The Registration and Relocation Process

Registration

Depending on where you trained and gained your experience, there are different routes on how you apply for registration with the Irish Medical Council.

General Registration

Doctors trained in the EU/EEA

If you have trained in the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA), you will be asked to create an account on the Irish Medical Council’s website.

You then need to complete an online application form and submit the following documents to support your application:

• Notarised copy of your passport.
• Translated and notarised copy of your original medical degree.
• Certificate of conformity stating that your training is in accordance with the EU directive 2005/36/EC (this does not apply to you if you completed your training in the UK).
• Certificate of Good Standing to be sent directly to the Irish Medical Council, from each medical council you have worked under within the last five years.

Doctors trained outside of the EU/EEA

If you have trained outside of the EU or EEA, you will need to have your medical education credentials verified through the Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC) before you can apply for registration with the Irish Medical Council. EPIC is hosted by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). You can use the portfolio to add your qualifications, training and registration which will enable you to apply for roles across the world.

Eligibility requirements:

• Doctors who have a higher qualification and have either worked in an internship for at least 12 months or have completed at least three years in an accredited training programme.
• Doctors who have achieved a Certificate of Experience from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, Sudan, Malaysia, the UK or Malta.
• Doctors who aren’t eligible under the above routes, can apply for the Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES) exam. Please see links for information on PRES and exemptions from PRES.

The following supporting documents will be required:

• Notarised copy of your passport.
• Translated and notarised copy of your original medical degree.
• Certificate of Good Standing to be sent directly to the Irish Medical Council, from each medical council you have worked under within the last five years.
• IELTS certificate dated within the last two years with an overall band score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 6.5 in each module.

Specialist Registration

Doctors who completed specialist training in the EU/EEA

If you have trained or are recognised as a specialist in the EU or EEA, you will have your qualifications automatically recognised by the Irish Medical Council. You will be asked to create an account on the Irish Medical Council’s website to complete an online application form. Please follow this link using route two of the application routes outlined.

The following list of supporting documents is required:

• Notarised copy of your passport.
• Translated and notarised copy of your original medical degree.
• Translated and notarised copy of your original Certificate of Specialist Training (if you are applying for the Register of Medical Specialists).
• Certificate of conformity stating that your training is in accordance with the EU directive 2005/36/EC (this does not apply to you if you completed your training in the UK).
• Certificate of good standing to be sent directly to the Irish Medical Council, from each Medical Council you have registered and worked within during the last five years.

Doctors who completed specialist training outside of the EU/EEA

If you have either trained outside of the EU or EEA or have gained part of your training and experience in the EU or EEA, you will need to apply for specialist registration. Please follow this link using route three of the application routes outlined.

You will be asked to supply the following list of supporting documents:

• Notarised copy of your passport.
• Translated and notarised copy of your original medical degree.
• Translated and notarised copy of your original Certificate of Specialist Training (if you are applying for the Register of Medical Specialists).
• Certificate of conformity stating that your training is in accordance with the EU directive 2005/36/EC (this does not apply to you if you completed your training in the UK).
• Certificate of good standing to be sent directly to the Irish Medical Council, from each Medical Council you have registered and worked within during the last five years.
  IELTS certificate dated within the last two years with an overall band score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 6.5 in each module.

Applying Online

Two days later we will follow up with a phone call and answer any queries you may have around registration. You will be advised to apply online immediately to avoid any delays and to start having your relevant documents translated and notarised. The documents must be notarised by an official public notary who will be asked to sign, date and stamp each copy. You can find example supporting documents here.

Verifying Your Documents

When all the relevant documents have been translated and notarised, we will ask you to scan and email them to us so we can verify that they are notarised correctly.

Submitting Your Documents

Once all the documents are accurate, we will ask you to submit them by registered post or courier to the Irish Medical Council. The registration process should take approximately eight weeks.

Assessing Your Application

You will be notified when the Irish Medical Council receives your documents and when they begin assessing your application. Once they have reviewed your application, the Irish Medical Council will inform you of their decision. If your application has been successful, you will receive a Certificate of Registration which will be valid until the end of the registration year.

Relocation Support and Aftercare

We will work closely with you to support you with your relocation and ensure the process runs smoothly.

We will advise which locations will be suitable, depending on your family situation and personal preferences. We will go through the cost of living and how it varies depending on the location you choose. We will provide you with a letter of employment required to open a bank account and to apply for your Personal Public Service (PPS) number, which will help you access public services in Ireland.

Upon arrival, we will meet you at the airport and welcome you to Ireland. We will take you to your place of work and help you settle in. Over the coming weeks we will contact you regularly to make sure you are enjoying your new role and life in Ireland.