Indigo Doctors - Preparing for a move to the UK

Welcome to the UK, Doctor!

Welcome

Dear Doctor, Congratulations on your offer of employment from a UK hospital!

This guide has been produced to try to help your relocation to the UK and transition into your new role in the NHS run as smoothly and successfully as possible.

Indigo Healthcare provide an end-to-end service; supporting you all the way through your interview, to offer stage, to you starting in post and thereafter, should you need our support when you are in your new role.

Our consultants are experienced in guiding Doctors through the post-offer and relocation process and we are on hand to offer you advice and support as you need it – don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any questions. You will find all our contact details at the end of this guide – for all general enquiries please call us on 0330 123 9665.

Regards, The Indigo Healthcare Team

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Indigo Healthcare have a global reach from the heart of Yorkshire.

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Contents SECTION 1 – REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS Page 6: Post Offer Requirements Page 7-9: GMC Registration Page 10-13: Applying for a Tier 2 Visa (Health & Care Visa) SECTION 2 – RELOCATION & LIFE IN THE UK Page 15-16: Relocation Packages Page 17-19: Living in the UK Page 20: Income Tax & National Insurance Page 21: Your accompanying Dependents Page 22: Applying for Schools Page 23: Page 24: Page 25: Page 26:

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Useful Information & Contacts Checklist Indigo Contacts Testimonials

SECTION 1 – REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

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Post Offer Requirements Now you have received your offer of employment, there are a number of things we need you to supply in order to complete the recruitment process. Please ensure you forward the following documents and information to your contact at Indigo as soon as possible:

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Certificates of employment or current/previous NHS payslips (to allow the hospital to calculate an accurate salary for you based on your years of experience)

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Qualifications certificates Certificate of good standing A minimum of 2 references or referee contact details including your most recent employer, covering from now and going back 3 years GMC certificate and/or most recent communication from the GMC to show your application progress Police/DBS check A copy of your passport 2nd form of photo ID (such as a driving licence) Utility bills or bank statements with your name and home address Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)/Visa if you have one Covid vaccination evidence and immunisation evidence OET/IELTS results

Further information relating to these requrements will be covered later in this pack.

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GMC Registration If you have not already obtained or applied for GMC registration, you should be in a position to be able to register for a licence to practise in the UK. You need to be able to provide the following evidence in order to register with the GMC:

An acceptable qualification recognised by the GMC

English language proficiency

Evidence of your fitness to practise – certificate of good standing

Indigo Healthcare acknowledge that the GMC registration process can be complex and difficult. Our consultants are available to advise through the application process as and when you may require some additional assistance.

Please note, once all documents have been submitted to and approved by the GMC, you have 90 days to complete your ID check in the UK. If you are unable to complete this within the 90-day period, you will have to resubmit all documents. Since C-19 individual hospitals have been taking responsibility for ID checks – please speak to your Indigo contact for case-by-case advice.

Registration Costs: The cost to apply for a full registration with licence to practise varies depending on your previous history of registration and how long it has been since you have qualified. The standard fee is £408. Effective from 1 April 2022 the standard fee will be £420.

If you hold or have previously held a provisional registration with the GMC or if you submit your application within five years of passing a primary medical qualification you are eligible for a discounted fees of £157. Effective from 1 April 2022 the discounted fee will be £161.

You will need to pay an annual retention fee of £408 (£420 from April 1 2022) to remain on the GMC register - £157 if you are eligible for discounted fees based on the information above (£161 from April 1 2022). Full information on the fees associated with GMC registration & retention can be found here.

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GMC Registration (Cont.)

Verifying your Medical Qualification – EPIC: Verification is carried out by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) through their online system – known as the Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC) service. ECFMG will verify the qualification is genuine by checking this directly with your awarding institution. Find out more here.

EPIC verification will apply to you if:

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qualified at a medical school outside of the UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland

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or are a national of a country outside the UK, EEA or Switzerland who graduated from medical schools outside the UK;

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and do not already hold provisional registration.

There are a number of steps to the verification process which can be found here.

English Language Proficiency: There are two options for assessing your English language proficiency.

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. IELTS conforms to the highest international standards of language assessment. It tests the four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Candidates can sit an IELTS test in 1,600 locations around the world. The IELTS scores accepted in the academic version are at least 7.0 in each testing area, and an overall score of 7.5. Your certificate will be valid for 2 years.

OET is the Occupational English Test and has been developed specifically for 12 healthcare professions. Tests simulate real workplace tasks and test relevant language skills for each profession. OET covers all four language skills with an emphasis on communication in a healthcare environment. OET is available at more than 110 locations in 44 countries, with test dates every month. You will need at least a grade B in each testing area of OET.

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GMC Registration (Cont.)

Certificate of Good Standing: During your GMC application you’ll be asked to list any countries where you've practised or held registration or a licence to practise in the last five years.

You will need to obtain a certificate of good standing from all of the countries you've been registered with during that time, even if you haven't practised there.

The certificate of good standing must: •

cover all of your work in that country/state

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confirm that you're entitled to practise medicine in that country

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confirm that you've not been disqualified, suspended or prohibited from practising medicine

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confirm that the regulatory authority is not aware of any matters that call into question your good standing.

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Applying for a Visa You can apply for a Tier 2 (Health and Care) visa if: • • •

you have a job offer from the NHS, an organisation providing medical services to the NHS or an organisation providing adult social care you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland your sponsor has told you that you are eligible for it

Visa sponsorship is required by an employer and the Visa is linked to a specific job – linked via your Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) awarded to you and paid by the NHS Trust.

Please note, you must apply for your Visa within three months of being awarded your COS. Please make sure you are aware of the expiry date on your COS as your Visa will not be granted if it is applied for after the date of expiry.

You can find further information regarding your Tier 2 (Health and Care) Visa application here.

The Costs: You will be responsible for the costs associated with your Visa application, which is currently £232 for yourself (up to 3 years) or £464 (more than 3 years). Your dependants will also pay the same amount.

Maintenance: Most UK Trusts will tick the maintenance box on the Certificate of Sponsorship to ensure your Visa is accepted, however, this does not mean the Trusts will pay out any maintenance costs whilst in the UK. Sufficient funds should be in your bank should the UKVI decide to check your profile.

You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK. You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for your visa.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either: • •

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you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK

Applying for a Visa (Cont.)

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need here.

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

Documents you must provide: When you apply for your Visa, there are a number of documents you will need to provide: •

your certificate of sponsorship reference number

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a bank statement or letter that shows you have enough personal savings (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your sponsor can support you)

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a current passport or travel document to prove you can travel – with a page in your passport that’s blank on both sides for your visa

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expired passports or travel documents if you need them to show your travel history

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your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country (see below for more information)

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a criminal record certificate (see page 12 for more information)

You must provide the original plus a photocopy of every document you provide. If your documents are not in English, you’ll need to send a certified translation.

Tuberculosis Test: You’ll need to have a tuberculosis (TB) test if you’re coming to the UK for more than 6 months and are resident in any of the countries listed here.

You’ll be given a chest x-ray to test for TB. If the result of the x-ray isn’t clear you may also be required to undergo further testing.

If your test shows that you don’t have TB, you’ll be given a certificate which is valid for 6 months. This certificate should be included in your UK Visa application.

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Applying for a Visa (Cont.)

Police/Criminal Record Check: It is a requirement of your Tier 2 Visa and working in Healthcare, that you can provide a Criminal Record Certificate. Further information can be found here. You’ll need to provide a certificate from any country you’ve stayed in for a total of 12 months or more over the last 10 years.

Applications for criminal records checks for someone from overseas varies from place to place. You’ll need to apply in the country or to the relevant embassy where you are currently based. For more information on how to apply, select your country of residence from the following list.

It is your responsibility to declare any spent or unspent convictions prior to accepting a job, as these will all show up on your criminal record check and could affect your job offer and Visa application.

Giving your Fingerprints and Photo: You’ll be asked to provide your fingerprints and photo (‘biometric information’) as part of your visa or immigration application. You need to:

have a photo taken of your face

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have your fingerprints taken

give your signature

Applying for a Visa (Cont.)

Collecting your Visa/BRP: How you get your biometric residence permit (BRP) depends on where you made your visa or immigration application. You can find more information on collecting your BRP here.

If you applied from inside the UK, your BRP will be sent to you by courier. You do not need to collect it.

If you applied from outside the UK, you can collect your BRP once you arrive in the UK. You must collect it before the vignette sticker in your travel document expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is later. You’ll also need to take your passport or travel document with your vignette sticker in when you collect your BRP. You will be asked during the application process where you would like to collect your BRP from, either a named Post Office branch (find a branch here) or your sponsor.

Upon application, you may also have been given the option to collect your BRP from your current country of residence.

You should refer to your decision letter if you are unsure of where you should collect your BRP from.

Visa Checklist

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Certificate of Sponsorship reference number received Maintenance requirements met Your TB test results (if required) received Your police/criminal record check received

SECTION 2 – RELOCATION & LIFE IN THE UK Page | 14

Relocation Packages Relocation package figures vary from hospital to hospital as each Trust has their own policy on relocation expenses.

Please note that not all hospitals or vacancies will offer a relocation package.

If you are eligible for a relocation package, the hospital may give you a lump sum to pay for relocation expenses. More commonly, the hospital will ask for you to keep your receipts and reimburse your exact costs.

In some cases, there may be room for negotiation of relocation expenses. Indigo will do this on your behalf and always try to get the most favourable package to support your relocation.

Relocation expenses reimbursed by the Trust will usually be subject to repayment if you leave within a set time frame (usually 24 months or before the end of a fixed term contract, if shorter than 24 months).

Check what’s included in your relocation package: Before you make travel or accommodation arrangements or apply for your visa – you should check exactly what will be included in your relocation package.

All the details of your relocation package will be set out in your offer letter.

If your offer letter does not include enough information, Indigo will request the full relocation package policy from the Trust on your behalf.

Income Tax on any Relocation Expenses: Payments for relocation costs will normally only be paid if they are defined by the HMRC as ‘Qualifying relocation benefits and expenses’ and are therefore not subject to tax and National Insurance (up to the value of £8,000).

The employee’s reason for relocation must be one of the following: • • •

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The employee starting a new job with the Trust A change in their employment duties A change in the place where their employment duties are normally carried out

Relocation Packages (Cont.)

The expenses and benefits must fall into one of the six categories below: • • • • • •

The employee’s sale of their old residence Their purchase of a new residence Transporting the employee’s belongings to the new residence Associated travel and subsistence costs Domestic goods for the new premises (this is interpreted by the HMRC as being ‘white goods’) Deposit for temporary rented accommodation while a new residence is found.

It is worth noting that not all of the above categories will be offered by NHS Trusts.

There is a time limit. To qualify, the expenses must be incurred, or the benefits must be provided before the end of the tax year after the one in which the employee’s circumstances changed.

The employee’s new residence must be within reasonable daily travelling distance of their new normal place of work, and their old residence must not be within reasonable daily travelling distance of the new normal place of work.

The HMRC website contains further information on the qualifying relocation benefits and expenses. You should do some research on whether you are expected to pay tax and national insurance on your relocation package prior to accepting the offer.

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Living in the UK The United Kingdom is a very diverse country with access to world-class culture and heritage, cuisine and sports, to rural and coastal locations where you can appreciate the natural beauty of the UK. Cost of Living: Living costs vary across countries and regions, with the highest costs generally found in London and the surrounding areas. You can find an overview of the cost of living in the UK here.

Housing: The UK offers a wide range of housing options. Renting and buying is normally done through estate agents. Property prices vary widely across regions.

Guides to buying and renting property in the UK can be found on property websites Rightmove or Zoopla which will also give you an idea of the housing options available across the UK and the associated costs.

Whilst you are searching for the right rental property, we recommend finding a short term rental close to the hospital– you could use Airbnb or SpareRoom or find a local Bed & Breakfast, by using the Postcode of the hospital.

If you need any help in locating or securing accommodation for your move to the UK, please get in touch with your Indigo Healthcare contact.

Housing Costs: As well as paying rent or a mortgage, there are a number of other living/housing costs to consider. The list below offers a good starting point: • • •

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Council tax – depending on your council and the number of rooms your home has, you will pay a fixed fee on a monthly basis.

Utilities: electricity (and gas in some properties) and water Internet

Living in the UK (Cont.)

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TV licence

Feeling at Home: Moving to a new country can be challenging, especially if you are leaving friends and family behind to embark on your new adventure.

We have a few hints and tips to try and make you feel as at home as possible: •

Join our ‘Doctors Working in the UK’ Facebook group to meet other Doctors already in, or in the process of moving to the UK.

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There are a number of blogs and websites online which you can read about other people’s move to the UK from all across the world and some great tips on moving to and living in the UK: Expatica is a great resource.

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Find a local ‘World Foods’ store or International Supermarket so you can buy or cook foods to make you feel at home.

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Find out about local places of worship, community groups, sports teams, etc. where you can meet people with similar interests to you.

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The Hospital may also be able to put you in touch with other overseas Doctors who are going through a similar experience to you.

Registering with a Doctor & Dentist: It is advisable that you register with a local doctor (General Practitioner, GP) and Dentist. You can locate your nearest GP and Dentist by visiting the NHS Choices website. This site also provides information on finding local Opticians and pharmacies. You can also telephone 111 to find out more about your health or a health service.

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Living in the UK (Cont.)

UK Emergency Services: The emergency number in the UK is 999. This number connects to the emergency services and should only be used when:

There is a danger to life

A crime is in progress

Police attendance is immediately required

Driving in the UK: If you have an EEA/EC driving licence, you may use it to drive in the UK for up to three years or until you are 70 years old, whichever is longer.

Holders of a driving licence from a country which has a licence exchange agreement with the UK may drive on the foreign licence for up to 12 months and exchange it for a UK licence before the end of the 12-month period.

If you have a valid driving licence from any other country, you may drive on it for up to 12 months during which you should apply to take a UK driving test. For more information please read the Government advice or UKCISA also has a very useful information sheet on driving in the UK.

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Income Tax & National Insurance When working in the UK, your earnings are subject to Income Tax and National Insurance.

Income Tax: Income Tax is a tax you pay on your income. This is mainly applied to your earnings from employment, but can also be applied to things like pensions, rental income and benefits you receive from your job.

The UK tax year runs from 6 April of one calendar year to 5 April of the subsequent year, so your tax is calculated throughout this period.

Further information regarding income tax can be found here.

National Insurance: National Insurance (NI) is a tax system in the UK paid by workers and employers for funding state benefits.

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Find out how much you will pay.

Find out what your contributions go towards.

Calculating your Income Tax & National Insurance Contributions: We recommend using the following website to calculate your after-tax earnings based on the salary you have been offered, so you know how much money you will have in your bank account when you are paid: Listen to Tax Man

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Applying for Your Accompanying an NI Number Dependants This section is relevant to you if you are planning on bringing dependents to the UK – either immediately or sometime after you have started in your new post.

If you have a Tier 2 (Health & Care) Visa, your family members can come with you to the UK, but they will need to apply for their own dependent Visa.

For Visa purposes; a dependent is defined as: •

your husband, wife or partner

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your child under 18

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your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as a dependant

Visa Costs: Each dependent will be required to pay the same amount as yourself for a Visa, and also pay the healthcare surcharge. Each dependant must have £630 of funds available to them whether they apply with you or separately.

Working on a Dependent Visa: Your spouse and other dependents are able to work whilst in the UK too. There are no work restrictions placed on dependency visa holders, meaning your dependent can work in any job, at any skill level.

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Applying for Schools

If you are bringing children of school age to the UK, you will need to apply for a place for them within a local school.

All children in the UK between the ages of 5 and 16 are entitled to a free place at a state school, including dependent children accompanying parents entering the UK on a work Visa.

UK School System: Schools are broken down into primary schools (5-11 year olds), and secondary schools (11-16 year olds). Free education is also available for 16-19 year old, either at secondary schools or sixth form colleges. For younger children, nursery school is available for 34 year olds, and many hospitals offer crèches for staff with younger children.

Applications: We strongly suggest you do some research on local schools before making your application. You can find out more about the application process and the schools in your new area.

If you need any assistance or advice on applying for schools in the UK, please get in touch with your Indigo Healthcare contact.

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Useful Information & Contacts Working National Health Service www.nhs.uk General Medical Council www.gmc-uk.org UK Government www.gov.uk IELTS www.ielts.org OET www.occupationalenglishtest.org

Relocation & Living in the UK Visa’s www.gov.uk/tier-2-general The British Council www.britishcouncil.org Education Information Service www.educationuk.org Universal Currency Converter https://www1.oanda.com/currency/converter/ Embassy List www.embassyworld.com BT Telephone Directory Enquiries UK and International: 118 500 Interfaith Network for UK www.interfaith.org.uk Weather www.metofce.gov.uk Insurance (medical & personal possessions) www.moneysupermarket.com

Travel Maps https://www.google.co.uk/maps/ General guide on travel www.ukguide.org National Coach/bus travel www.nationalexpress.com General rail information; UK train times and fares www.networkrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com

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Checklist □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ Page | 24

Job offer received Documents submitted to Indigo (page 6) GMC registration completed Certificate of Sponsorship received Visa application submitted Immigration Healthcare Surcharge paid Visa received Accommodation organised Flights booked Transport from Airport arranged Bank Account opened National Insurance Number applied for NHS induction arranged Occupational Health check booked

Indigo Contacts

Stella Redgrave-Nevison stella@indigohealthcare.co.uk 07881 387351

Stephanie Taylor steph@indigohealthcare.co.uk 07584 044 711

Jordan Joseph-Kerrigan jordan.kerrigan@indigohealthcare.co.uk 07818 556096

Olena Zavalska olena.zavalska@indigohealthcare.co.uk 07501 943282

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Testimonials Here’s what other Doctors have said about us:

“I made a great decision by going with Indigo Healthcare to help me find my first job in the UK. If you are looking for some help to find your dream job as a Doctor, close your eyes and go with Indigo Healthcare, where they take up your case and treat it like their own. They get you prompt results and help you achieve your dream. I could not have made it here without them.”

SHO in General Medicine for an NHS Trust in the South of England

“I would like to express my gratitude to the Indigo Team I dealt with during the process of securing a job in the UK. Stella has been very polite and active, giving clear instructions about the interview, environment and possible questions that I might be asked. I am so thankful for their work and I would highly recommend overseas Doctors to go through their gate while looking for a job in the UK.”

Senior Clinical Fellow - General Medicine for an NHS Trust in the South East of England

“I don't have the words to express my emotions. Indigo Healthcare and people like Stella is without any doubt one of the best recruitment agencies. It is highly appreciated and I would recommend to any Doctor who wants to work in the UK. I am so pleased finally the hard work Indigo and Stella have done has finally paid off.”

Senior Fellow in Care of the Elderly for an NHS Trust in the South of England

“From the first day, you have been so supportive and clear with me about my experience, abilities and suitability for jobs I can apply for. Your continuous support has made me trust you 100%. I can't describe my appreciation for all you have done and I'm sure any Doctor who will work with you is lucky as you are best agent any person would ever think of. Thanks again for all you have done for me & I wish you the best of luck.”

CT1/2 Medicine Doctor for an NHS Trust in the Midlands

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0330 123 9665 indigohealthcare.co.uk Page | 27

contactus@indigohealthcare.co.uk