How UK Resident Doctors Are Moving to Australia

Feeling stuck and undervalued in the NHS? You’re not alone. 2025 saw record strikes by resident doctors (junior doctors) demanding better pay and more training posts. What are your options?

Competition for UK specialty training has exploded. For instance, the latest figures show about 14 applicants for every A&E post and 12.5 for each anaesthetic trainee spot. In fact, 30,000 applicants vied for only 10,000 UK training posts in 2025, leaving roughly 20,000 qualified doctors without a training slot.

It’s no wonder a growing exodus of UK doctors is eyeing Australia, where the government is actively recruiting overseas-trained physicians. Australia’s new data show that 4,699 overseas doctors were registered in 2023–24, nearly double the number in 2018–19, with 60% coming from the UK or Ireland.

As one Australian GP association notes, many UK doctors say they’ve been “devalued and defunded” at home and suffer “no professional satisfaction and high levels of burnout”.

In short, Australia isn’t just offering better weather, it’s offering clear pathways, higher pay, and genuine career progression, making it a compelling escape.

Why the current “Exodus” is Different

The current UK training logjam is worse than ever. Medical school class sizes have grown, but post-graduate training posts have not kept up, so thousands of doctors end up in year-on-year “trust grade” jobs with no clear path forward.

As one analysis put it, the chief worry among residents is no longer “how much I get paid” but “will I have a job?” in a structured programme. By contrast, Australia’s health system is openly recruiting clinicians. After the 2024 health budget, over 100 new UK/Irish GPs were fast-tracked into the workforce via a new expedited pathway.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler even called the boom in overseas health workers “a vote of confidence” in Australia’s system. Along with better pay (see below) and lifestyle perks, this makes 2026 a ripe time for British doctors to consider the move.

The Competent Authority Pathway (The “Easy” Way)

The Competent Authority Pathway (CAP) is the golden ticket for UK-trained doctors. It lets eligible doctors bypass Australia’s AMC exams entirely. Instead, you enter with Provisional Registration, work under supervision for 12 months, and then get General Registration. In practice, this means if you’ve done UK Foundation Year 1 or passed PLAB (i.e. hold GMC registration on a UK qualification), you’re almost guaranteed to qualify. Key eligibility (all must be met):

• Qualifications: A primary medical degree recognised by the AMC and listed with the UK GMC. (In effect, any UK medical school graduate or PLAB candidate qualifies.)
• Experience: At least one year of supervised post-graduate training (the UK FY1/Foundation year).
• Registration: Current GMC registration (via the PLAB route or equivalent) with no fitness-to-practice issues.
• Language/Conduct: English proficiency and clean criminal history (standard AHPRA requirements).

Because the UK’s GMC is a “competent authority,” doctors from the NHS meet the criteria by default. The Medical Board of Australia confirms that CAP applicants do not need to sit the AMC exams. Instead, once you have Provisional Registration in Australia, you work 12 months (47 weeks) under an approved supervisor and then apply for General Registration. In other words, there’s no extra exam hurdle – just the supervised year.

Important: This 12-month Australian internship is real work, not a break. You’ll need a formal supervised position and must document your progress. You must complete the full 47 weeks (i.e. essentially one year) of clinical practice to qualify. During this year, you’ll meet milestones such as system orientation and three-monthly reviews (see “Hidden Costs” below).

Step-by-Step Logistics for 2026

1. Phase 1 – Verification (EPIC and AMC): Before anything else, verify your credentials. Set up an EPIC account with the U.S. ECFMG (they do the verification for Australia) and request primary source verification of your MBBS (and any specialist) degrees. The Australian Medical Council (AMC) uses ECFMG’s EPIC service to check your documents. (Pro-tip: Even though you won’t do the AMC exams, you still need the AMC’s verification process. The AMC charges a fee to establish your account for verification.)
2. Phase 2 – Job Offer: You must secure a medical job in Australia to apply. Unlike the UK’s central Oriel system, you’ll usually apply directly to hospitals or through recruiters. Resident doctor positions (RMOs) are advertised on hospital websites and recruitment agencies.
   Pro-tip: Queensland and Western Australia have been particularly active in hiring overseas doctors, for example, 1006 new overseas doctors started in QLD and 784 in WA in 2023-24. (Major cities like Sydney/Melbourne are also hiring, but don’t discount rural/regional postings which often come with incentives.) When you get an offer, it will be conditional on you obtaining Provisional Registration and a visa.
3. Phase 3 – AHPRA Registration: With a job offer in hand (you’ll need an official letter outlining your position and supervision), apply to AHPRA/Medical Board for Provisional Registration via the CAP route. This is done online; the required form was APRI-30 in the past, but now the portal guides you. You’ll nominate your supervising specialist and employer in the application. There’s an application fee of A$720 (for provisional registration) plus an annual registration fee of $1,058 AUD (excludes NSW, which has an additional levy).
   Pro-tip: Plan this well in advance – AHPRA recommends applying at least 3 months before you need to start, and you can apply as early as 6 months in advance.
4. Phase 4 – Visa: Finally, get your visa. The typical route is the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, Subclass 482 – Specialist stream. Your Australian employer acts as sponsor. This visa usually takes a few months to process. (For longer-term plans, doctors often move onto a permanent employer-nominated visa (Subclass 186 or state-nominated 190) after working in Australia.)
   Cost: The TSS visa application fee (which you pay) is approx. $3,210 AUD (2025 rates). Employers pay their own separate nomination fees, though some generous hospitals may reimburse your costs.

Salary Expectations vs. the UK

The pay gap is a major lure. A UK FY1/FY2 earns roughly £38–44k (FY1 ≈£38.8k; FY2 ≈£44.4k) as basic pay. An Australian equivalent year (an RMO/PGY1) typically has a salary around $65,000–$95,000 AUD per year. For context, even at the low end this is ~A£33k, and senior RMOs can exceed A$120k.

On top of base salary, employers must contribute superannuation (11.5% of salary as of 2024, rising to 12%), which effectively boosts your compensation. Also, after-hours and overtime pay in Australia can be very generous. Crucially, unlike the NHS where overtime is often unpaid or capped, Australian overtime is strictly paid at 1.5x or 2x rates. A base salary of A$90k often becomes A$130k+ on your actual payslip.

In short, many resident doctors moving to Oz see a significant pay rise even before counting cost-of-living adjustments (Australia has higher living costs in big cities, but salaries generally outpace these).

Related: Resident Doctor Salary 2026: UK vs. Australia (Real Payslips Revealed)

The “Training Bottleneck” Solution

In the UK, a shiny “Certificate of Completion of Training” (CCT) can take years and the path is very opaque. Australia’s system, by contrast, is more flexible, and it has recently sped up recognition of overseas training.

For example, the new Expedited Specialist Pathway allows UK consultants in priority fields to apply directly for specialist registration (bypassing much of the normal college exams). As of May 2025, this fast-track scheme has already registered 125 overseas GPs (mostly UK/Irish-trained) along with a few anaesthetists and psychiatrists. The pathway opened to GPs in Oct 2024, expanded to anaesthetists/psychiatrists in Dec 2024, and to O&G consultants in March 2025

Under this system, specialists from the UK need only six months of supervised practice (plus orientation) before gaining full specialist registration.

Even if you’re not heading for a consultant post, joining an Australian training programme is often more straightforward. Colleges like the Royal Australian College of Physicians or Surgeons generally have year-round intake and explicitly allocate spots to international doctors in needed specialties.

Rural and regional posts in particular frequently seek qualified International Medical Graduates (IMGs).

Pro-tip: If you already have a UK CCT (e.g. MRCOG+UK CCT), you should definitely explore the Expedited Pathway. It could turn years of exams into just a half-year of supervision. In any case, Australia’s clear registration schemes mean you can actually see what’s required to advance, rather than wait anxiously for one national match.

Hidden Costs and Timelines

Moving to Australia as a UK doctor is not cheap or instant. Budget roughly £3,500–5,000 for the administrative side of things (these figures were similar to $6,000 AUD). Breakdown (approx):

• Credentialing fees:
  • EPIC verification $130 USD + $100 USD per credential;
  • AMC verification (via EPIC) and if required the AMC Certificate fee ($642 AUD);
  • AHPRA application ($742 AUD)
  • AHPRA registration ($1,058 AUD).
• Visas and checks: Employer TSS visa $3,210 AUD; medical exam and police check (£200 total).
• Other costs: Moving cost more in reality (airfare, shipping, rental bond), so factor a few thousand extra.

Time-wise, start early. Begin paperwork around 6 months before you want to work in Australia. If you’re aiming for the common hospital intake dates (February or July/August), that means applying to AHPRA by the previous September–November for Feb start, or March–May for July start. AHPRA advises lodging your application at least 3 months ahead. Visa processing can take 2–3 months, and credential verification (EPIC/AMC) a few weeks.

• Pro-tip: Keep a checklist. Once you have your job offer, immediately apply for EPIC verification and enroll with the AMC for primary source verification. That way you don’t lose time waiting on documents.
• Pro-tip: If you’re concerned about finances, note that the bulk of the cost (visa, plane ticket) only comes once. EPIC/AHPRA fees alone (around $2,000 AUD) are due before you move, but everything else gets paid when you finalize travel.

Below is a summary of the 12-month provisional registration requirements (post-arrival):

• 0–3 months: Complete your orientation to the hospital and Australian system.
• 3–6 months: Your supervisor will submit the Orientation Report and Performance Report to Ahpra (the Medical Board) as a 3‑month checkpoint.
• 6–12 months: Continue clinical duties as planned. By the end of 12 months (47 weeks FTE), you must have fully satisfied the supervised practice requirements. At that point you apply for General Registration, at which time Ahpra will remove your provisional conditions.

Pro-tip: Work hard during this year – it’s not a vacation. Good performance and communication with your supervisor will streamline your final General Registration. (Ahpra notes that successful CAP candidates invariably complete “orientation to Australia’s health system” and required assessments during their first 6–12 months.)

Conclusion: Reclaiming Your Career

Moving abroad isn’t a panacea, but for many UK trainees it offers a concrete solution to the “bottleneck” frustrations. In Australia you will be working in a system that values your training and needs your skills. Yes, the first 12 months require effort and adaptation, but once you complete that your hard work pays off, you gain unrestricted registration (and often permanent residency) in a country that respects your qualifications.

With planning and perseverance, you and your colleagues can make 2026 the year you move on to sunnier skies and a system that finally lets your career flourish.