How to become a dentist in UK from India (2026): ORE route, fees & timeline
BDS (India) to GDC-registered dentist in the UK via the Overseas Registration Exam
Exam fees alone total roughly GBP 7,600 under the 2026/27 contract (application GBP 115 + Part 1 GBP 485 + Part 2 GBP 6,967), before English tests, document costs, travel and visa fees.
1. Confirm eligibility & gather documents
Your BDS must be a primary dental qualification acceptable to the GDC (Indian BDS from a DCI-recognised college qualifies). Create a MyGDC account - from 2026, ORE sittings are booked through it.
- BDS degree certificate + final-year mark sheets
- DCI / state dental council registration certificate
- Internship completion certificate
- Valid passport
- Certificate of good standing from your dental council
2. Prove English language proficiency
The GDC accepts IELTS Academic (typically overall 7.0 with minimums per band) or OET (grade B in each sub-test). Scores expire after 2 years, so time your test to still be valid at REGISTRATION, not just at the exam. Verify the current thresholds on the GDC page.
IELTS Academic (approx, paid in India): INR 17,000
- IELTS Academic or OET (Dentistry) result
3. Apply to the GDC for ORE eligibility
Submit your qualification + identity documents to the GDC and pay the application processing fee (GBP 115 for 2026/27, up 20% under the new contract). Once approved you can book sittings via MyGDC.
ORE application processing fee (2026/27): GBP 115
- Attested copies of all stage-1 documents
- English evidence
4. Pass ORE Part 1
Computer-based exam: two papers covering clinically applied dental science and clinical dentistry. Fee GBP 485 for 2026/27 (down 17% from GBP 584). Booking for the August 2026 sitting opened 30 June 2026 via MyGDC - windows fill fast, be ready the day booking opens.
ORE Part 1 fee (2026/27): GBP 485
5. Pass ORE Part 2
Practical exam: OSCEs, manikin exercises, diagnostic/treatment planning and medical emergencies. Fee GBP 6,967 for 2026/27 - a 65% rise under the new UCLC contract, so budget for it early. The GDC says this fee should stay broadly stable for ~5 years.
ORE Part 2 fee (2026/27): GBP 6,967
6. Register with the GDC
After passing both parts, apply for full registration as a dentist. Check the current first-registration and annual retention fees on the GDC site - English evidence must still be in date here.
- ORE pass confirmation
- Updated certificate of good standing
- English evidence (in date)
7. Get sponsored, get the visa, start work
Dentists qualify for the Health & Care Worker visa with a job offer from a licensed sponsor. For NHS primary care you will also need a performer number (PLVE / performers list). DentalSync's UK listings flag visa-sponsoring employers - your matched jobs unlock here.
- GDC registration
- Job offer / certificate of sponsorship
UK Gov - Health and Care Worker visa DentalSync - UK jobs with visa sponsorship
Track this pathway free on DentalSync →
Fees and rules change — always confirm on the regulator links above. DentalSync re-verifies this page's facts periodically (last: 2026-07-06).