The UK Companies Act 2006 has no residency requirement for company directors or shareholders. You can own a UK limited company that holds an NHS contract from anywhere in the world. Hire UK-based GPs and a practice manager to run daily operations. For International Medical Graduates: this is your pathway to practice ownership in the UK. All 313 documents are ready — including everything for the NHS England application.
You own the company. UK-based staff deliver the care. NHS payments flow to your company every month.
You do not need to live in the UK to own a UK company. The salaried GP model means qualified, UK-based doctors see the patients. Your practice manager handles daily operations. You oversee the business remotely — finances, strategy, and governance. NHS payments are deposited into your UK company bank account monthly.
All figures in GBP. Revenue is paid by NHS England — government-backed, contracted income.
| Year 1 Revenue | £567,845 |
| Year 2 Revenue | £804,924 |
| Year 3 Revenue | £846,646 |
| Year 2 Profit (after all UK costs) | £165,650 |
| Operating Margin | 20.6% |
| Your Income (Net Profit) | £165,650 |
| Startup Capital Required | £150,000 |
Revenue comes from the NHS Global Sum (£123.34 per weighted patient), Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) payments, Enhanced Services contracts, and premises reimbursement. These are government-backed contracts paid in British Pounds. Your profit can be distributed as dividends to any shareholder, regardless of their country of residence. UK corporation tax applies to company profits. Dividend taxation depends on your country of tax residence and any applicable double taxation treaties.
Foreign buyers have several routes to fund a UK GP practice.
The £20,000 purchase price and £150,000 startup capital can come from multiple sources. The NHS contract makes this an attractive proposition for UK-based lenders because the income is government-guaranteed.
Unlike most international business investments, a UK GP practice earns government-contracted income. The NHS pays monthly based on your registered patient list. This is not speculative. It is not dependent on marketing or customer acquisition. Lenders understand this, which is why healthcare lending for GP practices has one of the lowest default rates of any sector.
Whether you are an International Medical Graduate or a non-clinical investor, there is a pathway for you.
Route 1: International Medical Graduate (IMG)
If you are a qualified doctor outside the UK and want to own and practise in a UK GP surgery, here is the pathway:
Route 2: Non-Clinical Foreign Investor
If you are not a doctor and want to own a UK GP practice as a business investment:
Both routes lead to the same outcome: you own a UK company with an NHS contract that generates £165,650 per year in profit. The difference is whether you also practise medicine yourself or hire others to do it for you.
From overseas purchase to a running UK practice.
Pay the purchase price via international transfer. The company, all 313 documents, financial models, website, email, phone, and CQC & NHS Application-Ready pack are yours. You are appointed as director immediately.
Your practice manager is your on-the-ground representative. They handle daily operations, staff management, premises, and patient interactions. Your HR documentation includes the job description, employment contract, and onboarding procedure.
Your practice manager and lead GP submit the NHS contract application and CQC registration. Your 313 documents cover everything both organisations require. Processing time: 3–6 months.
Recruit salaried GPs, practice nurses, and reception staff. Your recruitment pack includes everything needed. Your practice manager handles the recruitment process using the templates provided.
Once approved, your practice opens its patient list. Revenue flows monthly from NHS England. You manage the business remotely — reviewing financial reports, attending virtual board meetings, and making strategic decisions. Profit is distributed as dividends to your UK company account.
International Medical Graduates can own the company immediately — no clinical registration is needed for ownership. To also practise as a GP in the UK, you need: (1) GMC registration, typically via the PLAB route or by holding a recognised postgraduate qualification; (2) GP training in the UK (3-year programme) or a Certificate of Eligibility for GP Registration (CEGPR) for those with equivalent overseas experience; (3) Inclusion on the NHS Performers List. While you complete these steps, you can own Ashgrove and hire UK-based salaried GPs to deliver clinical care. Once you are GMC-registered and on the Performers List, you can practise as the lead GP yourself.
No. The UK Companies Act 2006 does not require company directors or shareholders to be UK residents or hold a UK visa. You can own a UK limited company, be appointed as a director, and receive dividends from any country in the world. You only need a UK visa if you want to live and work in the UK personally. If you are managing the business remotely and hiring UK-based staff to operate the practice, no visa is required. You may visit the UK on a Standard Visitor visa for business meetings.
No. GMC registration is required to practise medicine in the UK — not to own a company. You can own Ashgrove Medical Practice without any clinical registration. The GPs you employ must hold GMC registration and be on the NHS Performers List. The CQC Registered Manager must hold appropriate qualifications. But the company owner (you) has no clinical qualification requirement. This is the same model used by healthcare corporations across the UK.
Your practice manager runs daily operations on-site: managing staff, handling patient queries, overseeing premises, and ensuring compliance. Your GPs deliver clinical care. Your role as owner is strategic: reviewing monthly financial reports, attending virtual board meetings (monthly or quarterly), making decisions about staffing, services, and growth, and managing the relationship with your accountant. Modern UK company law fully supports virtual meetings and electronic communication. Many UK company directors operate internationally with this model. You might spend 5–10 hours per week on the business once it is established.
Profit is held in your UK company bank account and distributed as dividends. As a shareholder, you declare dividends (typically quarterly) and receive them into your UK bank account or transfer them internationally. UK corporation tax (currently 25%) applies to company profits. Dividend taxation depends on your country of tax residence and any applicable Double Taxation Agreement between the UK and your country. The UK has Double Taxation Agreements with over 130 countries, which prevent you being taxed twice on the same income. Your UK accountant and a local tax advisor in your country of residence will structure this optimally.
Ashgrove Medical Practice — a complete, CQC & NHS Application-Ready GP practice. No UK residency required.
