From 1 April 2026, PLAB 2 costs £1,036, up from £998, and the place is booked through your own GMC Online account. PLAB 1 costs £283, while cancelling PLAB 2 at 28 days or less before the exam can consume the full £1,036 fee.
GMC fees for 2026
The two PLAB examination charges rose on 1 April 2026. Together, the current PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 fees are £1,319. That subtotal does not include the visitor visa or any travel, accommodation or preparation spending.
| Exam | From 1 April 2025 | From 1 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| PLAB 1 | £273 | £283 |
| PLAB 2 | £998 | £1,036 |
Source: GMC fees for doctors. The effective dates and both years of fees come from the GMC table.
The £1,036 regulator charge and the Manchester trip belong on separate budget lines. The fixed fee is known; the trip must be priced from current quotes for the intended travel dates.
Cancellation charges
The cancellation date changes how much of the 2026 fee is lost. The GMC calculates the charge against the exam date using this ladder:
| When you cancel | Charge | Amount deducted from 1 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| More than 42 days before the exam | 10% | £103.60 |
| 42 to 29 days before the exam | 50% | £518 |
| 28 days or less before the exam | 100% | £1,036 |
Source: GMC fees for doctors, using the PLAB 2 cancellation amounts effective from 1 April 2026.
Cancellation happens in GMC Online. Under the GMC cancellation process, the charge is deducted when you cancel. A date change uses the same process: cancel the existing place first, pay the applicable deduction, then book another available place. A preferred replacement is therefore not secured before the cancellation charge applies. The dates and booking guide covers finding another place.
Exceptional circumstances do not remove the need to cancel. The GMC says it may consider refunding the cancellation charge for events such as a visa refusal, new travel restrictions, ill health or bereavement. Cancel first, then email the GMC with evidence. This is a discretionary decision, so keep the possible deduction in the budget until the GMC confirms the outcome. If the GMC cancels the examination, it refunds the booking fee automatically and offers an alternative date. Its disruption guidance also says it does not compensate candidates for visa, travel or accommodation costs. Check the cancellation terms of each travel and accommodation booking because the GMC does not cover those losses.
The fee in rupees, Pakistani rupees and naira
The table converts fixed charges only. It uses exchange rates of £1 to INR 127.87, PKR 375.89 and NGN 1,821.53, which are illustrative rates from 8 September 2026. Amounts are rounded to the nearest INR 10, PKR 100 and NGN 1,000.
| Fixed charge | GBP | INR | PKR | NGN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLAB 2 fee | £1,036 | ₹132,470 | PKR 389,400 | ₦1,887,000 |
| Cancellation, more than 42 days | £103.60 | ₹13,250 | PKR 38,900 | ₦189,000 |
| Cancellation, 42 to 29 days | £518 | ₹66,240 | PKR 194,700 | ₦944,000 |
| Cancellation, 28 days or less | £1,036 | ₹132,470 | PKR 389,400 | ₦1,887,000 |
| PLAB 1 fee | £283 | ₹36,190 | PKR 106,400 | ₦515,000 |
| Standard Visitor visa | £135 | ₹17,260 | PKR 50,700 | ₦246,000 |
The GMC fees page supplies the exam and cancellation charges. The GOV.UK fees table supplies the visa charge.
The actual debit can differ because exchange rates move and a card provider may apply its own rate or charge. Price the full PLAB route from India, the route from Pakistan or the route from Nigeria with the country guide's planning allowances and current quotes. Those country guides add the trip to the fixed charges shown here.
What else you pay for
The six-month Standard Visitor visa costs £135 from 8 April 2026. The PLAB 2 visa guide covers the application sequence. Add live quotes for return flights and accommodation for the Manchester stay. Preparation can also create a cost, and the academy and self-study comparison separates the decision from the travel budget without assuming one paid route is required.
English evidence can create another charge in some cases. The GMC registration guidance after a PLAB 2 pass says a pass less than three months before the registration application can show that English has been maintained, provided the minimum IELTS or OET scores were achieved less than three years ago. If those conditions do not cover the application, allow for the English evidence the GMC requires at that point. No single English-test cost belongs in every candidate's PLAB 2 budget.
Flights, accommodation and preparation depend on the dates and choices. Base the planning buffer on current quotes and their cancellation terms. A hotel average copied from a forum thread makes the total look precise without making it dependable.
Concessions and priority
Refugee doctors living in the UK receive a 50% reduction for their first two PLAB 2 attempts. The GMC asks eligible doctors to call 0161 923 6602. The GMC's published fee and booking guidance lists no general PLAB 2 scholarship or candidate-wide fee reduction.
Priority access can bring forward access to a date. The GMC booking guidance says a candidate with an NHS job offer that requires GMC registration, or with UK refugee status, can email plab@gmc-uk.org. The GMC will try to offer a place as soon as possible. The fee remains unchanged, and the guidance does not promise a particular date.
Paying for a resit
Another booking at the current PLAB 2 fee adds £1,036. Two bookings at the 2026 rate total £2,072 before any repeated flight, Manchester stay, preparation or applicable visa spending. If another trip is required, obtain new quotes because the first trip's prices may no longer apply.
The GMC normally limits PLAB 2 to four attempts. A fifth and final attempt requires an application after at least 12 months of qualifying additional learning, and an unsuccessful fifth attempt ends PLAB eligibility. The additional-attempt rules set the evidence conditions for that application.
Time can be as restrictive as money. The GMC requires PLAB 2 to be passed within two years of the PLAB 1 pass, and counts that pass from the PLAB 1 test date. The second-attempt guide shows how to use the result feedback before choosing another date.
Before paying another £1,036, calculate the remaining eligibility window from the PLAB 1 test date and record the final eligible test date. Put current travel and accommodation quotes beside the fee and any visa cost that applies. Calculate how much money would be exposed under the cancellation band for the chosen date. The result feedback should also lead to a changed preparation plan, tested through timed work before booking. Fund the place when the dated eligibility check, result-led changes, current trip quotes and cancellation exposure all fit within the money available.
Questions candidates actually ask
How much is the PLAB 2 exam fee in 2026?
The PLAB 2 exam fee is £1,036 from 1 April 2026, up from £998 in 2025. This is the GMC booking fee and excludes the visa, travel, accommodation and preparation.
What is the PLAB 2 fee in Indian rupees?
The £1,036 fee is approximately ₹132,470 at the illustrative rate used on 8 September 2026. The amount charged can differ because exchange rates and card-provider charges change.
Is there any discount or scholarship for PLAB 2?
The GMC gives refugee doctors living in the UK a 50% reduction on their first two PLAB 2 attempts. Its published guidance lists no general PLAB 2 scholarship or candidate-wide discount.
How much do you lose if you cancel PLAB 2?
From 1 April 2026, cancellation costs £103.60 more than 42 days before the exam, £518 from 42 to 29 days before it, and the full £1,036 at 28 days or less. The GMC may consider returning the cancellation charge for evidenced exceptional circumstances, but you must cancel first.