permit-free training

permit-free training

Postgraduate training of an overseas doctor who does not hold a permit that would allow him or her to stay permanently in the UK, or who is not entitled to a right of indefinite residence in the UK, who intends to leave the UK on completion of training.
Such doctors were allowed to enter the UK under Immigration Rules commonly known as “permit-free” training arrangements. Changes to the Immigration Rules were introduced in 1997 which enabled overseas doctors in specialty training to complete training programmes which had been agreed upon with the Postgraduate Dean. Permit-free training programmes ended in 2006, and as of July 2006, all overseas doctors training in the UK were required to hold a valid work permit from the Border Agency. The only exception was to allow two years of permit-free training for non-EU nationals who trained in a UK medical school so that they could acquire full registration (limited registration no longer exists) with the GMC.