How much does GMC registration and PLAB cost?

As of July 2026, the GMC PLAB assessment costs £283 for PLAB part 1 and £1,036 for PLAB part 2. On top of that the GMC charges an application fee for registration and an annual retention fee (with reduced rates for lower incomes), and you pay for an approved English test. Confirm the current amounts on the GMC fees and funding page, because they change on the GMC's annual fee cycle.

What English test do I need for the GMC?

The GMC accepts IELTS Academic at 7.5 overall, with at least 7.0 in each of the four skills, or OET at Grade B in each of the four skills. Doctors whose primary medical qualification was taught and examined in English, or who have recent English-language clinical practice, may be able to evidence English another way. The GMC sets the acceptable evidence and current thresholds.

How much will I earn as a doctor in the NHS?

In England for 2025/26, a Foundation Year 1 doctor earns about £38,800 basic pay, rising through the resident-doctor scale, and the consultant scale runs about £105,500 to £139,900. On top of basic pay, resident doctors receive enhancements for hours over 40 a week, night work, weekends and on-call availability. Confirm the current figures with the BMA and NHS Employers.

Which visa do doctors use?

Most doctors moving to work in the NHS use the Health and Care Worker visa — a branch of the Skilled Worker visa that is cheaper, faster and exempt from the immigration health surcharge. You need a job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor and a certificate of sponsorship before applying.

How long does the whole process take?

Realistically many months and sometimes more than a year from decision to first NHS shift: English test, PLAB part 1 then part 2 (with waits for exam dates and a UK trip for part 2), GMC registration, job applications, and then the visa. Doctors on a recognised postgraduate qualification or specialist route may skip PLAB, which can shorten the timeline.

Is it worth moving to the UK as a doctor?

An honest, fully-sourced answer for internationally-qualified doctors (IMGs): what GMC registration and PLAB actually cost, what you will earn from foundation year to consultant, which visa you use, how long it takes, and the real downsides alongside the upsides.

Is it worth moving to the UK as an internationally-qualified doctor?

For many international medical graduates it is worthwhile — the UK offers structured GMC registration, respected training and a route to settlement — but it is a long, front-loaded investment. As of July 2026, PLAB costs £283 (part 1) plus £1,036 (part 2), the Health and Care Worker visa is £284–£551 with the health surcharge waived, and NHS pay runs from about £38,800 basic for a first-year doctor to a consultant scale of about £105,500 to £139,900. Weigh that against months of preparation and often starting below your home seniority.

Source:GMC — Fees and funding·as of from 1 April 2026updated reviewed quarterly (last: 3 July 2026)

The honest pros and cons for doctors

Reasons it can be worth it

Internationally-respected GMC registration and NHS training that travels well for the rest of your career.
The Health and Care Worker visa is exempt from the immigration health surcharge and leads to settlement after five years.
Transparent national pay scales from foundation to consultant — you know the number before you commit.
A recognised specialist or postgraduate qualification can bypass PLAB, shortening the route.
Family can accompany you, with schooling and NHS access for dependants.

Reasons it might not be

Front-loaded cost: PLAB (£283 + £1,036), an English test, GMC fees, the visa and travel — mostly paid before you earn.
PLAB part 2 must be sat in the UK, adding a trip and accommodation before you have a job.
Your first NHS post is often more junior than your role at home while you adapt to UK practice.
UK tax and living costs are high; NHS pay is lower than tax-free Gulf salaries or US earnings for the same grade.
Exam-date and registration waits mean the timeline is largely outside your control.

The numbers, itemised

Key doctor figures, UK, as of July 2026 (confirm on the official source)
Item	Amount	Source
PLAB part 1	£283	GMC
PLAB part 2 (sat in the UK)	£1,036	GMC
Health & Care Worker visa (up to 3 yrs / over 3 yrs)	£284 / £551	Home Office
Immigration health surcharge	Exempt for health & care visa	Home Office
Foundation Year 1 basic pay	about £38,800/yr	NHS / BMA
Consultant scale	about £105,500 to £139,900/yr	NHS / BMA

Source: GMC — Fees and funding (from 1 April 2026).

Contains public sector information published by UK Home Office and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: GOV.UK — Health and Care Worker visa (July 2026).

Source: BMA — Pay for doctors in the UK (2025/26).

Source: GMC — Evidence of your knowledge of English (July 2026).

A note on ethical recruitment

The UK operates a Code of Practice for international recruitment. It restricts the active recruitment of health and care staff from certain countries on the WHO Safeguards list, but it does not stop any individual doctor from applying directly, of their own accord, to an advertised vacancy. If you qualified in one of those countries, treat these pages as pathway information — not a solicitation — and check the current position before you commit money.

Frequently asked questions

How much does GMC registration and PLAB cost?: As of July 2026, the GMC PLAB assessment costs £283 for PLAB part 1 and £1,036 for PLAB part 2. On top of that the GMC charges an application fee for registration and an annual retention fee (with reduced rates for lower incomes), and you pay for an approved English test. Confirm the current amounts on the GMC fees and funding page, because they change on the GMC's annual fee cycle.
What English test do I need for the GMC?: The GMC accepts IELTS Academic at 7.5 overall, with at least 7.0 in each of the four skills, or OET at Grade B in each of the four skills. Doctors whose primary medical qualification was taught and examined in English, or who have recent English-language clinical practice, may be able to evidence English another way. The GMC sets the acceptable evidence and current thresholds.
How much will I earn as a doctor in the NHS?: In England for 2025/26, a Foundation Year 1 doctor earns about £38,800 basic pay, rising through the resident-doctor scale, and the consultant scale runs about £105,500 to £139,900. On top of basic pay, resident doctors receive enhancements for hours over 40 a week, night work, weekends and on-call availability. Confirm the current figures with the BMA and NHS Employers.
Which visa do doctors use?: Most doctors moving to work in the NHS use the Health and Care Worker visa — a branch of the Skilled Worker visa that is cheaper, faster and exempt from the immigration health surcharge. You need a job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor and a certificate of sponsorship before applying.
How long does the whole process take?: Realistically many months and sometimes more than a year from decision to first NHS shift: English test, PLAB part 1 then part 2 (with waits for exam dates and a UK trip for part 2), GMC registration, job applications, and then the visa. Doctors on a recognised postgraduate qualification or specialist route may skip PLAB, which can shorten the timeline.

See patients online while your GMC registration is in progress

Internationally-qualified and GMC-registered doctors use GeraClinic for flexible remote consultations — income and clinical continuity while your UK paperwork clears. This is not an NHS job placement.

How remote consulting works Full GMC registration pathway

Planning general practice specifically? See the UK GP register & CEGPR pathway, or check which specialties the NHS is short of.

Country pathway pages

Editorial data review: figures on this page are drawn directly from the official public source cited here and were cross-checked against that source at publication; derived values (percentages, medians, index scores) are computed from those published figures using the stated methodology — nothing is estimated or invented. Last reviewed: 3 July 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice.