Advice for dentists who want to work in the UK
The UK registration route has many steps. We help you take them in the right order, so you save time and avoid costly mistakes.
Two ways to a UK dental career
Most overseas dentists first need to be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). A visa or a sponsoring business is a separate question, and the two run side by side.
1. GDC registration
To practise as a dentist you register with the General Dental Council. Most overseas dentists get there through the ORE (Part 1 and Part 2) or the LDS. Our ORE Preparation Programme and our guides cover this stage.
2. Qualification level
A UK ENIC statement of comparability shows the UK level of your dental degree. The GDC asks for it as part of the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) application.
3. The right to work
You need a visa route that fits you. Many dentists are sponsored by an employer. Some set up their own UK company and sponsor themselves.
Jump to ORE and LDS, opening a clinic, company set-up, UK ENIC support or self-sponsorship. Preparing for the ORE? See our ORE Preparation Programme → and our step-by-step guide to becoming a dentist in the UK →
Your route to GDC registration
To work as a dentist in the UK you must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). Visas, companies and clinics all come after this step, so it is the first thing to plan. For most dentists who qualified outside the UK, there are two main routes.
The ORE
The Overseas Registration Examination, run by the GDC. It has two parts: Part 1 is a written exam taken online, and Part 2 is a practical exam taken in person in London. It is open to dentists from any country.
The LDS
The Licence in Dental Surgery, awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. It is an alternative route to GDC registration, with its own entry rules and exam. Check which route suits your situation.
How we help
- ORE Preparation Programme. A six-month hybrid programme that takes you through ORE Part 1 and Part 2, with live online lessons, recorded content and hands-on practice in Istanbul. Cohort 4 starts on 11 January 2027.
- Clear guides. Step-by-step pages on the route to UK registration, the ORE and the LDS, written in plain English.
- Planning the order. We explain which route fits your degree and timeline, and how the exam fits with your documents, your visa and your plans.
ORE Preparation Programme → The ORE explained → The LDS explained → Become a dentist in the UK →
For dentists who want to own a practice in the UK
Many dentists who move to the UK eventually want a clinic of their own. There are two main routes, and each has its own advantages.
Buy an existing practice
You take over patients, a team and often an established income. It needs careful checks: the accounts, the lease, the equipment, the staff and, above all, the type of NHS or private contract.
Open a new practice
You choose the location, design and services. It takes longer to build up, and you plan premises, equipment, registration, recruitment and marketing from the start.
What needs to be in place
- GDC registration for every dentist who treats patients, including you.
- CQC registration in England. The provider and a registered manager are registered with the Care Quality Commission before the practice treats patients, and the process needs time. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own regulators.
- NHS contracts. New NHS dental contracts are limited, so many new practices start privately. When buying, find out exactly what contract the practice holds and whether it transfers.
- Premises, equipment and a team that fit the services you plan to offer.
- Specialist advisers: a healthcare solicitor, an accountant who knows dental practices, and a financing partner.
Our page for investors and practice owners explains every phase in detail, from finding practices to the first months of operation.
A company that is ready for its purpose
Whether the company will sponsor you, buy a practice or open a clinic, it is worth getting the structure right at the start. We coordinate the practical steps and work with your accountant and solicitor on the technical ones.
- Structure. Most dentists use a private limited company. Your accountant advises on shareholders, directors, tax and how you are paid.
- Registration. The company is registered with Companies House. Directors and people with significant control now need to verify their identity with Companies House.
- Registered office and records. A UK address for official post, statutory registers and a yearly confirmation statement and accounts.
- Tax and payroll. Registration with HMRC for corporation tax, PAYE and, where needed, VAT.
- Banking and insurance. A UK business bank account and the right indemnity and business insurance for your plans.
- Next licences. Sponsor licence for self-sponsorship, or CQC registration if the company will provide dental care.
Your statement of comparability, handled for you
UK ENIC is the UK’s national agency for recognising international qualifications. Its statement of comparability explains how an overseas qualification compares with the UK qualification framework. It does not judge your grades or the subjects you studied, and it does not replace your original certificates.
For dentists, the statement of your primary dental qualification is a standard part of the GDC’s ORE application, so it is usually the first document to arrange. The application looks simple, but delays are common when documents are incomplete or translations are not accepted.
£400 service fee · online (Zoom), 2 hours · required translations by an authorised translator included · UK ENIC’s own fees are paid separately
How the service works
- Two-hour online session (Zoom). We review your degree, your documents and your timeline, and explain each step.
- Document checklist. We tell you exactly which originals, copies and translations are needed for your country and university.
- Certified translations, included in the fee. Any translations you need are completed by an authorised translator and meet the legal requirements for your UK ENIC application.
- Application and submission. We prepare your application, check it before it is sent and submit it with you.
- Follow-up. We track the application, answer any questions from UK ENIC and stay with you until the statement is issued.
Good to know
- UK ENIC sets its own fees, delivery options and processing times, and publishes them on enic.org.uk. These are paid directly to UK ENIC and are not part of our £400 service fee.
- UK ENIC’s standard service aims for roughly three working weeks once all documents and payment are received. It can take longer if more research or documents are needed, and a fast-track option is available.
- Start early. Gathering documents from a university abroad often takes longer than the application itself.
Working in the UK through a business you own
Self-sponsorship is not a separate visa. It means using the Skilled Worker route with a UK company that you own or direct, and that holds a sponsor licence. The company sponsors you, and the Home Office treats it like any other employer.
It can suit dentists, doctors and other professionals who cannot find an employer willing to sponsor them, or who want to build their own business in the UK. It is also demanding: the Home Office looks closely at whether the company and the job are genuine.
What the route usually involves
- A UK company with a real business purpose and a plan that explains the role you will fill.
- A sponsor licence for that company. The company names people in the UK to manage it, who must be paid staff or office holders and who carry duties to the Home Office.
- A genuine vacancy in a skilled job that meets the salary and skill-level rules in force on the day of application.
- A Certificate of Sponsorship issued by your company, followed by your own Skilled Worker visa application.
- English language at the level currently required. From 8 January 2026 the Skilled Worker route requires CEFR level B2, so check your own position early.
- Compliance after arrival, including record keeping, reporting and, in some cases, visits from the Home Office.
Dentists: a point that is often missed
A visa does not give you the right to treat patients. To work as a dentist in the UK you must also be registered with the GDC. If you are not yet registered, your first plan should cover the ORE, and the business should have a role that fits your situation while you do so. We help you plan this order carefully.
Government fees, for orientation
The Home Office changed its fees on 8 April 2026. As published at that date, a small sponsor licence costs £611, a Certificate of Sponsorship £525, and a Skilled Worker visa applied for from outside the UK £819 for up to three years or £1,618 for more than three years. The Immigration Health Surcharge and the Immigration Skills Charge are paid on top. Fees change often, so please check GOV.UK before you budget.
Length of stay and settlement
A Skilled Worker visa can lead to settlement (indefinite leave to remain) after a qualifying period, currently five years. The government has announced reforms to settlement rules, so ask a regulated adviser what applies to you at the time you apply. Partners and children can normally apply as dependants.
What we do for you
- Explain honestly whether self-sponsorship fits your case, and when it does not.
- Plan the stages and the timing, from the company to the visa.
- Help you prepare the business plan, the job description and the evidence the Home Office expects.
- Introduce immigration solicitors or advisers who are regulated to give visa advice and submit applications.
Immigration rules change frequently. Treat this page as a general guide, not as legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is self-sponsorship guaranteed to work?
No. The Home Office decides every licence and visa application, and it checks that the business and the job are genuine. We tell you honestly how strong your case looks before you spend money on it.
Can I work as a dentist while I wait for GDC registration?
Not as a dentist. Only GDC-registered dentists can treat patients. Some people work in other, non-clinical roles in the meantime if their visa allows it.
Can you submit my visa application?
No. Visa applications and legal advice must come from regulated advisers. We plan the route with you and introduce trusted immigration solicitors.
How long does everything take?
It depends on your documents, your English level, ORE dates and the route you choose. Most people plan for many months, not weeks. We build a realistic timeline in the first conversation.
A note on advice. Knightsbridge Academy is an education and consultancy company. We are not a law firm and we do not give regulated legal, tax or immigration advice. We explain the route, plan the steps and coordinate the work, and where you need a solicitor, accountant or regulated adviser we introduce trusted professionals.
Official sources: UK ENIC · General Dental Council · GOV.UK Skilled Worker visa · Care Quality Commission. Last reviewed November 2026.
Not sure where to start?
Every dentist’s route to the UK is different. Write to us with a few lines about your situation and we will tell you which step comes first.