The "cost" of visas while working as an international medical graduate doctor in the UK

This blog is about visa fees foreign doctors pay while working in the UK as a doctor.

I have NOT included expenses like air line tickets, accommodation, etc in this. This is purely related to the amount we pay to the UK government to work in the NHS and to serve the public. 

The requirements:
1. Certificate of sponsorship ( which we must have BEFORE we apply for our visas). When we apply for non training posts, the trusts very kindly pay for this however Health Education England does not pay for it when we apply for training posts. 
2. Visa fees

WHEN WE APPLY FOR A WORK VISA FROM OUR HOME COUNTRY
We have to apply for a work visa
https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs
Cost of visa:
232 GBP per person ( upto 3 years)

WHEN WE CHANGE JOBS WITHIN THE UK.
ie- when we apply for training posts, etc. and get our certificate of sponsorship 8 weeks before our job starts ( https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/extend-your-visa) 

We have to pay for the certificate of sponsorship (Health Education England does not pay for our certificate of sponsorships):
https://www.gov.uk/uk-visa-sponsorship-employers/sponsorship-certificates
199 GBP

Cost of visa:
431 GBP per person 

COSTS OF APPLYING FOR UK RESIDENCY.
After 5 years, people working on work visas can apply for indefinite leave to remain. 


Life in the UK test ( https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test ) - 50 GBP each
Fees for one main applicant-  ILR fees ( 2389) - https://www.gov.uk/settle-in-the-uk/y/you-have-a-work-visa/tier-2-general-visa
Then
naturalisation fees ( 1330 ) - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fees-for-citizenship-applications/fees-for-citizenship-applications-and-the-right-of-abode-from-6-april-2018
Plus
The arrangement of a citizenship ceremony ( 80)  - https://www.gov.uk/citizenship-ceremonies
plus
Biometric enrolment ( 19.20 )
Plus UKVCAS appointment fees ( variable )
Plus
Cost of passport
75.50

So the rough estaimate per person for ILR is a total of around 4,000 GBP. The cost for children is slightly less  

FAQS:
The fees for ILR is exhuberent ! 
Yes, it is very high

Is it worth working here?
Yes. The training is still better than our home countries and we have a reasonable lifestyle (ie we can afford to pay the rent of a nice luxury apartment and pay PCP on a nice car, pay for our exams and support our family without asking for external help).

4000 GBP per person for ILR is a high amount! How will I manage that?
You need to be well prepared to pay this high fees. As the visa fees have reduced significantly, you can start saving from teh first day you start working in the NHS. 
Open a subaccount 
Do locums whenever you get the chance - transfer that extra earning into your subaccount and do not touch it!
You will easily be able to save this amount. 
 
Is it still worth it?
Yes. However, I have seen colleagues struggle. The reason behind this is that they may not have planned their finances or may have had to spend a huge amount of something else like unwell family members back home, etc ( which some of us do quite a lot).

So what is the solution?
Spreading awareness! Requesting the UK government to cut down ILR fees. The government has reduced the visa fees significantly by making health surcharge exempt for health care workers but the ILR fees still remains sky high.  

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