Healthcare
How to become a doctor
General practitioners (family physicians) diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions in the community, manage long-term illnesses and refer patients to specialists.
Qualifications
- A recognised primary medical degree (typically 5–6 years, or a 4-year graduate-entry/US MD after a bachelor’s)
- Postgraduate training: foundation/internship years then specialty training in general practice or family medicine
- Medical licensing exams in the destination country
Licences & registration
| United Kingdom | Registration with a licence to practise from the General Medical Council (GMC); international graduates usually pass PLAB or hold an acceptable qualification. GPs need inclusion on the GP Register. |
|---|---|
| United States | Pass the USMLE; international graduates need ECFMG certification and usually complete a US residency before full state licensure. |
| Canada | Licensure from the provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons; usually requires MCCQE Part I and recognised postgraduate training. |
| Australia | Registration with the Medical Board of Australia via AHPRA; specialist GP recognition via RACGP or ACRRM pathways. |
| United Arab Emirates | Licence from DHA, DOH or MOHAP, with qualification verification and, for many applicants, a licensing exam. |
| European Union | Medicine is a sectoral profession: EU-obtained qualifications are automatically recognised; non-EU qualifications require national approval (e.g. ‘Approbation’ in Germany) and language tests. |
Key skills
- Clinical reasoning and diagnosis
- Communication and consultation skills
- Ethical judgement
- Time management
- Continuous learning
Experience
Becoming a fully qualified GP typically takes 10 or more years from starting medical school, including postgraduate training.
Indicative pay
- UK: £79,000 (starter) to £119,000 (experienced) a year — National Careers Service
- US: median $244,180 a year; 10th–90th percentile $76,830–$428,550 (SOC 29-1215) — BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates
- Canada: varies by province — see Job Bank wage data.
- Australia: see Your Career (Australian Government) occupation profiles.
- UAE & EU: varies widely by employer and country; check current listings.
Pay figures retrieved 2026-10-29 from the cited official sources; they are averages/estimates, not offers.
Working in this job abroad: visa notes
United Kingdom
Eligible health professionals usually apply through the Health and Care Worker visa (a Skilled Worker route) with a job offer from an approved sponsor such as the NHS. You must normally hold, or be in the process of obtaining, registration with the relevant UK regulator.
Official sources: GOV.UK – Skilled Worker visa · GOV.UK – Skilled Worker eligible occupations · GOV.UK – Check if you need a UK visa
United States
Most internationally trained health workers immigrate through employer-sponsored green cards (EB-2/EB-3) or, for roles needing a degree, the H-1B. Many healthcare occupations also require a healthcare worker certificate (e.g. CGFNS VisaScreen) and a US state licence.
Official sources: USCIS – H-1B specialty occupations · USCIS – Employment-based green cards · USCIS – H-2B temporary non-agricultural workers
Canada
You normally need a credential assessment and registration with the provincial or territorial regulator before practising. Express Entry has run category-based draws for healthcare occupations; provincial nominee programs and employer-supported work permits are also used.
Official sources: Canada.ca – Work in Canada · Canada.ca – Express Entry
Australia
You need a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority and, for most regulated health roles, registration with the national board via AHPRA. Common routes are the Skills in Demand (482) visa or permanent skilled visas such as subclass 189/190.
Official sources: Home Affairs – Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) · Home Affairs – Skilled occupation list · Home Affairs – Skills assessment
United Arab Emirates
You need a professional licence from the health authority for the emirate (DHA in Dubai, DOH in Abu Dhabi, or MOHAP for the other emirates), usually including qualification verification and an exam, plus an employer-sponsored work permit and residence visa.
Official sources: u.ae – Jobs and work in the UAE · MOHRE – Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation · u.ae – Golden Visa
European Union
Regulated health professions require recognition of your qualification in the country where you will work; EU-trained doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists and pharmacists may benefit from automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC. Non-EU nationals also need a national work permit or EU Blue Card, and local-language proficiency is usually required.
Official sources: EU Immigration Portal · EU Regulated Professions Database · Make it in Germany (example national portal)
Useful official links
This guide is general information, reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules and licensing change often — always confirm with the official sources above. Not legal advice.