Any doctor who wishes to practice medicine in the UK must register with the General Medical Council (GMC). Doctors who qualify overseas and wish to register must normally pass the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) to demonstrate their knowledge of English and their medical expertise.

Note: Doctors applying to take any other test or examination, such as those required to enter one of the Royal Colleges, will also be treated as General Visitors and must demonstrate that they meet all the requirements of the General Visitor Rules. This means that they should not be granted more than six months of leave as a General Visitor and they will be subject to the normal restrictions on General Visitors switching into other categories of leave.