This page explains how you can extend your stay in the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife to undertake a supervised practice placement or midwifery adaptation programme.

The overseas qualified nurses and midwives arrangements were deleted on 27 November 2008. You can no longer apply to come to the United Kingdom or to switch into this category. If you have a job offer from a licensed sponsor, you can apply for permission to enter the United Kingdom as a sponsored skilled worker.

You can apply to extend your stay as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife if you:

• currently have permission to stay in the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife; and
• can provide satisfactory evidence of regular attendance during any previous periods of supervised practice or midwife adaptation course; and would not, as a result of the extension remain in the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife for a period longer than 18 months; and
• provide written consent of your sponsor to remain in the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife if any previous study, supervised practice placements or midwife adaptation programme placements were sponsored by a government or international scholarship agency; and
• meet the original eligibility requirements for the category, which are that you must:
  • have obtained confirmation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) that you are eligible:
    • for admission to the Overseas Nurses Programme; or
    • to undertake a period of supervised practice; or
    • to undertake an adaptation programme leading to registration as a midwife; and
  • have been offered:
    • a supervised practice placement through an education provider recognised by the NMC; or
    • a supervised practice placement in a setting approved by the NMC; or
    • a midwifery adaptation programme placement in a setting approved by the NMC; and
  • not have obtained this offer by misrepresentation; and
  • be able to and intend to take up the supervised practice placement or midwife adaptation programme; and
  • not intend to engage in business or take employment, except:
    • in connection with the supervised practice placement or midwife adaptation programme; or
    • part-time work of a similar nature to the work undertaken on the supervised practice placement or midwife adaptation programme; and
  • be able to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without the use of public funds.

You should make your application to extend your stay (We call this applying for further leave to remain) on application form FLR(O). This application form and the related guidance can be downloaded from the right side of this page. You should read the guidance notes before making your application.

You will be able to stay in the United Kingdom as an overseas qualified nurse or midwife for a maximum of 18 months. At the end of the 18 month period, you will be expected to leave the United Kingdom or to switch into another category.