international

Specialist Healthcare Recruiter to The NHS & Private Sector healthcare providers in the United Kingdom

The UK has one of the most revolutionary and progressive healthcare systems in the world. Whether you work for the public sector NHS or a private healthcare provider, you can be sure that you are joining a national workforce that always puts its patients and staff first.

Many of the NHS Trusts and Private organisations with whom we partner offer fantastic training options for their staff, from full inductions and preceptorships, to complete career development programmes, opening up a world of training opportunities in specialist areas and locations. When you're not at work, the UK has one of the best quality of life, education for your children and a huge variety of activities on offer.

We offer a free and trusted service which helps international workers to realise their dream of working and settling in the UK. With over 2 decades of experience, our support is end-to-end, so we’ll help with everything from what you need when applying for a job through us, to the best pastoral support to ensure your new life in the UK is comfortable.

Our services to you

  • Dedicated Specialist Recruiter

    Industry leading expert advice tailored to your circumstance

    Top rates of pay matching your level of experience

    Lucrative Referral Scheme

    Guidance on registration with NMC / GMC/ HCPC and others

    Visa assistance

  • Travel advice

    Banking & Tax advice from our affipate partners

    Ltd Company registration

    Accommodation assistance

    Honest & professional service

Current Projects

Sonographer

We are the exclusive recruiter for a number of private organisations and are recruiting for Sonographers. Contact us now to get further details.

Read more
Radiographer

We have a large selection of Radiography jobs. Contact us for further information.

Read more
Doctors

The NHS is always in need of qualified doctors. Please contact us today to start your journey.

Read more
Nurse

40,000 nurses are required in the NHS and private hospitals in the UK. We are looking for you.

Read more

Register With Us

If you live overseas and wish to work in the UK, you'll need to follow the new immigration processes put in place following the UK's exit from the European Union. Whether you're moving to the UK permanently or just seeking a temporary working holiday, you'll need to apply for a work permit in advance. Some Visas require an offer of employment before you can live and work in the UK. The exception is the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa, which is covered in more detail below.

Requirements for working in the UK

To be eligible for employment as a sonographer in the UK, you'll need to meet the following requirements.

  • Qualifications
    If you live overseas and wish to work in the UK, you'll need to follow the new immigration processes put in place following the UK's exit from the European Union. Whether you're moving to the UK permanently or just seeking a temporary working holiday, you'll need to apply for a work permit in advance. Some Visas require an offer of employment before you can live and work in the UK. The exception is the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa, which is covered in more detail below.
  • The Health and Care Professions Council
    Once living and working in the UK, sonographers may be required to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Regardless of whether HCPC registration is required by a potential employer, you may choose to register with the Voluntary Register of Sonographers, which is administered by The Register of Clinical Technologists.
  • Professional Indemnity Insurance
    To work as a sonographer in the UK, you will need appropriate professional indemnity insurance. This can be arranged once you have arrived in the country.
  • Visas
    You can choose to apply for either a temporary or permanent Visa to work in the UK. Whichever route you take will depend on your long-term plans and goals. Some healthcare professionals opt to come to the UK for a working holiday perhaps for a year or two, while others are looking to settle permanently.

Working in the UK on a permanent visa

If you want to settle permanently in the UK, you should apply for a Skilled Worker Visa or a Health and Care Worker Visa. In each case, an application fee is payable, and you will need to have a job offer lined up before your visa is granted. Your salary must be at least the national pay scale rate for the sonographer jobs you’ll be doing to qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa. The application fee for jobs on the shortage occupations list costs £464 for up to three years, and £928 for more than three years.

You will also need to pay a healthcare surcharge of £624 per year, and you'll need to have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you first arrive in the UK. Many sonographers wishing to relocate to the UK decide to visit for a holiday initially. This gives the opportunity to apply for suitable jobs and attend interviews, in preparation for making a permanent working Visa application. A permanent Visa usually allows dependants and spouses to accompany you to live in the UK.

Working in the UK on a temporary visa

Temporary visas are designed for people wishing to work in the UK on a non-permanent basis. There are several types of temporary visas. The following are the most relevant for sonographers looking to work in the UK temporarily.

The Youth Mobility Scheme visa

This Visa is the most common solution for young professionals wishing to live and work temporarily in the UK. A replacement for the working holiday Visa, it offers the opportunity to live and work in the UK for up to two years. It is worth noting that fewer British commonwealth countries are now eligible for the YMS Visa than was previously the case.

Citizens from the following countries may apply: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Monaco, San Marino, and Iceland. To be eligible for the YMS Visa, you must be aged between 18 and 30, and you will need savings of at least £2,530. Dependents and spouses are not permitted to accompany the Visa holder to live and/or work in the UK with this visa.

The Temporary Work - Government Authorised Exchange visa

This one- or two-year Visa is designed for people wishing to engage in temporary work experience, training, research or fellowship programmes. To satisfy the requirements, you will need to obtain a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before you apply for your Visa. Your work experience or training must be relevant to the work of your sponsor organisation. Your sponsor can be an approved exchange scheme organisation, a higher education institution, or a government agency.

In addition to the work described in your certificate of sponsorship, you are allowed to work a second job for up to 20 hours per week. You are also permitted to apply for part-time job roles listed on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list (which includes healthcare professionals such as sonographers) for up to 20 hours per week.

You can apply for this Visa up to three months before the day you are due to start work or training in the UK. Dependants and spouses of temporary Visa holders are usually allowed to live in the UK temporarily, provided they are eligible.

Temporary Visa fees

An application fee of £244 per person (reduced by £55 for EU nationals) is payable for temporary visas, and an additional £624 healthcare surcharge per person is payable for each year you are resident in the UK.

How long does a temporary Visa application decision take?

Once you have submitted an application, proved your identity, and provided any other documents required, you should get a decision on your temporary visa within three weeks. You are then permitted to enter the UK up to 14 days before the start date of your job.

Accommodation

If you plan to stay in the UK permanently, you may wish to make long-term arrangements for your accommodation, such as purchasing a home. A short-term rental may be the best option if you plan to work as a Locum in a specific area for a year or more. Larger hospitals or clinics may be able to advise on temporary lodgings near your workplace.

Speak with Ronak at Permanent & Locum Hire for more details about this. If you plan to work and travel across the country during your stay in the UK, this may be the best way to find suitable accommodation without being tied into a longer-term rental contract. Some jobs may offer accommodation on-site or close by as part of your contract, though this tends to be more common with short-term, temporary positions.

Bank accounts

To be paid for your work in the UK, you'll need an eligible bank account to receive your salary payments. However, opening an account with a major UK High Street bank can be challenging if you don't yet have a permanent proof of address in the UK.

Fortunately, some online banks, such Starling as Revolut and Monzo, offer international bank accounts, and this may be a particularly good option for those planning to stay in the UK on a temporary working holiday Visa. Online bank accounts are usually easy to set up and manage too.

Salary range for sonographer jobs – UK

  • Sonographer: £40,056 to £53,218
  • Radiographer: £ 43,250 to £55,000
  • Doctors: £45,000 to £150,000
  • Nurses: £24,078 to £40,000

Locum work pay rates

You will be permitted to work 20 hours a week apart from your full-time employment and most full-time clinicians undertake part time work, or locums as called in the UK, to earn an additional income. Locum rates will easily double your annual income. Contact us for more information for locum opportunities.

Useful Links