All of the international medical graduates qualifying as GPs in 2021 have been trained by Health Education England and have spent at least three years working in the NHS. They have excellent English language skills and knowledge of the NHS ways of working, but most will need visa sponsorship if they are to continue working in England’s practices after they qualify.
If your practice has GP vacancies, or is likely to have vacancies in the future, obtaining a sponsorship licence will help ensure that you maximise your opportunities to recruit into these roles.
The application process can take up to 16 weeks but most applications from practices are currently being approved in around four to six weeks, so now is the time to start the process to be ready for the next cohort of newly qualified GPs.
More information and support for practices:
- Download the NHS information PDF below
- UK visa sponsorship guide for employers on GOV.UK
- Email for dedicated and prioritised visa support and advice for NHS organisations including GP practices: UKVINHSTeam@homeoffice.gov.uk
- The British Medical Association (BMA) also provides an immigration advice service to its members via support@bma.org.uk
