sharp — not connected to any UK role or application.
Source: GMC — PLAB and the MLA (2025–26 GMC fee schedule).
Source: GMC — Fees for doctors (1 April 2026).
Source: NMC — Information for internationally trained applicants (July 2026).
Contains public sector information published by UK Home Office (GOV.UK) and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: GOV.UK — Health and Care Worker visa (July 2026).
This page is independent educational information for people researching UK healthcare qualification, registration and pay of their own accord. It is not legal, immigration, financial or careers advice, and it is not a job offer. Gera Systems Ltd is not a medical regulator and is not a recruitment agency — it does not register clinicians and does not place anyone into NHS or other UK jobs. Fees, pay scales and immigration rules change periodically — always confirm the current figure with the named source (NHS Employers, GMC, NMC and GOV.UK) before making any decision.