UK Visas for PLAB Doctors 2026: Visitor & Health and Care
UK Visas for PLAB Doctors Quick Summary
International doctors use a Standard Visitor visa to sit PLAB 2 and for an unpaid clinical attachment. To work in the NHS, you need GMC registration, a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from an approved employer, and then a Health and Care Worker visa. Doctors on this visa pay no immigration health surcharge and can bring their partner and children if they are eligible.
Which UK visa do doctors need?
Your visa depends on what stage of the PLAB journey you are at. Taking PLAB 1 does not need a UK visa if you sit it at an overseas venue such as Islamabad or Karachi. PLAB 2 is held only in Manchester, so you will need to travel to the UK for it. For the full exam pathway, see all about the PLAB exam.
A visitor cannot take paid work. For more on travelling for PLAB 2, see PLAB 1 and 2 test details, and for what you can do on an attachment, see clinical attachments and NHS jobs after PLAB.
The Health and Care Worker visa for doctors
How to apply
- Pass PLAB 1 and PLAB 2, then get GMC registration with a licence to practise.
- Secure a job offer from an NHS trust or other approved UK employer.
- Receive your certificate of sponsorship, an electronic record with a reference number, from your employer.
- Apply online within 3 months of getting the certificate, and no more than 3 months before your start date.
- Prove your identity and provide your documents; most decisions arrive within 3 weeks, and a faster service may be available for a fee.
Settling in the UK
According to GOV.UK, Health and Care Worker visa holders can apply for indefinite leave to remain after living and working in the UK for 5 years, if they meet the other requirements. In November 2025 the Home Office launched a consultation on an "earned settlement" model that proposed a longer standard qualifying period. Immigration rules change often, so always check GOV.UK, or take advice from a regulated immigration adviser, before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
> Which visa do I need for PLAB 2?
A Standard Visitor visa. You need confirmation of your PLAB test from the GMC. If you are already in the UK, you can extend your stay by up to 6 months to retake PLAB.
> Which visa do doctors need to work in the NHS?
The Health and Care Worker visa, which needs a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from an approved UK employer. Doctors apply under occupation codes 2211 or 2212.
> Can doctors bring dependants to the UK?
Yes, if eligible. The dependant restrictions apply to care workers, senior care workers and medium-skilled occupations, not to doctors.
> Do doctors pay the immigration health surcharge?
No. Health and Care Worker visa holders and their partners and children do not pay the immigration health surcharge.
> Can I work in the UK on a visitor visa after passing PLAB?
No. After passing PLAB, a visitor may only stay for an unpaid clinical attachment, up to 18 months in total. Paid work needs GMC registration and a work visa.
Need to plan your PLAB attempts first? See passing and re-sitting PLAB, our PLAB 2 syllabus and our PLAB preparation guide. Questions? Contact us.
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