Moving to Australia as a UK doctor: the 2026 overview

This is the short, honest version of the journey — the skeleton you can plan against. The full storytelling guides (state by state, specialty by specialty, including the doctors who came back) are being built at Nomedic; this page is the map.

Step 1 — Registration (AHPRA)

Most UK-trained doctors use the competent authority pathway: GMC registration plus an accepted primary medical qualification leads to provisional, then general, AHPRA registration — no exams for the majority. Specialists seeking recognition apply through the relevant Australian college for a comparability assessment (substantially / partially / not comparable, each with different supervision requirements). Since late 2024 there is also an expedited specialist pathway run by the Medical Board for selected specialties — launched with general practice, anaesthetics and psychiatry, with the list expanding since, so check AHPRA's current list. Paperwork burden: real. Barrier for UK doctors: rarely.

Step 2 — The job

Most UK doctors arrive into hospital posts: an unaccredited registrar year is the classic landing spot — registrar pay and responsibility without a training number, useful for settling in and positioning for training applications. Apply directly to health services (each state advertises centrally); you do not need an agency, whatever the agencies tell you. Your UK years count toward your pay step — get your experience documented before you fly.

Step 3 — Visa

Typically employer-sponsored (482 skills-in-demand) with permanent-residency routes thereafter; many doctors later move to 186 or independent skilled visas. The hospital's medical workforce unit usually drives this — it is the most form-heavy, least decision-heavy part of the move.

Step 4 — The money

Covered properly in doctor salaries in Australia and the NHS comparison — short version: trainees are usually £15k–£25k/yr better off in take-home before packaging and penalties, and the structural extras (12% super on top, salary packaging, penalty multiples) widen the gap further. Run your own numbers below.

Step 5 — Training and the long game

If you want an Australian training number, college recognition of prior learning is the variable that matters — outcomes range from generous credit to starting again, and it is specialty-specific. Many UK doctors work 1–2 unaccredited years first; some never enter Australian training and build careers as senior non-training doctors; some return to the UK with Australian experience banked. All three are legitimate plays.

Timeline and cost, honestly

From decision to first Australian shift commonly runs 6–12 months. Budget several thousand pounds for registration fees, document certification, visa costs and flights — partially offset by relocation packages many health services offer. The expensive part is not the fees; it is the months of overlap where you have committed but are not yet earning Australian pay.

Related: FAQ · Salaries by grade · NHS vs Australia