Overseas Qualified Nurses And Midwives
This page defines how you can apply to come to the UK as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife to undertake a supervised practice placement or midwifery adaptation scheme.
Some overseas qualified nurses can apply for permission to enter the UK as a work permit holder. You should read the page on who should apply for more details.
If you come to the UK as an overseas qualified nurse, you will be given permission to enter and stay in the United Kingdom for a maximum period of 18 months. At the end of the 18 months you will be expected to leave the United Kingdom.
Note the qualified nurses and midwives arrangements are due to be deleted later this year when the new points-based system skilled workers of Tier 2 is launched.
Eligibility
If you are currently in the United Kingdom under a different immigration category you should also read the information on switching.
In order to come to the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife, you must:
- Not have obtained this confirmation by misrepresentation; and
- A supervised practice placement through an education provider recognised by the NMC; or
- A supervised practice placement in a setting approved by the NMC; or
- A midwifery adaptation programme placement in a setting approved by the NMC; and
- Intend to take up the supervised practice placement or midwife adaptation programme; and
- In connection with the supervised practice placement or midwife adaptation programme; or
- Part-time work of a similar nature to the work undertaken on the supervised practice placement or midwife adaptation programme; and
- Be able to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without the use of public funds.
Applying
You should read this paragraph on switching if you are already in the United Kingdom under a different immigration category and want to remain in the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife.
If you are currently outside the United Kingdom, you will need to apply for a visa before you travel to the United Kingdom. Visa applications are processed by visa services, their website provides a visa enquiry form that you can use to decide whether you will need to apply for a visa. If you need a visa, you should make your application at your nearest British diplomatic post.
Extending
This page explains how you can extend your stay in the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife.
You should read the page on switching if you are already in the United Kingdom under a different immigration category and want to remain in the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife.
You can apply to extend your stay if you:
currently have permission to stay in the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife; and
meet the original eligibility requirements for the category; and
can provide satisfactory evidence of regular attendance during any previous periods of supervised practice or midwife adaptation course; and
would not, as a result of the extension remain in the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife for a period longer than 18 months; and
provide written consent of your sponsor to remain in the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife if any previous study, supervised practice placements or midwife adaptation programme placements were sponsored by a government or international scholarship agency.
You should make your application to extend your stay (we call this applying for further leave to remain) on application form FLR(O). This application form and the related guidance can be downloaded from the right side of this page. You should read the guidance notes before making your application.
You will be able to stay in the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife for a maximum of 18 months. At the end of the 18 month period, you will be expected to leave the United Kingdom.