Full registration for international medical graduates

===== Full registration for international medical graduates — Overview ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates Full registration for international medical graduates This guide is for international medical graduates. It explains how to apply for full registration with a licence to practise. You are eligible to apply for this route if you: - graduated from a medical school outside the UK or Switzerland and you:  - have passed both parts of the PLAB test within the past two years - have completed an internship. Email me a link to this page To make it easier to come back here, we can email you a direct link to this page. Just enter your email below. Please provide a valid email address Please check the captcha box Email me a link We'll never share your details with anyone else. Thanks – we've emailed you a link. Sorry, we can't send you the link right now. Please try again later. Why should I read this guide? To find out what you need to do to make your application. Next steps Once you are ready to apply – make your application through GMC Online.  Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply Next Evidence of your primary medical qualification Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== Evidence of your primary medical qualification ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/evidence-of-your-primary-medical-qualification Evidence of your primary medical qualification Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply To register with us, you must have completed an acceptable medical degree. This is commonly known as your primary medical qualification.  What do I need to provide? As part of your application you’ll need to provide us with a copy of your primary medical qualification. Check we accept your primary medical qualification. Primary source verification Once you have checked your primary medical qualification meets our acceptability criteria, you’ll need to have it independently verified before we can grant your registration with a licence to practise. Read about what primary source verification means for you. What must my certificate include? Make sure you provide a scanned copy of the decorative primary medical qualification certificate you were given when you first qualified. This should be the same document that you sent to be independently verified. Your certificate must show the exact date you passed your final exam or assessment. If it doesn’t, then provide a letter from your university confirming this date. Previous Summary Next Evidence of your internship or experience Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== Evidence of your internship or experience ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/your-internship Evidence of your internship or experience Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply An internship is formal training and experience after you've completed your primary medical qualification. If you have completed an internship You must have completed at least 12 months' continuous medical practice in an approved training post in a public hospital. You must have done this either immediately before or after you graduated. Your internship must have included: - at least three months in medicine and three months in surgery, which lasted between 12 and 18 months, or - at least six months in medicine and six months in surgery, which lasted for 18 months or longer. What do I need to provide?  You'll need to provide a certificate or letter of completion from your institution, which gives details of the dates and specialties of your rotations. If you completed an internship in the UK, you’ll need to read our guidance for moving from provisional registration to full registration.  If you haven’t completed an internship If you didn't complete an internship, we will accept evidence that you practised for two years continuously after you graduated. We will check that your experience: - was undertaken in a public hospital that meets the standards for regulation within its jurisdiction and has established supervision, safety and governance systems in place. - includes at least three months of practising medicine, continuously and without interruption. - includes at least least three months practising surgery, continuously and without interruption. - was completed under supervision  What do I need to provide? You'll need to give us a letter from the hospital on letter headed paper, which gives details of the dates and specialties of your practice. Previous Evidence of your primary medical qualification Next Demonstrating your knowledge of English Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== Demonstrating your knowledge of English ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/your-knowledge-of-english Demonstrating your knowledge of English Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply Why do you need to check I can communicate in English?  We need to make sure you have the necessary knowledge of English to communicate effectively before we can grant your application. This is so you don't put the safety of your patients at risk. Communicating includes speaking, reading, writing and listening. You must provide evidence demonstrating that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. Please see our English language guidance for further information on the evidence we can consider. The most straightforward way to demonstrate your English language skills is by providing us with an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET) certificate that meets our minimum scores and was awarded within the last two years. You do not need to provide English Language evidence if you are a national of a country where English is the first and native language, and you were awarded your primary medical qualification in a country where English is the first and native language. Please check our English language guidance for a list of countries where English is the first and native language. Previous Evidence of your internship or experience Next Your passport Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== Your passport ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/your-passport Your passport Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply What do I need to provide? You’ll need to provide a copy of your passport’s photo ID page and signature page. Why we need your details We need you to confirm your identity. This is so we can meet our obligations under the Medical Act and to help stop criminals using your personal details for their own benefit. We'll only ask for enough information to process your application. Previous Demonstrating your knowledge of English Next Your certificate of good standing Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== Your certificate of good standing ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/your-certificate-of-good-standing Your certificate of good standing Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply What do I need to provide?  You'll need to attach a certificate of good standing from each medical regulatory authority you've been registered or licensed with in the last five years. You'll need to do this even if you've not worked in that country. Where possible, please ask the regulator to email the certificate to us directly. They may send you a certificate of past good standing if you're not registered or licensed with them now. You can find out which medical regulatory authority to contact in our Certificate of good standing directory. Please remember Each certificate is only valid for three months from the date it's signed. It must be valid when we approve your application. If there's no medical regulatory authority in the country to issue a certificate, we'll give you further advice once we've assessed your application. Previous Your passport Next Your activities for the last five years Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== Your activities for the last five years ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/your-activities-for-the-last-five-years Your activities for the last five years Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply What do I need to provide? You must provide us with details of your most recent five years postgraduate medical experience, non-medical and other activities and every country you have been registered or licensed to work in during this time. Please note we will complete global background checks on you and failure to provide this information or any omissions may result in your application being refused. Examples of other activities are: - clinical attachments - unemployment - maternity leave - study leave - vacation - career breaks. Do I need to send employer references? You only need to supply employment references if, in the last five years, you've done: - non-medical work - medical work when you've not had registration or a license to practise with a medical regulatory authority - an observership or clinical attachment exceeding two months in duration. You must provide a reference for each period of this type of work. Ask your employer to complete our reference form and email it to us directly from their official workplace email address. If this is not possible, they should be attached to your online application. Each reference form must confirm the exact dates of your employment, indicate that you were of good standing during your employment, outline the nature of your work and show your registration requirements. Reference forms for any current posts are only valid for three months from the date they're signed. Previous Your certificate of good standing Next Declaring your fitness to practise Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== Declaring your fitness to practise ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/declaring-your-fitness-to-practise Declaring your fitness to practise Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply What you need to tell us when you apply for registration As part of your application, we'll ask you to complete a declaration of fitness to practise. Before you complete the declaration, please open our 'What to tell us when you apply declaration tool'. If you need help on a specific question, please read our guide on 'What to tell us when you apply'. Depending on what you tell us, we may ask you to give us more information and to send documents to us. Please note that because you tell us something, it doesn't mean that we won't register you. Previous Your activities for the last five years Next Will there be restrictions on where I can work? Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== Will there be restrictions on where I can work? ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/will-there-be-restrictions-on-where-i-can-work Will there be restrictions on where I can work? Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply You’ll only be able to work in an approved practice setting initially If your application is successful you must work in an approved practice setting. This is an organisation that will give you the supervision, support and training you need. It will also be able to identify and act on any concerns raised about fitness to practise and provide regulatory assurance. You must work in an approved practice setting until the first time you revalidate. This section does not apply if you are an EEA national and held provisional registration on 31 December 2020, or have submitted an application for provisional registration by 11pm on 31 December 2020. Previous Declaring your fitness to practise Next Translating documents that aren’t in English Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== Translating documents that are not in English ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/translating-documents Translating documents that aren’t in English Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply What do I need to provide? For every document that is not in English, you must provide us: - a photocopy of the original document - a photocopy of the original document stamped and signed by the translation service - a complete and accurate English translation of the original document also stamped and signed by the translation service. All translations must include the contact details of the translation service or translator.  Who can translate my documents?  We strongly advise your translations are done by:   - court or council appointed translators - reputable commercial translation services.  Before you use any commercial translation service, you should check that: - it has a generally recognised professional accreditation or - it has a membership with a relevant professional or trade association. In the UK, professional associations of translators include: - Institute of Translation and Interpreting - Chartered Institute of Linguists - Association of Translation Companies All three provide online directories of their members which you may find helpful. Previous Will there be restrictions on where I can work? Next How do I provide my documents? Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== How do I provide my documents? ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/how-do-i-send-my-documents How do I provide my documents? Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply Attach your documents to your application You will need to attach the supporting evidence to your online application before you submit it to us. Please attach PDF copies of your evidence to the Your Documents section of your application. Use the individual evidence sections as a checklist and attach each document to the correct section. You can attach multiple documents to a single evidence section. Where an evidence section is not applicable to you, or where it is being sent to us directly by a third party, select the relevant evidence status for that section and provide a reason why you are not attaching that evidence item in the description box. What happens after I’ve sent my documents? Once you submit your application, we’ll complete a full assessment of it. This will usually take place within five working days. We’ll contact you if we need more evidence or information to support your application. You cannot edit your online application after you submit it, so you should attach all your documents to your application before you submit it to us. If we require additional documents after your application has been submitted, these will be requested by email, and we will assess your application again when we have received them. This will delay the processing of your application. Previous Translating documents that aren’t in English Next How much does it cost to apply? Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== How much does it cost to apply? ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/how-much-does-it-cost-to-apply How much does it cost to apply? Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply Paying your fee when you submit your application Once you've completed your application, we'll ask you to pay a registration fee. You won’t be able to submit your application without paying this fee.  See our fees page for our current fees – including the non-refundable scrutiny fee. Previous How do I provide my documents? Next How long will it take to process my application? Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== How long will it take to process my application? ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/how-long-will-it-take-to-process-my-application How long will it take to process my application? Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply Five working days for our initial assessment We aim to carry out an initial assessment within five working days. But remember – you need to attach all the documents and information detailed in this guide before you submit it. If we require additional evidence, this will delay the completion of your application. The information in your application is valid for three months. This is the maximum we can keep your application open. We’ll contact you if we need more information When we have your documents and information, we may ask you for more evidence. We may also refer your application for advice. We’ll let you know if we do this. Medical registration process PLAB - text alternative Previous How much does it cost to apply? Next Completing an identity check Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== Completing an identity check ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/coming-to-an-identity-check-in-the-uk Completing an identity check Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply You must complete a GMC identity check before we can grant your application. You’ll have three months to complete an identity check once we have approved your application. We can't extend the time limit for the identity checks for any reason. For more information, please see our guidance on identity checks. Previous How long will it take to process my application? Next I am ready to apply Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements. ===== I am ready to apply ===== SOURCE: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/i-am-ready-to-apply I am ready to apply Show all chapters in this guidance - Summary - Evidence of your primary medical qualification - Evidence of your internship or experience - Demonstrating your knowledge of English - Your passport - Your certificate of good standing - Your activities for the last five years - Declaring your fitness to practise - Will there be restrictions on where I can work? - Translating documents that aren’t in English - How do I provide my documents? - How much does it cost to apply? - How long will it take to process my application? - Completing an identity check - I am ready to apply Ready to start your application? Once you've read this guide and understand the evidence needed to support your application, you’re ready to apply. To start, log in to GMC Online and choose My registration, then My applications. You’ll need to log in with your GMC reference number and password as an existing user. Submitting your application Once you've started your application, you can save it and come back to it later if you need to. You have three months to complete your application. If you don't submit it in this time, you'll have to start a new one. I don’t have a GMC Online account yet If you have a GMC reference number and have never logged into your online account or don't have any login details, you need to update your GMC Online account. If you don't have a GMC reference number, then you need to set up an account. For more advice on setting up an account, please contact us. Previous Completing an identity check Related content Useful links for your application GMC OnlineMake your application and manage your registration through our secure online portal Your medical degreeCheck your primary medical qualification meets our criteria. Knowledge of EnglishCheck you can provide evidence to prove that your knowledge of English meets our requirements.