This checklist is general; your employer’s HR and sponsorship team will give you specific instructions.
| When | To do |
|---|---|
| Before you travel | GMC registration with a licence to practise confirmed; job offer and visa sorted; indemnity arranged where needed; documents scanned (passport, degree, registration, references, vaccination records); accommodation for the first weeks; money for the first month before your first salary. |
| First week | Collect your residence document as instructed; complete occupational health and identity checks; induction; set up a UK bank account; find permanent accommodation; register with a GP. |
| First month | Get your National Insurance number; check your tax code on your payslip; join the NHS Pension Scheme if you wish (automatic enrolment applies); join a defence organisation; set up your online GMC account and revalidation details. |
| First three months | Learn the local clinical guidelines and escalation routes; ask for a mentor; start your portfolio; consider a UK driving licence rules check if you will drive. |
Money and tax
- Your salary is paid monthly and taxed at source (PAYE). Check your first payslip.
- Keep copies of receipts for professional fees you may claim tax relief on, such as some registration and subscription fees.
- Open a bank account early; some banks require proof of address.
Living well
- Find the doctors’ mess, hospital chaplaincy and your trust’s support for international doctors.
- Ask whether your trust has a buddy or mentoring scheme.
- Keep time for sleep, activity and friends. Moving country while starting a new job is demanding.
General education, reviewed 24 October 2026. Guidance changes: confirm with the official sources. Not medical, legal or immigration advice.