GMC Registration · 2026 guidance
Every route an IMG can take to a full UK medical licence — PLAB, sponsored postgraduate qualification, the Portfolio Pathway — plus the documents, fees and real-world timeline. Written against current GMC guidance as of July 2026.
Five ways in
Sit PLAB 1 (SBA) then PLAB 2 (16-station OSCE in Manchester). Once passed you can apply for full registration with a licence to practise.
Best for Any IMG with an accepted primary medical qualification and English evidence.
A GMC-approved sponsor (e.g. a royal college or MTI scheme) can support your application if you hold an acceptable postgraduate qualification. Common for the MTI route.
Best for Doctors already in postgraduate training with a recognised UK PG qualification.
Certain UK, EEA and Swiss primary medical qualifications are directly acceptable — no PLAB required.
Best for Graduates of listed EEA/Swiss medical schools; increasingly narrow post-Brexit.
For senior doctors with substantial experience and evidence equivalent to a UK CCT. Assessed against the relevant curriculum by the royal college.
Best for Consultants and GPs with 6+ years' equivalent training / evidence.
Provisional registration lets you take up a UK Foundation Year 1 post. Fully registered once F1 is signed off.
Best for Recent graduates with an acceptable primary medical qualification.
You'll upload most of these into the GMC's online portal, then bring the originals to your ID check.
Overall 7.5, minimum 7.0 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking. Valid 2 years.
Grade B in each of the four sub-tests. Valid 2 years.
Where your medical degree was taught and examined in English AND awarded within the last 2 years, with a supporting letter from the medical school.
Recent post-registration clinical practice in a majority-English-speaking country, supported by employer references.
Figures below are the published GMC and test provider fees as of July 2026. Always double-check the live figure before you pay — the GMC and Royal Colleges review fees annually.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PLAB 1 | £268 | Verify current GMC fee at booking |
| PLAB 2 | £1,048 | Verify current GMC fee at booking |
| Application for registration (post-PLAB) | £194 | One-off, paid on submitting the online application |
| Annual retention fee | £433 | Paid every year to keep your name on the register |
| Portfolio Pathway (specialist / GP) | £1,865 | Application + review fee; separate from PLAB |
| IELTS or OET | £200–£300 | Per attempt |
Verify your PMQ via EPIC (ECFMG)
Start early — verification can take weeks to months depending on your medical school.
Sit English test (IELTS or OET)
Book once EPIC is in progress. Result is valid 2 years.
Book and pass PLAB 1
SBA paper, sat in the UK or overseas Pearson VUE centres.
Book and pass PLAB 2
16-station OSCE, GMC Clinical Assessment Centre in Manchester only.
Apply online for registration with licence
Upload documents, pay the fee, complete the fitness-to-practise declaration.
Attend an ID check
Book at the GMC in London or Manchester within the timeframe on your invitation.
Registration confirmed
Typically 4–12 weeks from PLAB 2 pass to your registration going live.
Only permits practice in an approved F1 post. Converts to full once F1 is signed off.
The standard IMG endpoint. Lets you work in any UK medical role — you need both registration AND the licence to prescribe, sign death certificates, etc.
A separate entry on top of full registration, awarded via CCT (UK training) or the Portfolio Pathway (previously CESR/CEGPR).
Typically 4–12 weeks from your PLAB 2 pass to the licence going live, assuming your EPIC verification, English test and identity check are all in order. The ID check appointment is often the rate-limiting step.
Yes. The GMC requires your primary medical qualification to be verified through EPIC (ECFMG). Start this the moment you commit to the UK — some medical schools respond slowly and this is the most common cause of delay.
You need both. Registration alone lets your name appear on the register, but you cannot legally prescribe, sign prescriptions, complete death certificates or take up most NHS posts without an active licence.
You must retake it. IELTS and OET both expire 2 years after the test date, and the GMC will refuse the application. Plan your PLAB and registration timeline against your English test expiry.
The GMC annual retention fee is £433 as of 2026. You pay it every year to keep your name on the register with a licence.
Not on its own. MRCP is a postgraduate qualification, not a licensing exam. It can support a sponsored-PG-qualification registration route (e.g. via the MTI scheme with an approved sponsor), but the standard IMG route is still PLAB. See our PLAB vs MRCP guide for the full comparison.
It's the current name for what used to be CESR (specialist register) and CEGPR (GP register) applications. It's designed for senior doctors whose training and evidence are equivalent to a UK CCT. You submit a portfolio to the relevant royal college, and if accepted your name goes on the specialist or GP register.
Yes — right up to the point you accept an NHS post. You need to be able to attend the UK ID check in person, and you'll usually need a Certificate of Sponsorship from an NHS employer before applying for your Health & Care Worker visa.
This guide is written against current GMC and UK regulator guidance as of July 2026. Always confirm live fees, English test rules and timelines with the GMC before you rely on them.