Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a shortage of dentists in the UK and will it be easy for me to find a job?
There is no shortage of dentists in the UK as there has been an increase in the number of dentists being trained in UK dental schools. In addition many dentists who qualified in European dental schools have been coming to the UK to look for work.
Does the NHS employ dentists from outside the UK?
Yes, there are European dentists and dentists who qualified outside the EEA working in the NHS and private sector in the UK.
All applicants must meet criteria for UK employment.
Will I need a visa to work in the UK?
What if I am an asylum seeker or refugee?
See the section on refugees and asylum seekers in the main menu.
I have come to the UK to work and have just passed the ORE or LDS examination. Can I start working?
No, registration with the GDC and immigration to the UK are two separate issues. Inclusion on the dentists’ register does not entitle you to stay in the UK. Check your status on the UKVI website.
Does the UK limit the number of migrants from outside the EEA?
What is the points-based system for immigration?
The system consists of five tiers with each tier having a different points requirement. The tiers are:
- Tier 1 - Entrepreneur visa.
- Tier 2 - skilled workers with a job offer (subject to the resident labour market test unless the job is on the shortage occupation list). Please note there are currently no occupations within dentistry that satisfy the shortage occupation category for entry to the UK.
- Tier 3 - low skilled migrants - filling specific labour shortages.
- Tier 4 – students - including undergraduate and postgraduate.
- Tier 5 - temporary workers – including Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) programs, such as the Medical Training Initiative (MTI)
Some tiers are closed or have limited entry. It is important to check the UKVI website at frequent intervals.
What can I apply for on a Tier 2 Visa?
Any job in dentistry that has met the resident labour market test.
My spouse/partner has a Tier 2 or Tier 5 Visa. Can I apply for training posts on temporary registration?
My spouse/partner has a Tier 2 or Tier 5 visa. Can I work as a dentist?
If I am an overseas undergraduate student who has just qualified BDS from a UK dental school under a Tier 4 Visa. Can I apply for a Dental Foundation Training post in the UK?
If I am an overseas postgraduate student who has just qualified with a master’s degree from a UK dental school under a Tier 4 Visa. Can I stay in the UK?
Can I have temporary registration as soon as I arrive in the UK?
I have just qualified from outside the EEA with no clinical experience, what are my chances of obtaining a training post in a hospital, research or teaching post in the UK on temporary registration.
I have just arrived in the UK, are there any posts that I can apply for so that I can learn the system of working in the UK and practice for the ORE or LDS?
I have passed my ORE or LDS and have the right to work in the UK - do I have to apply for a Foundation Training post?
Do I need a health/medical check before working in the UK?
Will I need my own professional indemnity and be a member of a defence organisation?
I am an overseas qualified dentist and I have just passed the ORE or LDS on a visitor visa. Can I take up a training post that would be eligible for temporary registration with the GDC?
What is Tier 5 MTI?
How long can I stay on Tier 5?
I qualified from outside the EEA; can I avoid sitting the ORE or LDS examination by entering a UK Dental School for a few years and qualifying with a UK degree?
I am a qualified dentist in my own country, can I work as a dental nurse, hygienist or therapist in the UK?
If I enrol as a postgraduate student at a UK university and I am awarded a PhD or Masters Degree, will I be exempt from passing the ORE or LDS?
I work as a specialist in my own country, which is outside the EEA. I am planning to move to the UK and work as a specialist, will I have to pass the ORE or LDS even if I only want to work in my own specialty and don’t intend performing any routine dentistry?
Does the NACPDE have a list of Trusts with current Hospital posts in dentistry available for MTIs?
The NACPDE does not keep a list of vacant Tier5 posts and cannot identify and/or initiate these posts for you.