Relocating from the Gulf states to the UK: an NHS arrival guide
A practical, step-by-step guide for Gulf-based doctors, nurses and allied health professionals moving from the Gulf states to work in the NHS. The core arrival steps are the same for everyone; this guide adds the the Gulf states-specific detail β flights, the TB-test position and how you evidence English. Every figure is dated and sourced.
What do I need to do when I move from the Gulf states to work in the NHS?
After you arrive from the Gulf states you register with a local NHS GP (free, no proof of address needed), open a UK bank account, apply online for a free National Insurance number, and set up your eVisa share code. Check the GOV.UK TB-test list for the Gulf states before you apply.
The corridor-specific detail for the Gulf states
| Item | Cost / requirement |
|---|---|
| Health & Care Worker visa fee (up to 3 years) | Β£324 per person |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Exempt on this visa |
| Register with an NHS GP | Free |
| Apply for a National Insurance number | Free |
| TB test certificate (from the Gulf states) | May not be required β check the GOV.UK country list |
| Typical one-way flight (illustrative estimate) | about Β£300 to Β£650 one way (seasonal β illustrative, not a quoted fare) |
The TB-test requirement depends on the country you apply FROM: several Gulf states are not on the GOV.UK list, but you must check the list for your specific location before you apply.
English evidence: Many clinicians in the Gulf trained elsewhere, so your English evidence and registration route follow your country of primary qualification, not your current country of residence.
The five things to sort first
Once you land, these are the practical tasks to complete in your first few weeks. Two of them β registering with a GP and applying for a National Insurance number β are free.
Set up your UKVI account and eVisa
Your UK immigration status is now held digitally as an eVisa, not a physical card. You prove your status by sharing a code from your online UKVI account.
Physical biometric residence permits (BRPs) have been phased out β create a UKVI account so you can generate a share code for employers and landlords.
Contains public sector information published by UK Home Office and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: GOV.UK β UKVI account and eVisa (July 2026).
Register with an NHS GP surgery
Registering with a local GP surgery is how you access non-emergency NHS care and get an NHS number.
You do not need proof of address, ID, an NHS number or any immigration status to register with a GP β a surgery cannot refuse you on those grounds, and registration is free.
Source: NHS β How to register with a GP surgery (July 2026).
Apply for a National Insurance (NI) number
Your NI number is a personal account number for the UK tax and benefits system. You apply for free online at GOV.UK once you are in the UK.
You can start work before your NI number arrives β give your employer the number as soon as you receive it; you are never charged to apply.
Contains public sector information published by HM Revenue & Customs / DWP and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: GOV.UK β Apply for a National Insurance number (July 2026).
Open a UK bank account
You need a UK account to be paid by your NHS trust and to pay rent and bills. Banks ask for proof of identity and, usually, a UK address.
If you have no UK address history yet, a basic bank account or an app-based bank aimed at newcomers can often be opened before you have a permanent address β compare fees first.
Source: MoneyHelper β How to choose the right bank account (July 2026).
Sort council tax and utilities
Council tax is a local charge on your home that funds local services; you also set up gas, electricity, water and broadband.
Council tax is charged per household, not per person β and full-time students are exempt, so check whether anyone in your home qualifies for a discount.
Contains public sector information published by UK Government and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: GOV.UK β Council Tax (July 2026).
Cost of living
Housing will be your biggest cost. The Office for National Statistics puts the average private rent in England at about Β£1,390 a month, and the spread is wide β roughly Β£900 a month in the cheapest regions (North East) to well over Β£2,200 a month in London. Most NHS staff live within a commute of their trust, often in cheaper towns nearby, and many trusts offer short-term accommodation while you find somewhere permanent. Ask your trustβs international recruitment team, which usually knows the local areas and landlords used to renting to new NHS staff.
Get the full first-30-days checklist for your move
A clinician moving from the Gulf states can register with a GP, open a bank account and apply for a National Insurance number in the first two weeks β none needs a completed immigration history, and two are free.
- Register with an NHS GP
- Free Β· no ID or proof of address
- Apply for a National Insurance number
- Free Β· online at GOV.UK
- Health & Care Worker visa (β€3 yrs)
- Β£284 per person
- TB test (from the Gulf states)
- Check the GOV.UK list
+ 19 more not shown here. As of July 2026. Source: NHS England, GOV.UK and ONS, 2026.
Email me the full the Gulf states arrival checklist
Every practical step from before you fly to your first NHS payslip β documents, TB test, eVisa, bank account, GP, National Insurance number, council tax and more. Free information β you deal with each body directly, and we never place you in a job.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a TB test to move from the Gulf states to the UK?
- It depends on where you apply from. For the Gulf states, several locations are not on the GOV.UK TB-test list, but the requirement is set by the country you apply from, not your nationality β so check the GOV.UK TB-test page for your specific location before you apply.
- How much is a flight from the Gulf states to the UK?
- As an illustrative estimate only, a one-way economy fare is about Β£300 to Β£650 one way (seasonal β illustrative, not a quoted fare). This is not a quoted price β fares change constantly with season, airline and how far ahead you book. Some NHS employers reimburse part of your relocation costs, so ask your trust before you pay.
- How do I evidence my English for registration?
- Many clinicians in the Gulf trained elsewhere, so your English evidence and registration route follow your country of primary qualification, not your current country of residence.
- Do I need proof of address to register with an NHS GP?
- No. NHS guidance is that you do not need proof of address, ID, an NHS number or any immigration status to register with a GP surgery, and registration is free. It also generates your NHS number. Register with a surgery near where you are staying as soon as you arrive.
- Is this a recruitment service or job offer?
- No. This is free practical information. GeraClinic is a telemedicine platform, not a recruitment agency β it does not place clinicians into NHS or care jobs and does not actively recruit from any country. You apply to employers, the Home Office and UK regulators directly.
Keep practising while your UK move is in progress
GMC-registered and internationally-qualified doctors use GeraClinic to see patients online on flexible hours β useful income and clinical continuity while your paperwork and relocation come together. It is not a UK job placement.
Before you arrive: registration & pathway guides
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 β nothing is estimated or invented. Last reviewed: 3 July 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice.