Ready to chat? No pressure — just honest advice from people who understand the journey.
DocHop
Employers Submit Your CV
UK doctors

UK Doctors → Australia

Thinking about taking your medical career to Australia? Explore registration, jobs, visas and the practicalities of making the move.

Submit Your CV Talk to DocHop
Australian landscape

Choose your pathway to Australia.

Your route to practising medicine in Australia depends on your qualifications, experience and current stage of training. Explore these options to identify which pathway may be relevant to you.
For eligible specialists

Expedited Specialist Pathway

A more direct route to specialist registration for doctors whose specialist qualifications are on the Medical Board's accepted list.

The Expedited Specialist Pathway may suit specialist international medical graduates whose qualifications are assessed by the Medical Board of Australia as substantially equivalent to an approved Australian specialist qualification.

What to know

  • Your exact specialist qualification must appear on the accepted qualifications list.
  • Eligibility is specialty- and qualification-specific; not every UK-trained specialist will qualify.
  • Registration conditions can include supervised practice, orientation and cultural safety education.

Next step: Check the accepted qualifications list and confirm the current requirements for your specialty.

Talk to DocHop Official pathway guidance
For overseas-trained GPs

PEP Specialist

A RACGP program for eligible overseas-trained GPs seeking Fellowship and specialist GP recognition in Australia.

The Practice Experience Program Specialist (PEP Specialist) is for specialist international medical graduates who hold a recognised overseas general practice specialist qualification. The RACGP assesses how your training and experience compare with an Australian-trained specialist GP.

What to know

  • The RACGP determines whether you are substantially comparable, partially comparable or not comparable.
  • Eligible participants follow the relevant stream, with supervised practice and targeted learning.
  • Requirements differ by stream and may include workplace-based assessments or Fellowship examinations.

Next step: Review the RACGP's current eligibility criteria and assessment process.

Talk to DocHop Official RACGP guidance
For hospital doctors

Hospital Doctors & Specialists

Explore hospital roles and identify the registration route that fits your training, qualifications and career stage.

Australian hospitals recruit doctors at different stages, from doctors in training to experienced specialists. Your registration pathway depends on your background and the role you intend to take.

Routes to explore

  • Competent Authority Pathway: may be relevant to eligible doctors who meet the Medical Board's UK-related qualification, assessment and experience criteria. It can lead to general registration after the required supervised practice.
  • Standard Pathway: may apply to doctors who do not qualify for another registration pathway and usually involves assessment requirements.
  • Specialist pathways: experienced specialists may be eligible for the Expedited Specialist Pathway or the standard Specialist Pathway, depending on their qualifications.

Next step: Explore roles that match your experience while checking the Medical Board's registration requirements.

Explore hospital careers Official registration guidance

Not sure which pathway is right for you?

Tell us about your qualifications, experience and plans. DocHop can help you explore your options and take practical next steps towards working in Australia.

Why are UK doctors choosing Australia?

For many UK doctors, Australia offers a combination of career opportunity, lifestyle and outdoor living that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

↗

Career opportunity

Explore roles across metropolitan, regional, rural and remote Australia.

☀

Lifestyle

More time outdoors, different surroundings and a new experience for you and your family.

+

Familiar foundations

UK-trained doctors may find many aspects of Australian medical practice familiar, while still gaining a new professional experience.

Healthcare professionals

Submit your Expression of Interest.

Tell us about your background and what you are looking for in Australia.

Your information will be handled securely and used for recruitment and candidate-matching purposes. Please see our Registration and Recruitment Ts & Cs below for full details.

Your pathway to working in Australia.

There are several parts to the move. Understanding how they fit together can make the process much less daunting. We're here to help!

1

Understand your registration pathway

Before you can practise medicine in Australia, you'll need to meet the relevant AHPRA and Medical Board requirements.

Registration
2

Find the right Australian role

Consider your specialty, experience, preferred setting and the kind of lifestyle you want alongside your career.

Browse jobs
3

Understand your visa options

Your right to work will depend on your circumstances and the visa pathway available to you.

Visas
4

Choose where you want to live

Australia is enormous, and life can be very different from one state, city, regional centre or rural community to another.

See locations
5

Plan the move

Accommodation, banking, tax, superannuation, driving, schools and the practicalities of relocating all need consideration.

Moving guide

What kind of life do you want alongside medicine?

Australia gives doctors the opportunity to think about more than their next job. You might want to live near the coast, give your children more space and access to the outdoors, or exchange city life for a close-knit regional community.

There's no single 'best' Australia. There's the Australia that's right for you.

Explore locations
Australian landscape

Where could you work?

Metropolitan Australia
Major cities offer large hospitals, specialist services, universities and extensive professional networks.

Regional Australia
Regional centres can offer a balance between professional opportunity and lifestyle.

Rural & Remote Australia
For doctors looking for something different, rural and remote medicine can offer broader clinical experience and strong community connections.

Explore the practical guides.

As you plan your move, these are some of the key areas you'll want to understand.

Medical Registration

Understand AHPRA, the Medical Board and the registration pathway that may apply to you.

Read the guide

Australian Visas

Explore the visa considerations for doctors moving to Australia.

Read the guide

Working in Australian Healthcare

Learn how Australian healthcare works and what working life can look like.

Read the guide

Doctor Salaries

Understand what can affect Australian doctor salaries and employment packages.

Read the guide

Moving to Australia

Practical advice on housing, banking, schools, driving and settling in.

Read the guide

Australian Locations

Compare states, cities, regional centres and rural communities.

Read the guide

Moving with your family.

For many UK doctors, the decision isn't simply about their own career. It's about what life in Australia could look like for the whole family.

That means thinking about schools and childcare, housing, employment opportunities for your partner, healthcare, cost of living, travel back to the UK and the communities you might become part of.

Australian landscape

The job is only part of the decision

We encourage doctors to think about where they want to live before simply accepting a position. Location can have a major impact on both your professional and personal life.

Opportunities

Current Doctor Vacancies in Australia.

Explore current opportunities managed through DocHop.

View all jobs
General Practitioner, Doctor-Owned Start-Up Practice
Tasmania General Practice Rural

General Practitioner, Doctor-Owned Start-Up Practice

Earning potential Excellent
Bulk Billing 70% DPA: Yes MM5 Visa: Supported

Flexible · Flexible

View opportunity
Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (NP), Doctor-Owned Start-Up Practice
Tasmania Nursing Rural

Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (NP), Doctor-Owned Start-Up Practice

Earning potential Negotiable
Visa: Supported

Flexible · Flexible

View opportunity

Frequently asked questions.

Can UK doctors work in Australia?

UK-trained doctors can apply to practise in Australia, but must meet the relevant registration requirements. The pathway depends on your qualifications, experience and circumstances.

Do UK doctors need to sit Australian exams?

This depends on your individual registration pathway and circumstances. Your qualifications, specialty and experience can affect the route available to you.

Can I move to Australia with my family?

Family arrangements depend on the visa pathway and your individual circumstances. It is worth considering these requirements early in the process.

Where is the best place for a UK doctor to live?

There is no single answer. The right location depends on your career, family, lifestyle preferences and the kind of community you want to live in.

How long does the move take?

There is no standard timeframe. Registration, visa processing, employment and personal circumstances can all affect how long the process takes, so starting early gives you more flexibility.

Ready to explore Australia?

Whether you're seriously planning your move or simply wondering what's possible, tell us where you are in your career and what you're looking for. We'll help you work out what comes next.

Talk to DocHopSubmit Your CV