NMC Registration Cost for International Nurses (2026)

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

By the NHS Bands Pay editorial team

The total cost at a glance

To register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) from outside the UK, you must pass a two-part test of competence — the computer-based test (CBT) and the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) — and pay the NMC's fees at each stage. For a first-time applicant who passes everything first time, the official fees add up as follows:

That £1,170 figure is the floor, not the ceiling. Resits multiply the CBT and OSCE fees — you are allowed multiple attempts of each — and the English language test, flights to the UK, and accommodation during OSCE preparation are all on top. Realistic all-in budgets published by recruitment advisers in 2026 put the total journey at roughly £2,300–£3,000 before any trust reimbursement. Our UK nurse salary in rupees guide helps put that investment against the Band 5 salary waiting at the end of it.

Each fee explained

1. Evaluation fee — £140. Before anything else, the NMC assesses whether your nursing qualification meets its standards. You submit transcripts, proof of registration in your home country and identity documents. The fee is non-refundable even if the outcome is not what you hoped, so it pays to check the NMC's eligibility requirements carefully before applying.

2. CBT — £83 per attempt. A 120-question multiple-choice test of nursing knowledge across four domains, sat at Pearson VUE test centres in 140+ countries — so most candidates sit it in their home country, with no travel to the UK needed at this stage. You may attempt it more than once, but each sitting costs another £83.

3. OSCE — £794 per attempt. The expensive one: a 10-station practical exam in a simulated ward environment, testing clinical skills, communication and professional values. It must be sat at an NMC-approved OSCE centre in the UK, which means a flight and accommodation. First-attempt pass rates for overseas candidates are widely reported at around 40–54% depending on the centre, and new stations were added in February 2026 — so budget mentally and financially for the possibility of a resit.

4. Registration fee — £153. Paid once you have passed both parts of the test of competence. On approval, the NMC issues your Personal Identification Number (PIN) — your legal right to practise as a registered nurse in the UK and to take up a Band 5 post.

The October 2026 fee rise — what changes

The NMC's governing council approved the fee increase on 28 April 2026 despite opposition from members, warning that its reserves would otherwise fall to unsafe levels. The new fee rules take effect on 1 October 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. If your application timeline crosses that date, expect the higher fees:

The annual retention fee matters long after you arrive: every nurse on the NMC register pays it each year to stay registered, so the rise from £120 to £143 is a permanent uplift to the cost of holding your PIN. The CBT (£83) and OSCE (£794) fees were not part of this particular rise. If you are mid-application in autumn 2026, the practical question is which side of 1 October each of your payments falls — confirm the current figure on the NMC's own fees page before you pay.

Source: Nursing in Practice — NMC fee rise coverage, April 2026; Global Pathways — NMC fee breakdown 2026.

English language test costs

Before the NMC process you must prove your English — typically IELTS Academic with 7.0 in every section, or the Occupational English Test (OET) for healthcare. These are separate commercial exams with their own fees, and they sit outside the £1,170 above. As a rough guide for 2026 budgeting, advisers quote around £150–£220 for IELTS and around £587 for OET, varying by test centre and country — treat these as approximate and check the test provider's current price when you book. Many candidates need more than one attempt at the required scores, which is why English preparation is consistently described as the stage where timelines slip.

The costs nobody warns you about

Beyond the headline fees, candidates report a tail of smaller costs that add up: the tuberculosis screening certificate required for the visa application, police clearance certificates from your home country, translation of documents not in English, and the flight to the UK plus accommodation while you prepare for and sit the OSCE. None has a single national price — they vary by country and city — which is why honest guides give ranges rather than false precision. If you are bringing family later, note that dependants of Health and Care Worker visa holders are also exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge — each dependant still pays their own visa application fee, so family migration adds application fees but not the £1,035-per-year surcharge.

Who pays: trusts, agencies and you

Here is the good news: you may not pay all of this yourself. Many NHS trusts recruiting internationally reimburse or directly cover the CBT, OSCE, NMC application and English test fees, plus visa costs and flights — always confirm exactly what is covered before you sign anything, because there is no single national relocation package; it varies trust by trust. Some trusts pay the OSCE fee upfront and recover it from your payslip over time; others reimburse on proof of payment.

While you prepare for the OSCE after arriving in the UK, most trusts employ you in a supervised Band 4 pre-registration role (£28,392–£31,157 in 2026/27 — see Band 4 pay), moving you to Band 5 on registration. That means you are earning from early in the process, which softens the upfront cost — one reason the overall investment, while real, pays back quickly against a Band 5 salary of £32,073 and rising.

A final word on agencies: reputable recruitment is free to the candidate for the core placement — be wary of any agency asking you to pay large upfront placement fees, and check whether your trust's package already covers what the agency claims to.

The true first-year cost: a budget checklist

The £1,170 of NMC fees is the core, not the total. A realistic first-year budget for an internationally trained nurse also has to cover: an approved English language test (unless exempt); the tuberculosis screening certificate required for the visa application; police clearance certificates from your home country; translation of any documents not in English; the flight to the UK and accommodation while you prepare for and sit the OSCE; the visa application fee; and the maintenance funds you must show (£1,270 held for 28 days, unless your employer certifies maintenance on the certificate of sponsorship). None of these has a single national price — they vary by country and city — which is why this guide does not invent figures for them.

Two costs catch people out most often. Resits: the CBT allows up to three attempts and the OSCE up to four, and each attempt is charged again at the full fee — budgeting for one resit of each is prudent rather than pessimistic. And timing: if your application straddles 1 October 2026, each payment is charged at the rate in force when you pay it, so the evaluation fee you paid in August and the registration fee you pay in November can fall under different fee schedules. Total the NMC fees first, then add the tail honestly — the nurses who struggle are the ones who budgeted £1,170 and stopped.

Who pays: employer reimbursement

Many NHS trusts recruiting internationally advertise reimbursement of NMC-related costs — commonly the evaluation fee, CBT, OSCE, English language test and sometimes the visa fee — because international recruitment is expensive for trusts too, and removing the upfront cost barrier widens their applicant pool. The details vary enormously: some trusts pay costs upfront, others reimburse after you start; some cover flights and initial accommodation (see NHS relocation packages), others do not.

Read the small print before you rely on it. Reimbursement is frequently tied to a repayment clause: leave within an agreed period and you may owe some or all of it back. Confirm exactly which costs are covered, when the money is paid, and what triggers repayment — and get it in the written offer, not just the advert. Where a trust does not reimburse, the costs remain yours, which makes the budget checklist above essential rather than optional.

Frequently asked questions

How much does NMC registration cost for international nurses?

Around £1,170 in official NMC fees for a first-time applicant who passes first time: £140 evaluation, £83 CBT, £794 OSCE and £153 registration. English tests, flights, accommodation and any resits are extra, taking realistic all-in budgets to roughly £2,300–£3,000 before trust reimbursement.

How much is the OSCE exam fee?

£794 per attempt, sat at NMC-approved OSCE centres in the UK. Candidates are allowed multiple attempts, but each sitting costs another £794, and first-attempt pass rates for overseas nurses are reported at around 40–54% depending on the centre.

How much is the NMC CBT fee?

£83 per attempt. The computer-based test is a 120-question multiple-choice exam sat at Pearson VUE centres in 140+ countries, so most candidates take it in their home country.

Are NMC fees going up?

Yes. From 1 October 2026 the evaluation fee rises from £140 to £167, initial overseas registration from £153 to £182, and the annual retention fee paid by all registrants from £120 to £143. The CBT and OSCE fees were not part of this rise.

Do NHS trusts pay NMC fees for overseas nurses?

Often, yes — many trusts reimburse or directly pay the CBT, OSCE, NMC application and English test fees plus visa costs and flights, but there is no single national package. Confirm exactly what your trust covers before signing, and check whether costs are reimbursed or deducted from pay.

Can I work in the NHS before passing the OSCE?

Yes — most trusts employ international arrivals in a supervised Band 4 pre-registration role (£28,392–£31,157 in 2026/27) while they prepare for and sit the OSCE, moving them to Band 5 on NMC registration.

How much does the English test cost for NMC registration?

IELTS Academic is roughly £150–£220 and OET around £587 depending on test centre and country — these are approximate commercial fees on top of the NMC's own charges. Most candidates need 7.0 in every IELTS section or the OET equivalent.

What is the NMC annual retention fee?

£120 a year until 30 September 2026, rising to £143 from 1 October 2026. Every nurse on the register pays it annually to keep their PIN active — it is a permanent running cost of UK registration.

Sources and independence

Source: Global Pathways — NMC registration fee breakdown 2026 (evaluation £140, CBT £83, OSCE £794, registration £153).

Source: Nursing in Practice — NMC fee rise approved April 2026, effective 1 October 2026.

Source: Global Med Opportunities — NMC process and fee summary 2026. English test prices are approximate commercial fees — check the test provider before booking.

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.