Why Scotland?

The ability to come and live in Scotland is determined by the UK's immigration system. If you are an overseas veterinary professional, and you would like to work in Scotland, please be aware of the following: 

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• To work as a veterinarian in the UK, including Scotland, you need to be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

• Your veterinary qualification MAY be recognised by the RCVS as acceptable to be admitted to the register. If not, you need to sit the RCVS Statutory Membership Exam.

• You must be able to communicate in English at an appropriate level.

• If you have less than 18 months of significant work experience since graduating as a vet, you also need to enrol in the Veterinary Graduate Development Programme, VetGDP. This requires the place of employment to have a trained VetGDP Advisor who can provide support in the workplace.

• You can't consider registration as a veterinary nurse unless you have a recognised veterinary nursing qualification. 

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Visit the RCVS registration page and the VetGDP page for further guidance.

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A similar process applies to veterinary nurses who wish to practice veterinary nursing in the UK. Visit the RCVS page for further guidance.

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RCVS also provides very useful on-line courses to support those wanting to work as a veterinary professional in the UK.

 

Additional measures:

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Your right to work in the UK will depend on your nationality and the type of permission you have to work in the UK.  If you don't already have the right to work, you will need to apply for a skilled worker visa.

 

• Employers will usually need a sponsor licence to employ a skilled worker from outside the UK. ​

• The employer has to prove that the business is eligible.

• The employer will be assessed to ensure it is suitable to be a sponsor.

• The employer is responsible for monitoring the worker.

• The employer has to pay a sponsor licence fee, renewable after 4 years.

• The sponsored worker has to pay for a visa application. This is currently a few thousand pounds. Employers may be willing to pay these fees.

• For a skilled worker visa, the minimum salary for a 37.5 hours week is:

  • Vet £48,100

  • Veterinary Nurse £30,960

  • Animal Care Assistant, Groom etc £30,960

• The above salaries may be higher than rates currently paid to veterinary nurses, care assistants and graduate vets. ​​

• Larger organisations will be familiar with the overseas recruitment process and can give you further guidance. Smaller businesses may have limited experience of the visa process but many are willing to progress with it so don't dismiss them as potential employers.

• Further information from the UK government on visas and immigration can be found on the UK Government website. ​​