Every year, more doctors trained in the UK are choosing to move to Australia. And there are many reasons why the trend has grown significantly in recent years, such as the lure of better pay, different working conditions, or simply a desire for a change of scenery.
One clear data point: in the period between May 2021 and May 2022, some 1,403 UK-graduate doctors left to practise abroad, and of those destinations, Australia was the most popular country with around 630 medical professionals moving here. In 2022-23, the number of British medical professionals relocating to Australia jumped to 1,974—a 67% increase over the prior year.
According to a 2024 Ministry of Health and Ageing report delivered by the Hon Mark Butler MP, overseas-trained doctors made up about 50% of all new doctor registrations in Australia in 2023, with 60% of these doctors coming from the UK and other predominantly English-speaking countries; that is, Ireland, India, and the Philippines.
So, if you’re a UK doctor (especially a GP) thinking about working in Australia, the timing is interesting. In the sections that follow, we’ll look at how salaries compare between the two countries (i.e., the UK and Australia), and the practicalities of working in The Land Down Under, as well as registration and immigration issues, all grounded in current data and aimed at giving you a clear, realistic picture.
Why Australia Appeals to UK Doctors
As previously alluded to, certain factors make Australia appealing to UK doctors, namely the better pay, improved working conditions, or a change of scene. Plus, here in Australia, doctors can expect to have a healthier work-life balance and an outdoorsy lifestyle that many find attractive.
In Australia, work for doctors comes with generally shorter working hours, a stronger team culture, more respect for the profession, and the ability to have more control over one’s work schedule.
Additionally, many UK doctors appreciate the Australian healthcare system and the easier or streamlined registration pathways for UK-trained doctors. The combination of financial benefits, professional respect, and lifestyle factors creates a compelling draw for UK doctors to move to Australia.
Below is a more detailed discussion on the reasons why UK doctors like working in Australia:
- Better pay and earning potential: Australian doctors often earn significantly higher salaries compared to their UK counterparts, with GPs potentially earning more per year, partly due to the Medicare billing system, which pays per consultation (more lucrative than having a fixed salary).
- Work-life balance: Many UK doctors cite shorter working weeks, fewer bureaucratic pressures, and more autonomy over work schedules in Australia as major draws in their decision to work here.
- Lifestyle: Australia’s generally warm, sunny climate, outdoor lifestyle, and relaxed environment, which contrasts with the UK, makes it a favoured destination for those seeking a better quality of life.
- Professional respect and environment: British doctors find higher morale and professional respect in Australian settings, with stronger team cultures and less burnout compared to experiences in the UK NHS.
- Streamlined registration and recognition: The fast-track registration pathway for NZ, UK, and Ireland GPs, for example, and the recognition of UK qualifications by Australian medical boards make registration and moving to work in Australia easier, especially for junior doctors and specialists in demand.
- Shortages in medical specialties: The country faces shortages in specific medical specialties, including general practice, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and anaesthesia, so there are many opportunities for UK-trained doctors to find positions more readily in Australia.
This combination of factors perfectly encapsulates why Australia is a highly appealing destination for UK-trained doctors and other international medical graduates (IMGs).
Australia Doctor Salary vs UK – What to Expect
Let’s begin by looking at one of the headline attractions: how doctors’ pay in Australia stacks up against that of UK doctors.
For general practitioners (GPs), the salary picture is broad. Recent listings show full-time GP salary levels in Australia to be typically in the order of AUD 215,000–235,000 per year in many metropolitan full-time roles. More broadly, a survey of GP salaries in Australia gives metropolitan GPs a range of AUD 150,000–300,000 per year, while rural and remote roles can reach AUD 200,000–400,000 (or even more) depending on the location, mix of private billings, and on-call or shift work.
For specialists and consultants, the salary potential is significantly higher as overall doctor salaries in Australia are computed depending on the grade, with specialists earning as much as AUD 500,000+, depending on their specialty and private practice.
In the UK, a representative figure for a practising GP shows an average at around £87,884 (for 2024). Some lists put UK GP salary pay ranges at a minimum of around £76,038 and a maximum of around £114,743 for England (2025/26) for salaried roles rather than partners. For full GP partners, including private work, the estimates are somewhat higher. For example, one source estimates GP partners averaged about £163,500 and salaried GPs about £108,300 in the 2022-23 period in the UK.
Note that in Australia, location figures enormously (city vs rural/remote), whether you are salaried or doing mixed billing, whether you take on after-hours shifts, and whether your practice is private or public.
Meanwhile, in the UK, your earnings will depend on whether you are a partner or salaried, how much private work you take on, your working hours and list sizes, your region, and whether you do locum work. Also, the pressures of NHS funding, workload, and GP retention influence both doctors’ career satisfaction and pay prospects.
Can UK Doctors Work in Australia?
The short answer to the question ‘Can UK doctors moving to Australia work here?’ is a resounding ‘Yes, they definitely can!’ UK-trained doctors can work in Australia. But before one can do so, you need to undergo specific processes and must be aware of location constraints and satisfy all registration or licensing requirements.
How to Work in Australia as a Doctor from the UK
The good news is that the training structure in the UK is broadly comparable to the Australian system (including undergraduate medical training, postgraduate years, etc.), which helps a lot. For instance, many UK-trained doctors are eligible for streamlined recognition in Australia because of this alignment.
If you’re a doctor moving from the UK to Australia for work, here’s a guide through the steps you’ll need to take to get there:
- Secure a suitable job offer or contract in Australia (can be with a hospital, health service or a GP practice). Many doctors moving get recruited directly via agencies or employer-sponsored roles.
- Apply for registration with the Australian medical regulator, namely the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), together with the relevant specialist or general practice college (e.g., the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners – RACGP, or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine – ACRRM). UK training is generally recognised favourably compared to many other overseas jurisdictions.
- Meet any additional conditions, such as a credentials check, English proficiency examination, proof of training, supervision arrangements (especially if your practise experience is limited), and potential rural or remote service obligations, if required.
- Secure the appropriate visa or immigration status (see next section for a more detailed discussion).
- Relocate and begin your practice. Once you’re registered and working, you’ll need to understand the new healthcare setting, billing arrangements (especially in general practice), and any overheads or practice partnership requirements.
Where You Can Work as a UK GP
Are you a UK GP moving to Australia and intending to continue your practice? If so, remember that here, the practice setting (urban vs regional vs remote) and contractual arrangements matter.
Here are some key points to take note of:
- Many roles in Australia will require you to accept an assignment in a designated area or Distribution Priority Area (DPA), which is essentially work in a regional or remote location, especially for visa or recognition purposes. Some inducements or incentives exist for rural GP postings.
- The Australian system has a moratorium in some cases for overseas-qualified doctors, meaning a requirement to practise in underserved or regional areas for a period of time before being able to move to major metropolitan centres, especially where health workforce shortages are being addressed. For instance, publicly-trained overseas doctors working under Medicare rebate access often must spend their first 10 years in rural or regional areas if they are working under certain visa conditions.
- The availability of Australian GP jobs for UK doctors or IMGs in general may differ by state or territory. For instance, some states have a stronger demand for GPs in regional areas, and employer packages may be more generous (incentives, relocation support, housing) for remote posts. This may mean that while metropolitan roles are available, many overseas doctors are being placed in regional or rural settings initially.
- UK-trained GPs are generally viewed as highly desirable candidates (given their training compatibility and English language proficiency), so they may have more options. However, make sure you evaluate contract terms, on-call and after-hours commitments, and the mix of private vs public practice.
In practical terms, if you’re a UK GP and open to moving to Australia, you can find roles in major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth) as well as regional centres.
But besides work in cities, metropolitan suburbs, regional and rural centres, you may even find telehealth and remote GP roles (some offers are for part-time work) in Australia, offering attractive hourly rates.
If you’re serious about wanting to be a UK doctor to Australia, Alecto can help.
We’ve assisted hundreds of international medical graduates and overseas-trained doctors in finding gainful employment here in Australia. We also helped them ensure they and their families have a smooth transition to life here and achieve their dream lifestyle.
Doctor Registration Requirements and Pathways for UK-Trained Practitioners
Australia’s regulatory system for doctors is overseen by the AHPRA, together with the respective colleges for general practice or specialist practice. The pathways vary depending on your training, experience, and whether you’re moving as a specialist or a general practitioner.
UK-trained practitioners holding full registration or licensing (or its equivalent) in the UK and have completed recognised training, this aligns you favourably for assessment by the relevant Australian college or medical registration board. Many UK specialists have been approved via the “Specialist Pathway” in Australia (the system where a practitioner’s overseas specialist qualification is recognised for practice in Australia).
The process of recognition and registration is often more straightforward for UK-trained doctors compared to many non-UK medical graduates because of the similarity of training. That said, you still must submit evidence of:
- Qualifications
- Registration
- Fitness-to-practice records
- English language proficiency
You might also be required to provide details of your practice history, evidence of recency of practice, as well as supervision or mentoring if you are new to the Australian system.
For general practice, you will need to be eligible for or hold Fellowship of the RACGP or FRAGCP or ACRRM (depending on the practice setting) or be working towards it. You will need to comply with continuing professional development (CPD) requirements, and any supervised transition arrangements in your first period of practice in Australia may apply.
Visas and Immigration Requirements for Doctors Moving from the UK to Australia
Getting your registration sorted is only part of the story since you also need the right visa and immigration status. If you’re a UK doctor considering work in Australia, you need to get a visa that allows you to work as a doctor in Australia (paid employment).
For many doctors this will involve employer-sponsorship or state-sponsorship visa categories, depending on the role, state or territory, location (rural vs city), and whether you will practise in the private or public sector. You won’t need to go through the entire general skilled migration route if you’re being sponsored by an employer as a doctor. Many recruiting agencies and practices assist with this.
However, some recruitment roles for overseas doctors may require you to commit to working in a regional or underserved area for a period of time as part of the visa or registration conditions (especially if you are benefiting from certain incentives).
For more detailed visa-related information, please refer to our in-depth doctor visa options guide.
GP Training in Australia for UK Doctors
For UK doctors stepping into Australia, there are clear training and upskilling pathways tailored for GPs that help align your UK experience with the requirements of the Australian system. Because UK training is broadly recognized here, the transition is smoother than many might imagine.
Here’s how it works in practice:
- First, ensure you hold a primary medical qualification recognised by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and that you have registration or licensing (or equivalent) from the UK to help simplify your assessment.
- If you’re aiming for general practice in Australia, you’ll apply to the relevant college. This could either be the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) depending on your work setting. They’ll assess whether your UK training meets local requirements.
- If your UK experience aligns well, you may be eligible for faster registration or fewer supervision requirements; if not, you might need some bridging sessions or pro-rated practice under supervision.
In sum, as a UK GP, you’re already in a strong position to find good GP roles in Australia. You’ll simply need to map your UK credentials into the Australian system, decide whether you want to pursue a full college fellowship (RACGP/ACRRM) or are eligible via another route, and select your practice setting accordingly.
Working as a Doctor in Australia from the UK – Lifestyle, Culture and Work Environment
If you’re contemplating moving from the UK to Australia and becoming a GP, it’s worth looking beyond the salary to the real-life daily experiences of work and living ‘down under’.
- Lifestyle: The Australian lifestyle is typically characterized by more sunshine, more outdoor time, generally less congestion, and fewer seasonal extremes (depending on the exact region you’ll be living in). If you choose a regional or coastal location, you may find weekends more relaxed, indulge in more outdoorsy activities (swimming in beaches, hiking at national parks, etc.), and enjoy a slower pace of living. Of course, the cost of living can vary as major cities like Sydney or Melbourne can be quite expensive for housing, schooling, etc.
- Culture: The cultural adjustment is less dramatic for UK doctors than for some overseas professionals because of the shared language, similar medical heritage, and the fact that there are already many UK-trained doctors practising in Australia.
- Work Environment: When it comes to day-to-day work, GP practices in Australia tend to apply mixed billing or private billing (i.e., patients pay a portion or full fee, then a Medicare rebate), which means income may vary by patient volume and billing percentage. For example, one job advert may mention “70% of billings” or “AUD 200/hour minimum or 70% of billings” for a GP role. Some Australian practices also emphasise partnership, ownership, or profit-share in ways that differ from salaried UK GP roles. As such, working hours, after-hours duties, administrative responsibilities, and billing management may differ.
Challenges UK Doctors Face When Relocating
Moving your practice from the UK to Australia isn’t without its hurdles. Although the decision-making may seem straightforward, you (and perhaps your family) need to be ready for some real adjustments and be aware of possible bumps along the road.
- Besides meeting all licensing or registration and credentialing requirements, be prepared for possible additional supervision or bridging work depending on your experience and the state or territory you’re moving to.
- Practice model and billing systems can be quite different, so you need to be flexible, especially since you may find some Australian practices operate under contractor models, mixed billing, or may expect more patient throughput or weekend/after-hours work.
- Location matters a lot. In regional or remote settings, you may have fewer amenities, a different level of work isolation, longer travel times to hospitals or specialists, and possibly more on-call work or mixed acute care that you didn’t experience in your previous UK role.
- Relocation and integration issues, particularly in terms of housing (especially in high-demand areas), schooling for children, partner employment, social network, licensing transfer for spouse, and cultural adjustment, can all take time, effort, and cost.
If you’re planning to work here for the long haul, you’ll want to think about your superannuation (Australian pension scheme), tax implications, retirement savings in Australia vs the UK, and whether you intend to stay permanently or return.
Tips for a Smooth Transition (Registration, Housing, and Family Life)
To make your move as a UK doctor to Australia a sound decision with minimal stress, here are some practical tips we gleaned from UK doctors who’ve done it:
- Start the registration paperwork early: Collate proof (with files of both originals and photocopies) of your UK GP work, GMC registration, college or fellowship membership, CPD, and references to avoid delays.
- Negotiate your contract carefully: Ensure you understand the applicable billing model, guaranteed minimum income (if any), relocation allowance, on-call duties, hours, expected patient numbers, and whether you’ll become a partner or remain salaried.
- Research all costs: This includes housing, transport, schooling, and community amenities.
- Family integration: If moving with your partner, spouse, and/or children, check schooling options, limitations of partner’s employment opportunities, social or community networks, and visa work rights for your partner.
- Support network and local culture: Join GP networks, professional groups, and find mentors in your practice. Having peer support helps with integrating and understanding local healthcare culture and jargon (19AB restrictions, referrals, Medicare provider numbers, local guidelines).
- Financial planning: Consider tax implications (Australia vs UK), superannuation contributions, and retirement planning.
With these smart steps, you can ease the transition process, reduce surprises, avoid disappointment, and maximise your chances of settling in both professionally and personally.
Final Thoughts: Is Moving to Australia Worth It for UK Doctors?
If you’re a UK GP looking for something different, such as better remuneration potential, a manageable pathway to registration, and the chance for a better or more balanced lifestyle, then yes, moving to Australia can make a lot of sense.
However, if you are coming from the UK and expecting the same role as you had in the NHS, you may find the market works differently. Still, the financial and lifestyle upsides are real and meaningful, which is why these are the key drivers behind the trend of finding medical jobs in Australia for UK doctors continues to flourish.
Ready to work in Australia as a doctor?
Get in touch with Alecto today!