Updated: August 2026:

Internationally educated doctors who want to practise medicine in the United Kingdom generally need to be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and hold the appropriate licence to practise.

For many international medical graduates (IMGs), the pathway involves checking whether their medical qualification is acceptable, proving English-language proficiency, completing primary-source verification through ECFMG/EPIC, passing PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 where required, providing internship and Good Standing evidence, and finally completing the GMC registration application.

This guide explains the GMC registration process for international doctors in 2026, including eligibility, documents required, IELTS/OET requirements, PLAB examinations, current fees, processing time and how Nursing Manthra can assist with documentation and application preparation.

Who Is Eligible for GMC Full Registration Through PLAB?

For the standard international graduate PLAB route, GMC states that the applicant must have:

• Graduated from a medical school outside the UK or Switzerland
• Passed both parts of PLAB within the required timeframe
• Completed an acceptable internship or meet the applicable alternative experience requirements.

Your Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) must also be acceptable to GMC.

A very important point is that GMC does not maintain a simple universal list saying that every degree from a particular university will automatically be accepted. Overseas qualifications are assessed against GMC’s criteria, and an individual qualification may require assessment.

Documents Required for GMC Registration for International Doctors

Although individual cases vary, an IMG preparing for full registration should normally have the following documentation ready.

1. Valid Passport

Your passport is used as part of the identity and registration process. GMC also requires applicants to complete an identity check before registration can be granted.

2. Primary Medical Qualification

Your final medical qualification—for example, MBBS, MBChB or equivalent—must satisfy GMC’s acceptability requirements.

3. Primary Source Verification through EPIC

Doctors with non-UK medical qualifications who fall within the applicable requirements need certain medical qualifications independently verified.

GMC uses ECFMG, a division of Intealth, through the EPIC system for this verification. ECFMG contacts the awarding institution to establish that the qualification is genuine.

4. MyIntealth / EPIC Details

The current GMC application process may require your MyIntealth ID, and your qualification needs to have been sent for verification through the relevant ECFMG/EPIC process.

5. Internship Completion Certificate

For the standard full-registration pathway, an acceptable internship is extremely important.

GMC states that an internship should normally include at least 12 months of continuous medical practice in an approved training post in a public hospital immediately before or after graduation.

For an internship lasting 12–18 months, it should contain at least:

3 months in medicine + 3 months in surgery.

For an internship of 18 months or longer:

6 months in medicine + 6 months in surgery.

The internship certificate or letter should provide the dates and specialties/rotations completed.

What if the doctor did not complete an internship?

GMC may accept evidence of two years of continuous medical practice after graduation instead, subject to specific requirements, including supervised practice in an appropriate public hospital and sufficient medicine and surgery experience.

6. English-Language Evidence

You must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English to practise medicine safely in the UK.

This is explained separately below because there are several possible forms of evidence.

7. PLAB 1 and PLAB 2

For doctors using the PLAB pathway, both parts must be passed.

PLAB 2 must be passed within two years of passing PLAB 1.

8. Certificate of Good Standing

You need a Certificate of Good Standing from every medical regulatory authority with which you have been registered or licensed during the previous five years, even if you did not actually work in that country.

Each Good Standing Certificate is normally valid for only three months from the date it is signed and must remain valid when GMC approves the application.

This is an area where international applicants should plan carefully: obtaining a Good Standing Certificate too early can create unnecessary repeat work.

9. Complete Five-Year Activity History

GMC requires details covering your most recent five years of postgraduate medical experience, non-medical activities and other activities, together with countries where you have been registered or licensed.

This history may include periods such as employment, study, unemployment, clinical attachments, career breaks and other relevant activities.

10. Fitness-to-Practise Declaration

Applicants must complete the GMC fitness-to-practise declarations as part of their application. The GMC also carries out checks when assessing international registration applications.

11. English Translations

Documents not written in English require appropriate translations.

GMC requires the original-document copy and a complete English translation that is signed/stamped by the translation provider and includes the translator or translation service’s contact details.

Is IELTS or OET Mandatory for GMC Registration?

English-language proficiency is required. However, IELTS or OET is not necessarily the only possible way to demonstrate it.

GMC must be satisfied that an applicant can communicate effectively in speaking, listening, reading and writing before granting registration with a licence to practise.

For most international doctors, the clearest routes are IELTS Academic or OET Medicine.

IELTS Requirement for GMC

GMC currently accepts IELTS Academic, including qualifying UKVI versions, provided the required scores are achieved.

Minimum GMC IELTS score:

Overall: 7.5

and at least

7.0 in each component:

• Listening – 7.0
• Reading – 7.0
• Writing – 7.0
• Speaking – 7.0

The required results generally need to come from the same applicable test sitting, subject to GMC’s rules regarding One Skill Retake.

IELTS evidence is normally valid for two years, although GMC has limited provisions for considering older evidence in particular circumstances.

OET Requirement for GMC

Doctors choosing OET must take:

OET Medicine

The current GMC requirement is:

Minimum Grade B in each component:

• Listening – B
• Reading – B
• Writing – B
• Speaking – B.

OET evidence is also generally valid for two years under GMC’s standard requirements.

Can I Apply for GMC Without IELTS or OET?

Potentially yes—but only where you can provide another form of English evidence that GMC accepts.

For example, GMC can sometimes consider a recent primary medical qualification as English-language evidence where specified conditions are satisfied. The qualification generally needs to have been taught and examined solely in English and meet GMC’s detailed requirements concerning clinical communication in English.

In certain registration applications, GMC may also consider employer evidence where the doctor has worked medically for the required period in a country GMC recognises as having English as a first and native language.

However, alternative evidence is case-specific.

For doctors planning to take PLAB, GMC requires acceptable English-language evidence before PLAB 1 can be booked and specifically recommends that candidates strongly consider IELTS or OET.

Step-by-Step GMC Registration Process for International Doctors

Step 1 – Check Your Primary Medical Qualification

Before spending heavily on exams or verification, check whether your overseas medical qualification meets GMC’s acceptability requirements.

GMC assesses overseas PMQs against its criteria and does not guarantee qualification acceptance simply because another graduate from the same institution was previously registered.

Step 2 – Meet the English Requirement

Most applicants choose:

IELTS Academic: 7.5 overall with minimum 7.0 in every component

or

OET Medicine: Grade B in all four components.

Step 3 – Create Your GMC Online Account

Applicants use GMC Online for the registration process and PLAB-related services.

Step 4 – Complete EPIC / ECFMG Primary Source Verification

Set up the applicable MyIntealth/EPIC process and submit the qualification requiring primary-source verification.

ECFMG verifies the qualification directly with the medical school or awarding institution.

Step 5 – Book and Pass PLAB 1

You need an acceptable overseas primary medical qualification and acceptable English evidence before booking PLAB 1.

Step 6 – Pass PLAB 2

After passing PLAB 1, the applicant can progress to PLAB 2.

PLAB 2 must be passed within two years of the PLAB 1 pass.

Step 7 – Prepare Good Standing and Supporting Documents

Collect the appropriate:

• Internship evidence
• Registration history
• Certificates of Good Standing
• Five-year activity history
• English evidence
• Passport/identity documents
• Any required references or translations.

Step 8 – Submit the GMC Full Registration Application

For the standard IMG PLAB route, both PLAB parts must have been passed within the applicable timeframe and the internship requirements must be met before applying for full registration.

Step 9 – Complete GMC Identity Verification

GMC requires an identity check before registration can be granted. Current guidance explains that international applicants may be asked to complete a digital identity check using the approved process.

Step 10 – GMC Registration Decision

Once GMC is satisfied with the qualification verification, professional history, Good Standing, identity, English proficiency and other requirements, registration can be granted.

GMC Registration Fees in 2026

The following GMC fees are effective from 1 April 2026.

Expense	2026 Fee
PLAB 1	£283
PLAB 2	£1,036
Standard full registration application	£481
Discounted full registration application, where eligible	£184

GMC’s fixed-term discounted registration fee can apply in specified circumstances, including doctors who passed their primary medical qualification within the relevant recent period.

Standard PLAB-route GMC fees

PLAB 1 £283

• PLAB 2 £1,036
• Full Registration £481

Total: £1,800

This is the core GMC + PLAB fee total for an applicant paying the standard full-registration fee.

If eligible for the £184 fixed-term discounted registration fee:

Total: £1,503

EPIC / ECFMG Verification Fees in 2026

Current EPIC charges from 1 April 2026 include:

EPIC Service	Fee
MyIntealth Applicant Portal account establishment and identity confirmation	US$110
EPIC Portfolio establishment	US$35
Credential verification	US$110 per credential

Therefore, for a new applicant needing one credential verified, a basic example would be:

US$255

before any additional credential or institution-specific verification charges.

Some universities or institutions may separately charge for responding to a verification request.

What Is the Approximate Total Cost of GMC Registration?

For a typical applicant following the PLAB route and paying the standard GMC registration fee:

Official GMC/PLAB fees: £1,800

Basic new EPIC setup + one credential verification: approximately US$255

The actual end-to-end cost will be higher because it can additionally include:

• IELTS or OET
• Travel for PLAB examinations
• Accommodation
• Visa/travel expenses where applicable
• Additional EPIC credential verification
• Medical school verification charges
• Good Standing Certificate charges
• Translation charges
• Document preparation/support services.

For that reason, there is no single fixed “total GMC cost” applicable to every international doctor.

Doctors using an acceptable postgraduate qualification, GMC sponsorship or another approved pathway may also have a different cost structure because PLAB may not be required.

How Long Does GMC Registration Take?

Once a complete full-registration application has been submitted, GMC says it aims to perform the initial assessment within five working days.

However, five working days should not be interpreted as the total time required to become GMC registered.

The overall journey can be considerably longer because applicants may first need to complete:

English testing → EPIC verification → PLAB 1 → PLAB 2 → Good Standing → GMC application.

Availability of PLAB examination dates, university responses to primary-source verification and requests for additional GMC evidence can affect the overall timeline. GMC also states that an application can remain open for a maximum of three months while outstanding matters are resolved.

Is PLAB Mandatory for Every International Doctor?

No.

PLAB is one important route, but GMC recognises other routes to full registration, including GMC-approved sponsorship, acceptable postgraduate qualifications, certain overseas registration examinations and eligibility for Specialist or GP registration.

Therefore, doctors who already hold postgraduate qualifications such as recognised membership/fellowship credentials should first check whether they may qualify through an alternative route before automatically proceeding with PLAB. GMC maintains its own current list and requirements for acceptable postgraduate qualifications.

GMC Registration vs Specialist Registration – Are They the Same?

No.

Full GMC registration with a licence to practise and inclusion in the Specialist Register or GP Register are different matters.

An internationally trained specialist may require a separate Specialist/GP registration pathway. GMC’s Portfolio Pathway, for example, has its own evidence requirements and fees.

Therefore, an experienced consultant or specialist doctor should have their individual pathway reviewed rather than assuming that ordinary full registration automatically provides Specialist Register status.

Can GMC Registration Guarantee an NHS Job?

No.

GMC registration establishes professional registration/licensing eligibility. It does not itself guarantee a job offer.

GMC specifically cautions PLAB candidates that the number of examination places is not linked to the number of NHS or other UK job vacancies, and job availability can vary by specialty and geographical area.

Does GMC Registration Give a UK Visa?

No.

Professional registration and UK immigration permission are separate processes.

After securing appropriate employment, an international doctor may need the relevant UK immigration route, often involving employer sponsorship. Visa eligibility should therefore be considered separately from GMC professional registration.

How Nursing Manthra Can Assist With GMC Registration:

International GMC registration involves several separate documents, authorities and deadlines. A missing internship rotation, expired Good Standing Certificate or incomplete five-year activity history can complicate the application.

Nursing Manthra provides documentation and application-preparation assistance for internationally educated doctors applying for GMC registration.

Support can include:

• Initial GMC pathway/document checklist
• Primary Medical Qualification document review
• Internship certificate review
• Medicine and surgery rotation review
• MyIntealth / EPIC process guidance
• Primary-source verification documentation support
• English-language requirement guidance
• IELTS/OET requirement clarification
• PLAB process guidance
• Good Standing Certificate coordination guidance
• Medical registration-history preparation
• Five-year activity-history preparation
• Employer/reference document checklist where required
• Translation-document checklist
• GMC full-registration documentation review
• Pre-submission document checking
• Specialist/GP pathway document screening and guidance on identifying the applicable GMC route.

Nursing Manthra is an independent documentation-support provider and is not the General Medical Council. Final eligibility, qualification acceptance, examination decisions and registration approval are determined by GMC and the relevant official organisations.

Need assistance?

WhatsApp Nursing Manthra: +971 50 251 5717

Frequently Asked Questions About GMC Registration:

1. Can an Indian MBBS doctor apply for GMC registration?

Yes, an internationally educated doctor can pursue GMC registration provided the individual primary medical qualification and the rest of the applicant’s evidence meet GMC requirements. GMC assesses overseas qualifications against its own criteria rather than guaranteeing acceptance solely on nationality or university name.

2. Is IELTS mandatory for GMC?

Not necessarily. English proficiency is mandatory, but acceptable evidence can include IELTS, OET or certain other evidence recognised by GMC.

3. What IELTS score is required for GMC?

IELTS Academic generally requires 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

4. What OET score is required for GMC?

For OET Medicine, GMC requires at least Grade B in each of the four areas.

5. Can I take PLAB without IELTS or OET?

You must first provide English-language evidence acceptable to GMC before PLAB 1 booking. IELTS/OET are the standard options, although GMC guidance allows certain alternative evidence in appropriate circumstances.

6. Is internship mandatory for GMC?

An acceptable internship is required for the standard IMG full-registration PLAB route. If the applicant does not have an acceptable internship, GMC guidance provides an alternative involving qualifying continuous postgraduate medical practice subject to specific criteria.

7. How long is a GMC Good Standing Certificate valid?

GMC states that Certificates of Good Standing used for this process are valid for three months from the date they are signed and must still be valid when GMC approves the application.

8. Do I need Good Standing from every country where I worked?

GMC requires a certificate from each medical regulatory authority with which you were registered or licensed during the previous five years, including situations where you were registered but did not work there.

9. Is EPIC verification compulsory?

Doctors with applicable non-UK medical qualifications must have certain qualifications independently verified, with GMC currently using ECFMG/Intealth’s EPIC system for primary-source verification.

10. Can Nursing Manthra complete my GMC application?

Nursing Manthra can assist with document preparation, verification-process guidance, checklist review and application preparation. However, candidates should personally access their GMC Online account, complete their declarations and book PLAB examinations. GMC explicitly tells candidates not to share account credentials with third parties.

👩‍⚕️ About the Author

Shincy George, RN, MSN (Cardiothoracic Nursing), SCFHS-RN, DHA RN, MOH UAE RN, NCLEX-RN (USA), is the Founder of Nursing Manthra Academy.

With extensive international clinical and academic experience, she is dedicated to guiding healthcare professionals through global licensing pathways. Through Nursing Manthra, she supports internationally educated healthcare professionals in achieving their career goals across Canada, USA, UAE, Middle East, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries.

Her mission is to simplify complex licensing processes and empower healthcare professionals with the right knowledge, guidance, and support to succeed globally. 🌍