IMPORTANT NEWS FOR NON EU FOREIGN DOCTORS

PERMIT FREE TRAINING FOR DOCTORS TO END FROM JULY 2006

Doctors from outside the European Union, who wish to work or train in the UK will have to obtain a work permit (or other similar UK immigration status) in order to do so. The only exception will be in respect of non-EU nationals who have been trained at UK medical schools, when two years of permit free training in the UK will still be allowed so that they can acquire full GMC registration.

This change will be effective from July 2006. From that date doctors (and dentists) will no longer be permitted to take training posts (Foundation Programmes, Senior House Officer and equivalent grades, Specialist Registrar and equivalent grades) on the basis of permit free postgraduate medical training in the UK. Instead, they will have to make an application in another category, which will usually be under the work permit scheme or the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP).

A work permit allows the individual to work in a specific job for a specific employer under specified conditions. In order to make a successful work permit application, it must be demonstrated that there is no available UK or EU national who is equally suitably qualified to take the job in question. This means that the job will usually have to be advertised in an appropriate manner in order to ascertain whether a suitable candidate can be identified, who does not require a work permit under the UK Immigration Rules.

The HSMP offers a far more flexible immigration status, which effectively allows the successful applicant to enter the UK to seek and take any work within his or her field. The work can comprise employment or self-employment or both. The applicant does not need to have a specific job offer to apply under the HSMP, as this status relates directly to the individual concerned and not to an employer or a specific job. The status is therefore extremely attractive as it allows almost complete flexibility in terms of work possibilities in the UK. The HSMP applicant, however, must be fully registered with the GMC.

We have significant experience in this area and an extremely high level of success in respect of both work permit and HSMP applications. If we can assist you in an application please contact Julie-sue Fransman ([email protected]), Sarah Gogan ([email protected]) or Lisa Amos ([email protected]) by email or telephone on 020 7724 4488.