Start early: your relocation timeline
Most healthcare relocations take three to nine months from accepting an offer to starting work, driven mainly by registration and visa processing. Work backwards from your ideal start date.
- 3–9 months out: begin professional registration and the visa or skills assessment; these take the longest.
- 2–4 months out: finalise your contract, complete compliance and pre-employment checks, and start planning the move.
- 1–2 months out: book flights and temporary accommodation, arrange shipping, and sort banking.
- Final weeks: confirm start date, notify UK bodies, and pack essential documents in your hand luggage.
Running these steps in parallel, rather than one after another, is the single biggest time-saver.
Documents to gather and certify
Assemble a complete document pack early and keep certified copies and scans. You will need these repeatedly for registration, the visa and your employer.
- Valid passport with plenty of remaining validity, and any current visas.
- Professional registration certificates and certificates of good standing.
- Degree certificates, transcripts and postgraduate qualifications.
- Mandatory training certificates such as life support, and your CV.
- References and previous employment verification.
- Identity and background checks, including a police or criminal record check (for example a DBS certificate).
- Medical records, vaccination history and any occupational health clearances.
Keep originals safe, carry certified copies, and store secure digital versions in the cloud.
Registration, visa and compliance
You cannot work until you are both registered with the local regulator and hold the right to work. Treat these as the critical path.
- Registration: apply to the relevant regulator (for example AHPRA in Australia, the Medical Radiation Technologists Board in New Zealand, CORU or the relevant Irish body, or provincial regulators in Canada). Provide all evidence promptly.
- Visa: most healthcare workers use skilled or employer-sponsored visas; UK citizens can work in Ireland under the Common Travel Area. Confirm whether your employer sponsors you.
- English language: arrange IELTS or OET if required for your route.
- Compliance: complete occupational health, immunisations, background checks and any employer onboarding well before travel.
A recruiter or relocation team can chase these in parallel and flag anything missing before it delays your start.
Flights, shipping and what to bring
Once your visa is confirmed, lock in travel and decide what moves with you.
- Book flexible flights in case dates shift, and check baggage allowances.
- Decide between shipping belongings by sea (cheaper, slower) or air (faster, dearer), or starting fresh and buying locally.
- Carry essential documents, medication and valuables in your hand luggage, never in the hold.
- Check customs and import rules for your destination, including restrictions on food, medicines and electricals.
- Keep copies of receipts for any relocation costs your employer will reimburse.
Housing and settling in
Arriving without a fixed long-term home is normal and often wise. Book short-term accommodation first, then choose a permanent area once you know your workplace and commute.
- Reserve two to four weeks of temporary accommodation near your hospital or clinic.
- Research neighbourhoods for commute, safety, schools and cost before signing a lease.
- Understand local rental norms, deposits and the documents landlords require, such as proof of employment.
- Set up utilities, internet and a local SIM as soon as you arrive.
- Register with local services, including a family doctor and, where relevant, the local health system.
Money, banking and tax
Sorting your finances early avoids cash-flow problems in your first weeks, when you may face deposits and setup costs before your first pay.
- Open a local bank account on or soon after arrival; some banks let you start the process before you travel.
- Budget for upfront costs: rental deposit, initial living expenses and travel.
- Use a specialist money-transfer service for better exchange rates than high-street banks.
- Understand your tax position in both countries, including any double-taxation arrangements, and tell HMRC you are leaving the UK.
- Review your pension, National Insurance and any student loan obligations before you go.
Consider professional tax advice if you have property, investments or ongoing UK income.
Moving with family
Relocating with a partner, children or pets adds steps that need their own lead time. Start these alongside your own paperwork.
- Confirm dependant visa requirements and gather marriage and birth certificates.
- Research and apply for schools or childcare early, as places and enrolment timelines vary.
- Check your partner's right to work and any professional registration they need.
- Arrange health cover for the whole family from day one.
- Plan pet relocation carefully: import permits, vaccinations and quarantine rules can take months.
Emotional preparation matters too. Moving a family across the world is a major transition, and lining up support networks, keeping familiar routines for children and researching local communities before you arrive all help everyone settle faster. Give yourselves a little slack in the first fortnight rather than starting work the day after landing.
Ava Medical supports candidates and their families through registration, compliance and relocation logistics, so the practical burden of moving is shared rather than carried alone.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I start planning a relocation?
Begin three to nine months before your intended start date. Professional registration and visa processing take the longest, so start them first and run other tasks such as housing, flights and banking in parallel. Building in buffer time protects you against processing delays.
What documents do I need to relocate for a healthcare job?
You will need a valid passport, professional registration certificates and a certificate of good standing, degree certificates and transcripts, mandatory training certificates, references, a police or criminal record check, and occupational health and vaccination records. Keep certified copies and secure digital scans.
Should I find permanent housing before I arrive?
It is usually better to book two to four weeks of temporary accommodation near your workplace first, then choose a permanent home once you know your commute and the area. Signing a long lease from abroad, before you have seen a neighbourhood, carries more risk.
When should I open a local bank account?
Open one on or shortly after arrival, and check whether your chosen bank lets you begin the application before you travel. Budget for upfront deposits and living costs before your first pay, and use a specialist money-transfer service for better exchange rates.
What do I need to do about tax when I leave the UK?
Tell HMRC you are leaving the UK, and understand your tax residency in both countries, including any double-taxation arrangement. Review your pension, National Insurance and student loan position. If you have UK property, investments or ongoing income, consider professional tax advice.
What extra steps are involved in moving with family?
You will need dependant visas and supporting documents such as marriage and birth certificates, early school or childcare applications, confirmation of your partner's right to work, family health cover from day one, and careful pet-relocation planning, as import and quarantine rules can take months.
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