GDC Will Help Refugees Join the Register
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- Published: Tuesday, 18 November 2025 09:34
- Written by Peter Ingle
- Hits: 723
The GDC has announced a new alternative evidence policy to support refugee and displaced dental professionals seeking to join the register.
The new policy change means that the GDC will now accept alternative forms of evidence from refugee and displaced dental professionals. This is intended to reduce unnecessary barriers for applicants unable to provide standard documentation due to circumstances beyond their control.
The policy applies to both dentists with international qualifications pursuing exam-based routes to join the register, and dental care professionals with overseas qualifications undergoing assessment.
Many displaced dental professionals face significant challenges in obtaining the documentation required for registration. Missing critical documents may include important items such as original qualification certificates, letters of good standing, and identity documents. Institutions in conflict zones may no longer exist, or be able to issue documents. Some applicants may have had to flee without being able to bring key documents with them. In some cases potential registrants may be unable to request documents from their country of origin due to fear of alerting authorities that they have left.
The new policy will be used with candidates who have protected status in the UK or demonstrate that they are not able to provide the standard documents, and applied on a case-by-case basis.
The GDC has given examples of possible forms of alternative evidence that it would consider. These include an e-visa or refugee status document issued by the UK Government, an affidavit or character declaration from an applicant’s employer or a GDC registrant, or a letter from the applicant’s education institution confirming that they completed the relevant education and training.
This latest change follows on from the policy launched in January 2025 which introduced priority access to the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) booking system for dental professionals with refugee status.
Since the priority booking system was introduced, 167 refugee dental professionals have been granted priority access to the ORE across six sittings of the Part 1 and Part 2 exams combined.
Most recently, 44 refugee candidates were granted priority access to the January 2026 Part 1 exam.
The GDC pointed out that over 90% of the available places remained accessible to other applicants. It did not say whether the remaining places were sufficient for the non-priority applicants.
The policy covers individuals granted international protection by the Home Office, including those with refugee status, humanitarian protection, and those resettled through Afghan and Ukrainian schemes. Applicants who have been displaced due to political situations or other factors beyond their control will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The new policy follows the recent announcement that UCL Consultants Ltd (UCLC) are the preferred bidder to provide both Part 1 and Part 2 of the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE).
Shortage of ORE places has long been a serious obstruction for overseas dentists wishing to work in the UK, much to the frustration of the many UK practices facing problems recruiting. The GDC expect that the new contract could more than double the number of dentists joining the register via the ORE route.
UCLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of University College London, representing in this instance a consortium led by the UCL Eastman Dental Institute and partners including University College London Hospitals, Queen Mary University London, AlphaPlus, and the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
The GDC are confident that they will be able to deliver increased capacity for both Part 1 and Part 2 exams and will provide further information once the contract is finalised. The first sittings under the new contract are expected to take place from mid-2026.
Alongside the new ORE arrangements, the GDC are continuing their work to develop additional international registration pathways.
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