India to UK: The Doctor Registration Pathway Explained
If you qualified as a doctor in India and want to work in the UK, there is one core path: obtain registration with a licence to practise from the General Medical Council (GMC), then find a sponsored job and visa. This guide walks through every stage in plain English, with links to the official sources for every figure. It is information only β not recruitment, and not advice.
Figures and rules on this page were last checked against their official sources in July 2026 and are reviewed by their issuers periodically β confirm the current position at the linked sources before you rely on any figure.
In one paragraph
An India-qualified doctor becomes eligible to work in the UK by evidencing English (IELTS Academic 7.5 overall / 7.0 each, or OET grade B), passing the PLAB assessment (PLAB 1 in India, PLAB 2 in Manchester β now delivered as the UK Medical Licensing Assessment), and being granted GMC registration with a licence to practise within two years of passing PLAB 2. A UK employer that holds a sponsor licence then issues a Certificate of Sponsorship, and the doctor applies for the Health and Care Worker visa. Doctors who already hold an accepted UK postgraduate qualification may register without PLAB.
The pathway, step by step
Check your primary medical qualification
Your MBBS (and awarding college/university) must be a qualification the GMC accepts. India-issued primary medical qualifications listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools are widely used for this route. You keep your Indian NMC / State Medical Council registration throughout β the UK process is additional, not a replacement.
Prove your English
Before the GMC will register you, you must evidence your knowledge of English β most India-qualified doctors do this with IELTS Academic or the OET. This must usually be in date when you apply for PLAB and again when you apply for registration.
Pass PLAB (delivered as the UKMLA)
PLAB is the GMCβs main assessment for international medical graduates. Since 2024 it is delivered as the UK Medical Licensing Assessment: PLAB 1 covers the Applied Knowledge Test and PLAB 2 the Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment. PLAB 1 can be taken in India; PLAB 2 is taken in Manchester.
Apply for GMC registration with a licence to practise
You must apply for registration within two years of passing PLAB 2 (or the CPSA). Once granted, you can be employed as a doctor in the UK β commonly starting in a non-training NHS post before entering formal specialty training.
Get a job offer and a Health and Care Worker visa
A UK employer that holds a sponsor licence issues a Certificate of Sponsorship for a specific role; you then apply for the Health and Care Worker visa. This visa route has reduced fees and is exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Progress into specialty and specialist registration
Over time you can enter formal specialty or GP training (leading to a CCT) or, if you already have equivalent experience, apply through the Portfolio Pathway. Royal College membership exams (MRCP, MRCS, MRCGP and others) are a key part of this.
A note on how to read this guide
The UK actively welcomes internationally-qualified doctors, and India is consistently one of the largest source countries for the medical workforce. That demand is real β but the process is regulator-led, not agency-led. No third party can shorten the GMCβs requirements, sit an exam for you, or guarantee a job. Be cautious of anyone who promises a βguaranteed NHS placementβ for a fee: under UK law it is illegal for a recruiter to charge you, the applicant, a placement fee, and the individual stages below can only be completed by you with the GMC and the Home Office.
Everything here reflects the published rules of the GMC, the BMA, NHS Employers, and GOV.UK. Where a number appears, we say where it comes from and roughly when it applied, because these figures are revised periodically. Use the linked official pages for the live position.
Frequently asked questions
Can an India-qualified doctor (MBBS) work in the UK?
Yes. India-qualified doctors are one of the largest groups of internationally-trained doctors in the UK. To work as a doctor you must obtain registration with a licence to practise from the General Medical Council (GMC), evidence your English, and β for most people β pass the PLAB assessment (now delivered as the UK Medical Licensing Assessment). You then need a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a visa.
What is the fastest route from India to the UK for doctors?
For most India-qualified doctors the PLAB route is the most direct: prove your English (IELTS or OET), pass PLAB 1 in India, pass PLAB 2 in Manchester, then apply for GMC registration within two years. Doctors who already hold an accepted UK postgraduate qualification (such as MRCP or MRCS) may be able to register without PLAB. There is no way to skip GMC registration or the English requirement.
Do I lose my Indian medical registration if I register with the GMC?
No. GMC registration is additional to your NMC / State Medical Council registration in India β it does not cancel it. Many doctors keep both. What you can do clinically in each country is governed separately by each regulator.
Is Gera / GeraClinic a recruitment agency that places doctors in the NHS?
No. GeraClinic does not register doctors, does not sponsor visas, and does not place doctors into NHS or other UK jobs. This guide is independent educational information. GeraClinic is a separate remote telemedicine platform for doctors who are already registered in their own country. UK registration is handled by the GMC and jobs by UK employers directly.
How long does the whole India-to-UK process take?
It varies widely β commonly around 12 to 24 months from starting English preparation to landing in a UK post β because it depends on exam availability, how quickly you pass each stage, GMC processing, and how long it takes to secure a job offer and visa. Build the timeline around the two-year registration window after PLAB 2.
Roughly what will it cost?
The main official costs are the English test, the PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 fees, the GMC registration and annual retention fee, and the visa. Add travel to Manchester for PLAB 2 and living costs. Because each fee is revised periodically, use the fee pages linked from each section for current amounts rather than a single headline number.
Practise remotely while you prepare
Preparing for UK registration takes time. GeraClinic is a separate remote telemedicine platform where doctors who hold valid NMC / State Medical Council registration in India can consult with patients online, set their own hours and fee, and keep clinical skills sharp β from home, around exam preparation. It is not connected to your GMC application or any UK role.
See remote telemedicine work for doctors in IndiaMore in the India β UK doctor pathway
- PLAB / UKMLA examHow the PLAB assessment works for India-trained doctors: PLAB 1 (Applied Knowledge Test) and PLAB 2 (Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment), where they are held, current fees, and the two-year registration window. Independent guidance.
- GMC registrationThe routes an India-qualified doctor can use to obtain GMC registration with a licence to practise β PLAB/UKMLA, accepted postgraduate qualifications, and sponsorship β plus the primary-qualification and evidence requirements. Information only.
- English (IELTS / OET)The English-language evidence the GMC accepts from India-qualified doctors β IELTS Academic and OET β the scores required, validity window, and how it fits with PLAB and your visa. Independent, source-linked guidance.
- Specialty routesHow India-trained specialists progress in the UK: entering the specialist or GP register via CCT or the Portfolio Pathway, and the Royal College membership exams (MRCP, MRCS, MRCGP and others). Educational overview with official links.
- NHS salaryCurrent NHS England basic pay scales by grade β resident (junior) doctor nodal points, SAS grades and consultants β with London weighting and out-of-hours enhancements explained. Figures attributed to the BMA and NHS Employers.
- Health & Care Worker visaHow the UK Health and Care Worker visa works for India-qualified doctors β the job offer and Certificate of Sponsorship requirement, reduced fees, Immigration Health Surcharge exemption, and English evidence. Information only, linking to GOV.UK.
Official sources
This guide summarises publicly available information. For the current, authoritative position, go to the primary sources: