Whenever we talk about international nurse recruitment, employers are concerned about the cost. I wanted to use this blog post to highlight the typical expenses involved in supporting a nurse relocation to the UK from abroad so that the financials are as transparent as possible.
As a disclaimer – this post is based on non-European Economic Area recruitment, and is only a guide. Specifics will vary according to agent, country, and what services you choose.
Headline Figures:
- It will cost approximately £10,350to recruit an international nurse once all costs are taken into account.
- ALL recruitment costs should be recouped within 12 weeks of hiring an agency locum nurse, or within 24 weeks of hiring a bank nurse.
An overview of the typical costs and what they are for can be found below:
| Fee Item | Description | Estimated Cost (This can vary according to location and fluctuations in exchange rates. Correct on date of publication) |
| English Language Tuition | This isn’t essential but supporting nurses in their English Language test can speed up their arrival. | £250 (Variable depending on service provided, but the cost can range from £200 to £500) |
| IELTS Exam Fee | Charge by International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Occupational English Test (OET) to administer standard English Language Test (a pre-requisite to registering with the NMC) | £230 for UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) IELTS (Please note that the IELTS is currently the most popular exam, and the OET is slightly more expensive at £340) |
| CBT Exam Fee | Part 1 of the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Registration Process is a compulsory Computer Based Test which examines the nurse’s professional standards. | £130 |
| NMC Application Fee | This fee is levied by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) when a nurse applies to the UK NMC register. | £140 |
| TB Medical | This health check is required when the nurse comes to apply for a UK visa, to confirm they are in good health and not a carrier of TB. | £55 |
| Flight and Transport to Accommodation | The physical relocation of the candidate to the UK. | £700 |
| Visa | All non-EEA nurses who enter the UK must pay for a visa. Usually this is granted on a three-year basis. Employers pay this visa cost on behalf of the nurse as part of their relocation package. | £446 |
| Health Surcharge Fees | These are mandatory fees enforced by UKVI to enable the nurse to receive free healthcare from the NHS during their time in the UK. It is £200 for each year their visa is granted. | £600 |
| Immigration Skills Charge | This is a mandatory fee levied by UKVI to employers of non-EEA workers. It is charged at £1000 per year that a visa is granted, and is payable upfront. | £3000 |
| 1 Month accommodation | It is standard for employers to provide a minimum of one month free accommodation to nurses as part of their relocation package. | ~£650 |
| OSCE Exam Fee | Practical Part 2 of the NMC Assessment undertaken in the UK after candidate has arrived in order that nurse can receive their PIN. | £992 |
| NMC Registration Fee | Charge levied by the NMC when applicant registers for their PIN. | £153 |
| Agent Service Fee | This is the charge levied by your agent to manage the relocation from start to end. | £3000 (Variable according to agency. The standard rate is 12%-14% of Nurse’s starting salary) |
| Other Charges | Depending on the country you recruit from there may be other charges such as processing fees with the relevant authorities.
You can also choose optional services such as airport meet and greet or OSCE preparation courses. |
Varies |
| Total estimated cost: | ~£10,350 |
If you have any questions in relation to these costs, please feel free to get in touch at sarah@myhealthcarerecruit.com
My Healthcare Recruit supports UK healthcare employers in the public, private, and care sector to find international nurses who are a great fit for their organization, by using market-leading video interviewing tools to connect them to our database of qualified candidates. Our innovative approach makes international candidates easier to find and more cost-effective to source than ever before. Find out more at www.myhealthcarerecruit.com