NHS Relocation Package for Overseas Nurses

Last updated: 28 September 2026 · Figures verified against the NHS Employers 2026/27 pay circular.

By the NHS Bands Pay editorial team

The first thing to know: there is no single package

Search for "NHS relocation package" and you will find agency pages implying a standard deal. There isn't one. Each NHS trust funds and designs its own international recruitment offer, and packages differ in generosity, in what is paid upfront versus reimbursed, and in what is recovered from your pay later. The job advert and your offer letter are the only documents that matter — verbal promises from recruiters do not count. That said, the components below recur across most trust packages in 2026, so you can use them as a checklist when comparing offers.

What a typical package covers

• Certificate of Sponsorship — assigned and usually paid for directly by the trust, as is the Immigration Skills Charge (Health and Care Worker sponsors are exempt from some charges, but the CoS itself is the trust's cost).
• Visa application fees — commonly reimbursed on proof of payment or paid directly.
• NMC fees — application/evaluation fee, CBT and registration fee frequently reimbursed; the OSCE fee (£794) is sometimes paid upfront by the trust and then recovered from your payslip in instalments.
• English language test fees — IELTS or OET fees often reimbursed.
• TB screening and police clearances — often reimbursed.
• Flight to the UK — commonly reimbursed up to a cap (see the worked example below).
• Airport transfer — many trusts collect you on arrival.
• Initial accommodation — typically a few weeks of paid or subsidised accommodation while you find your own.
• Pastoral and buddy support — a dedicated contact, welcome pack and orientation programme.

Our NMC registration cost guide itemises the fees these packages are designed to offset, and the visa salary threshold guide explains the immigration side.

A real trust example: what it looks like itemised

To make this concrete, here is how one large London trust (St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) has set out its overseas nurse offer — published on the trust's own recruitment pages. Other trusts differ, but this shows the shape of a full package:

Note the pattern: the trust removes the cash-flow barriers (CoS, OSCE, accommodation) while reimbursing costs you pay first. Ask any trust offering you a post to provide the same itemised breakdown in writing.

Source: St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — overseas nurses recruitment and OSCE preparation.

OSCE preparation and the Band 4 bridge

The strongest packages do not just pay fees — they get you through the OSCE. Trusts such as Royal Brompton & Harefield run dedicated international nurse programmes with weeks of tailored tuition in simulation suites, starter packs covering accommodation, provisions and meal vouchers on arrival, and supervised practice before the exam. This matters because the OSCE is the stage where candidates most often stumble: first-attempt pass rates for overseas nurses are reported at around 40–54% depending on centre.

While you prepare, you will normally be employed as a Band 4 pre-registration nurse (£28,392–£31,157 in 2026/27 — see Band 4 pay), working under supervision. On passing the OSCE and receiving your NMC PIN, you move to Band 5 (£32,073 entry). Ask how long the trust allows for OSCE preparation, what happens if you need a resit, and whether the Band 4 period has a fixed end date.

Source: Royal Brompton & Harefield hospitals — international nurse recruitment programme.

What is rarely covered

• Family migration costs — dependants' visa application fees are normally yours (dependants of Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge).
• Long-term housing — initial weeks are commonly covered; the deposit and rent on your own flat are not.
• English test resits beyond the first attempt — some trusts reimburse one sitting only.
• Agency "placement fees" charged to candidates — reputable international recruitment should not cost you a placement fee; the trust pays the agency.
• Cost-of-living differences — a London trust post includes HCAS, but no package covers the general higher cost of living; budget accordingly (see UK nurse salary in rupees for planning in your home currency).

Questions to ask before you accept

1. Which fees are paid directly, which are reimbursed, and which are deducted from my pay — and over how many months?
2. Is there a cap on the flight reimbursement, and does it cover my specific route?
3. How many weeks of accommodation are included, and what happens if I have not found housing by then?
4. How long is the OSCE preparation programme, and what happens if I need a resit — who pays the £794?
5. Am I on Band 4 until registration, and is the move to Band 5 automatic on receiving my PIN?
6. Is there a repayment clause if I leave the trust within a certain period? (Common — know the terms before you sign.)
7. Who is my pastoral contact, and is there a buddy system for the first months?

Get the answers in the offer letter or a written schedule, not just in a recruiter's email. A good trust will not hesitate to itemise — the example above shows what "good" looks like.

Questions to ask before you sign

Because there is no national template, the offer letter is the package. Before you accept, get written answers to: which costs are paid upfront versus reimbursed, and when; how many weeks of initial accommodation are covered and what happens if you have not found housing by then; whether the flight is booked for you or reimbursed, and to what value; what OSCE support is provided and what happens to the costs if you need a resit; whether you are paid (and at what rate) during any supernumerary period before you hold your PIN; and what repayment clauses apply if you leave early. Anything promised verbally at interview and missing from the paperwork should be treated as not promised.

Frequently asked questions

Do NHS trusts pay for overseas nurses' relocation?

Many do, but there is no single national package. Typical trust offers cover or reimburse the Certificate of Sponsorship, visa fees, NMC/CBT/OSCE and English test fees, a flight to the UK, airport transfer and a few weeks of initial accommodation, plus OSCE preparation and pastoral support. Always get the breakdown in writing.

How much flight cost does the NHS reimburse?

It varies by trust. One published London trust example reimburses flights up to £800. There is no national figure — check your specific offer letter.

Does the NHS pay the OSCE fee?

Often yes, but the mechanism varies: some trusts pay the £794 upfront and recover it from your payslip in instalments, others reimburse it. Confirm which applies to you and what happens if you need a resit.

What band do overseas nurses start on?

Usually Band 4 as a pre-registration nurse (£28,392–£31,157 in 2026/27) while preparing for the OSCE, moving to Band 5 (£32,073 entry) on NMC registration and PIN issue.

Is accommodation provided for overseas nurses?

Initial accommodation — commonly two to four weeks — is frequently included, sometimes paid directly by the trust. Long-term housing, deposits and rent are your own cost.

Do I have to repay relocation costs if I leave?

Many trusts include a repayment clause if you leave within an agreed period (often 12–24 months). The terms vary, so read the contract and ask for the exact figures and timeframe before signing.

Does the relocation package cover my family?

Rarely. Dependants' visa application fees are normally paid by you — though dependants of Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge — and family accommodation is your own arrangement. Factor this into your budget early.

Sources and independence

Source: St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — overseas nurses recruitment and OSCE preparation (itemised cost coverage).

Source: Royal Brompton & Harefield hospitals — international nurse recruitment programme (OSCE preparation programme).

Source: Global Pathways — NMC fee breakdown 2026 (fee figures referenced). Packages vary by trust — confirm all figures with your offer letter.

NHS Bands Pay is an independent information website. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the National Health Service. Figures are full-time equivalent (37.5 hours a week) for England unless stated. Always confirm pay with your employer’s payroll or ESR record.