Work as a Doctor in the UK from France
As of July 2026, French-qualified doctors who want to practise in the UK must hold registration with a licence to practise from the General Medical Council (GMC). Since the UK left the EU on 1 January 2021, French medical qualifications are no longer automatically recognised — the GMC now assesses each application individually.
How French-qualified doctors register with the GMC to work in the UK after Brexit — the assessment route, the DES specialist option, English evidence, and the visa overview.
Which GMC route applies to you?
Answer two questions for a plain-English summary of the likely registration route and English-evidence options. This is general educational guidance only — the General Medical Council makes the final decision on every application.
The GMC route for French-qualified doctors
Since automatic EEA recognition ended, most French graduates register through a GMC-assessed route, which may involve the PLAB examination or a recognised postgraduate/specialist qualification depending on the GMC’s assessment.
Automatic EEA recognition of French qualifications ended when the post-Brexit transition period closed. The GMC now assesses the Diplôme d’État de docteur en médecine through the same framework it uses for other international applicants — so confirming your route with the GMC is the essential first step.
If you completed specialty training and hold the Diplôme d’Études Spécialisées (DES), ask the GMC whether it supports entry to the Specialist Register, as that can be a faster route than PLAB for suitably qualified specialists. Doctors earlier in their careers are usually directed toward the PLAB examination or a recognised postgraduate qualification.
Prepare certified English translations of your Diplôme d’État, your DES where held, and your registration with the Ordre des Médecins, together with a Certificate of Good Standing from the Conseil National de l’Ordre des Médecins.
Your registration steps, in order
Confirm your GMC route
Contact the General Medical Council (gmc-uk.org) to confirm which registration route your primary medical qualification and any postgraduate qualifications support — the PLAB examination, a recognised postgraduate qualification, or specialist/GP registration.
Meet the knowledge and skills requirement
Complete the route the GMC confirms — for example, passing both parts of the PLAB examination, or holding a postgraduate qualification the GMC accepts.
Evidence your English
Provide the English-language evidence the GMC accepts for your circumstances — usually IELTS Academic or OET, or evidence that your qualification was taught and examined in English. Confirm current thresholds on gmc-uk.org.
Gather Certificates of Good Standing
Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing (Certificate of Current Professional Status) from every medical regulator you have been registered with in the last five years.
Apply to the GMC and arrange the right to work
Submit your GMC application with your evidence. If you are not a UK or Irish citizen, secure the right to work — typically a Skilled Worker (Health and Care Worker) visa with a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer (gov.uk).
Specialty and specialist registration
French doctors who hold the Diplôme d’Études Spécialisées (DES) can ask the GMC whether it supports entry to the Specialist Register — directly or through the Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR / Portfolio Pathway). The GMC assesses each specialist portfolio individually, so confirm your position before defaulting to the PLAB route.
The specialist and GP registers, and the Portfolio Pathway, are administered by the GMC. Confirm whether your qualifications support a specialist route on gmc-uk.org before assuming a route.
English-language evidence
French medical degrees are taught in French, so most French applicants evidence English proficiency by sitting IELTS Academic or the OET (Medicine). The GMC sets the acceptable tests and the current minimum scores — confirm them on gmc-uk.org before booking a test.
What French-qualified doctors need
These are the obligations the GMC and, where relevant, UK Visas and Immigration place on applicants. Confirm the current detail on the official websites.
Hold the Diplôme d’État de docteur en médecine
Provide a Certificate of Good Standing from the Conseil National de l’Ordre des Médecins covering the last five years
Where held, present your Diplôme d’Études Spécialisées (DES) for specialist-route consideration
Confirm with the GMC whether the PLAB route or a postgraduate/specialist route applies to you
Evidence English-language proficiency (usually IELTS Academic or OET) and obtain the right to work in the UK unless you already hold settled or pre-settled status
Certificate of Good Standing
You will need a Certificate of Good Standing (Certificate of Current Professional Status) from the Conseil National de l’Ordre des Médecins (CNOM), plus one from any other medical regulator you have been registered with in the last five years.
Right to work / visa
French citizens who were resident in the UK before Brexit may hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Everyone else typically needs a Skilled Worker (Health and Care Worker) visa, which requires a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK employer — details on gov.uk.
What French-qualified doctors earn in the NHS
NHS pay is set by national scales tied to the grade you are appointed to, not your nationality — a French-qualified doctor earns the scale rate for that grade.
Below are the current England basic pay scales for resident (junior) doctors. Basic pay excludes out-of-hours and weekend enhancements and any London weighting (High Cost Area Supplement), which are added on top.
| Nodal point | Typical grade | Basic pay |
|---|---|---|
| Nodal point 1 | Foundation Year 1 (FY1) | £38,831 |
| Nodal point 2 | Foundation Year 2 (FY2) | £44,439 |
| Nodal point 3 | Core / early specialty training (ST1–ST2) | £52,656 |
| Nodal point 4 | Specialty training (ST3–ST5) | £65,048 |
| Nodal point 5 | Senior specialty training (ST6–ST8) | £73,992 |
Consultants are on a separate national scale, currently running from roughly £109,725 to £145,475 in basic pay, rising with years of service. Additional programmed activities and on-call availability can lift total earnings further.
Source: BMA resident-doctor pay scales for England and the NHS Employers Pay and Conditions Circular (Medical & Dental). Basic pay before enhancements. Figures checked in July 2026 and reviewed annually — confirm the live figure with the BMA before relying on it.
The France → UK document checklist
Here is the shape of the pathway and the current NHS pay anchors. Enter your email to get the full, ordered document checklist for French-qualified doctors — the exact papers to gather, in sequence — kept up to date.
A French-qualified doctor’s UK route runs Diplôme d’État → confirm GMC route (PLAB, postgraduate, or DES specialist route) → English evidence → Certificate of Good Standing from the Ordre des Médecins → GMC application → work authorisation.
- Foundation Year 1 (nodal point 1)
- £38,831
- Specialty training (nodal point 4)
- £65,048
- Consultant basic pay range
- £109,725–£145,475
+ 8 more not shown here. As of July 2026. Source: GMC registration guidance + BMA / NHS Employers pay scales.
Get the full France → UK document checklist
Enter your email and we send the complete, ordered checklist you can work through. No spam — unsubscribe anytime.
Practical notes for French-qualified doctors
- Confirm your route with the GMC before paying for certified translations of French-language documents, which can be a meaningful cost.
- If you hold the DES, ask about the specialist route early — it can materially change your timeline.
Important: this is information, not recruitment
This page is independent educational information for doctors who are researching UK registration of their own accord. It is not legal, immigration, or careers advice, and it is not a job offer. Gera Services Ltd is not a medical regulator and is not a recruitment agency — we do not register doctors, and we do not place doctors into NHS or other UK jobs. As a matter of policy we provide information only and do not actively recruit from countries on the WHO 2023 Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List. The General Medical Council (GMC) is the UK’s independent regulator of doctors; visa rules are set by the UK Home Office. Requirements, fees and pay scales change periodically — always confirm the current position with the GMC (gmc-uk.org) and GOV.UK before making any decision.
Frequently asked questions
Are French medical qualifications still recognised in the UK after Brexit?
They are assessed rather than automatically recognised. Since 1 January 2021 the GMC evaluates the Diplôme d’État through its international-application framework and confirms the route (PLAB or a postgraduate/specialist route) case by case.
Does the DES help with UK specialist registration?
It may. Doctors who hold the Diplôme d’Études Spécialisées (DES) can ask the GMC whether it supports entry to the Specialist Register, directly or via the CESR / Portfolio Pathway. The GMC assesses each application individually.
What English test do French graduates need?
Because French degrees are taught in French, most applicants sit IELTS Academic or OET. The GMC sets the acceptable tests and minimum scores — check the current requirement on gmc-uk.org.
Do French doctors need a UK visa?
French citizens with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme do not need a separate work visa. Others usually need a Skilled Worker (Health and Care Worker) visa with a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer.
UK registration guides for doctors from other countries
Prefer to work remotely from France?
While you work through UK registration, you can keep practising as a remote telemedicine doctor with GeraClinic — see patients online in your own country, set your own hours and fee, and get paid within 3–5 business days.
Remote telemedicine work for doctors in FranceKeep earning while you plan your move to the UK
GeraClinic is free to join for licensed doctors. Work from home, set your own hours and fees, and see online patients — from wherever you are registered today.