NMC Fee Hike Takes Effect on October 1, Increasing Costs for Overseas Nurse Registration 

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has introduced higher registration fees from 1 October 2026, changing the amount nurses and other professionals pay at different stages of registration in the UK. The increase is particularly relevant to internationally educated nurses, who will now face higher charges when applying to join the NMC register. 

The change marks the NMC’s first increase in its registration fees in 11 years. The regulator said the decision follows a period of rising costs, increased demand for its regulatory services and pressure on its financial position. The revised fees are now in effect, with new charges applying to relevant applications opened from 1 October. 

For overseas nurses, two of the main charges involved in the registration process have increased. The qualification evaluation fee has risen from £140 to £167, an increase of £27. This fee is paid when submitting the eligibility and qualification application and is non-refundable, including where the NMC later determines that an applicant is not eligible to register. The overseas registration fee has increased from £153 to £182, adding another £29 to the registration stage. 

Together, these two NMC charges have increased from £293 to £349, adding £56 to the cost of these stages of the overseas registration process. The NMC also states that the overall cost of fees and tests for the overseas registration route will rise from £1,170 to £1,226 from 1 October. This figure includes the qualification evaluation, CBT, OSCE and registration fees. It does not include visa, flights, accommodation or travel costs, and the final cost can be higher if an applicant needs to resit a test. 

The change also affects professionals who are already on the NMC register. The annual registration fee has increased from £120 to £143. The NMC has clarified that the fee applicable to an existing registrant depends on when they receive their payment notification. Those notified before 1 October pay the previous £120 fee, while notifications issued after 1 October carry the new £143 charge. 

According to the NMC, the fee increase follows an extended period in which its main registration fee remained unchanged. The regulator says inflation since 2015 has reduced the real value of its fees by 28.8%, while its workload has expanded. The NMC currently regulates more than 867,000 professionals, and it has reported a 21% increase in Fitness to Practise referrals compared with 2015. 

The NMC has said the additional income will help support its regulatory responsibilities, including education quality assurance, professional standards, registration, revalidation and Fitness to Practise processes. The revised charges therefore represent a broader change to the cost of maintaining and obtaining NMC registration, rather than an increase limited to overseas applicants. 

For nurses planning to begin the UK registration process, the updated charges should now be considered when calculating the cost of the NMC registration journey. Applicants should check the NMC’s latest fee guidance for the charges that apply to their specific stage of registration. 

Sources 
https://www.nmc.org.uk/news/news-and-updates/nmc-approves-first-increase-in-registration-fees-for-11-years/