Overseas nurse recruitment process
A guide for overseas nurses applying for permanent jobs in the UK
Applying for a nurse’s job and relocating to another country can seem like a complex process. You would need to make sure that you meet all minimum requirements, go through the job application process, get all your visa paperwork in order, and make arrangements to fly to the UK and settle in to your new home.
At Medacs, we have a dedicated International Onboarding Team that will provide you with the support that you need at every step of the way. To help you understand this full process before you get started, we’ve compiled a guide below that’s easy to follow when applying for a job with Medacs from outside of the UK.
Eligibility to work in the UK as a nurse
To work as a nurse in the UK, you would need to meet the English language requirement and pass an English test. The cost of the test is generally reimbursed with your first salary when you start your job in the UK.
Our step-by-step recruitment process
- Step 1: Recruitment consultant assigned
- Step 2: Help with CV writing
- Step 3: Interview preparation support
- Step 4: Creating a Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) account
- Step 5: Booking of your Computer-based Test (CBT) appointment
- Step 6: Submission of your NMC application
- Step 7: Compliance checks
- Step 8: Medical test for the visa application
- Step 9: Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) application
- Step 10: Visa application
- Step 11: Pre-travel support, pending visa and confirmed arrival date
- Step 12: Airport pickup and welcome
- Step 13: Covid-safe pre-placement steps
- Step 14: Post-arrival support and assistance
- Step 15: Virtual inductions, training and occupational health
- Step 16: Aftercare and ongoing support
Our services
Coordinating interviews
A dedicated relocation consultant in our International Onboarding team will be allocated to assist you, to learn a bit more about you and understand your requirements and interests. The consultant would then support with arranging an interview over Skype or Zoom with your preferred hospital from our list of employers.
Getting a UK job offer
If you succeed at getting a job offer from one of our employers, we will confirm the salary that you’ve been offered and will be in touch to discuss the timeframe of your arrival to the UK.
As soon as you accept the offer, you will be asked to register with the NMC via their website by following the steps and submitting the required documentation. A computer-based test would need to be completed as part of the registration process, and you would be reimbursed with the registration fee once you’ve started work in the UK.
Your relocation consultant at Medacs will then be in touch with you to collect the required compliance documents, which will be sent to your new employer for review before you can apply for your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Once your CoS is issued, we will use this document to apply for your visa.
As part of your visa application, you will be required to book an appointment for a medical test to receive a Medical Certificate, which will be valid for 6 months. You can find a list of test locations here. (Please note – if you are a resident of Singapore or a Middle East country, you will not need a Medical Certificate).
Our team will guide you through the entire visa application process to help verify that it’s correct before you submit it. You will have the choice to apply for a Priority visa or Standard visa, and once it’s ready you’ll be able to travel.
Relocation support & arrival
Our team at Medacs will assist with booking your flight and cover the cost of your first ticket to the UK. We will arrange for a pickup at the airport, usually with other nurses who will arrive on the same day. We would also support with accommodation arrangements to help find you a suitable home in the UK.
Your 2-week induction programme will start a few days after you’ve arrived, once you’ve had a chance to settle into your new home. The programme will introduce you to your new workplace, colleagues and basic policies. Once settled, you will start your 5-8 week OSCE training programme, which will be supported and costs covered by your new employer.
Aftercare
We will remain in touch with you to make sure that you’re settling in well and give you access to our ‘support portal’ which can help you to look after your own physical and mental wellbeing.
It’s important to note that all our services are free of charge. We are an accredited direct NHS supplier and work in collaboration with a number of NHS Trusts without any mediators or additional costs.
Apply for a nurse job
You can find more information below about relocating to the UK, or to apply for a job with the UK NHS, click the button below to submit your details and our international recruitment team will be in touch.
