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How to Return to Work as a Refugee Professional in the UK

Refugees and people with humanitarian protection in the UK can return to their qualified profession by getting their overseas qualifications recognised — a process called reaccreditation. Each profession has a UK regulator (such as the GMC for doctors or the NMC for nurses) with its own exams, English-language test, and registration fees. Refugees often qualify for fee waivers and interest-free loans from RefuAid.

Free guidance from RefuAid · Verified June 2026

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Returning to your career is one of the most important steps in rebuilding your life in the UK. The process is different for each profession, but the overall path is the same: confirm you are allowed to work, find your regulator, get your qualification assessed, prove your English, pass any required exams, and register. Path by RefuAid builds a free, personalised version of these steps for your exact profession, country, and situation.

Key facts (June 2026)

Steps to return to your profession in the UK

  1. Check your right to work. Your immigration status decides whether and how you can work. Refugee status, humanitarian protection, and indefinite leave to remain give full work rights. Asylum seekers usually cannot work until granted permission. Check your grant letter or biometric residence permit.
  2. Find your regulator. Each profession is overseen by a regulator: GMC (doctors), NMC (nurses and midwives), GDC (dentists), GPhC (pharmacists), HCPC (allied health), SRA (solicitors), ARB (architects), and the Engineering Council and DfE for engineers and teachers.
  3. Get your qualification assessed. UK ENIC provides a Statement of Comparability (£59.40) showing how your overseas qualification compares to a UK one. Some regulators assess your qualification directly as part of registration.
  4. Prove your English. Most regulators require IELTS (around £240) or OET (around £340). Healthcare professionals should usually choose OET because it tests medical English.
  5. Pass the required exams. Each regulator sets its own exams — for example PLAB for doctors, the CBT and OSCE for nurses, and the ORE for dentists. Path lists the exact exams, costs, and refugee discounts for your profession.
  6. Register and find work. Once you pass, you apply to join the regulator's register and can start applying for jobs. Programmes like REACHE offer free clinical preparation and placements for refugee healthcare professionals.

Refugee support, fee waivers, and funding

Frequently asked questions

Can refugees work in their profession in the UK?

Yes. Refugees with refugee status, humanitarian protection, or indefinite leave to remain have the right to work and can return to their qualified profession once their overseas qualifications are recognised by the relevant UK regulator.

How long does reaccreditation take?

It varies by profession and individual circumstances, typically from several months to a few years. Doctors using the PLAB route often complete it in 12–24 months; nurses through the CBT and OSCE can be faster. Path estimates a timeline for your situation.

How much does it cost for a refugee to requalify in the UK?

Costs depend on the profession, ranging from a few hundred pounds for allied health roles to several thousand for doctors, dentists, and pharmacists. Many regulators offer refugee discounts, and RefuAid provides interest-free loans to cover the rest.

Do I need to take an English test?

Most regulators require proof of English through IELTS or OET. Healthcare professionals are usually advised to take OET because it focuses on medical English used in clinical settings.

Official sources

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