International locum tenens presents more than a change of scenery—it requires advanced planning around licensure, visa sponsorship and malpractice coverage. Due to the logistics involved, many physicians opt to stay closer to home. According to CHG Healthcare’s 2025 State of Locum Tenens Report, an estimated 57,000 U.S. physicians worked locum tenens last year, yet 2% pursued international roles.
Discussions among practicing physicians on Sermo reveal the distinct features of international locum work. “International locum work can offer insights into global treatment access, real-world disparities, and alternative care models,” as one oncologist put it. A general practitioner expressed that it “offers an opportunity for personal and professional growth by exploring global healthcare systems while providing essential medical services to communities worldwide.”
The greater Sermo community weighed in on which physician career stage international locum tenens careers are most relevant to. In a poll, 29% said it’s best for early career exploration, while 27% voted that it’s ideal for mid-career burnout relief. Another 22% said it’s a niche path not relevant to most physicians, and 14% voted that it’s best as a late-career choice.
Building on feedback from Sermo members, this article is a roadmap to securing assignments, the pros and cons of accepting a position abroad and vetted agency recommendations.
Domestic vs. international locums: Key differences
The most immediate distinction between domestic and international locum tenens is complexity. You contend with foreign licensing authorities, specialized work visas and policies for international malpractice or tail coverage. Physicians who accept an international locums role often adjust to the following:
Different compensation structures
Domestic locums pay hourly or daily rates with predictable travel reimbursements, while global staffing assignments may offer tax-advantaged packages, housing stipends and flight allowances. These packages vary dramatically: a six-week locum in Australia might include visa sponsorship and relocation assistance, whereas an assignment in a developing nation could require you to arrange your own lodging and local-bank setup. One anesthesiologist on Sermo revealed that they took a significant pay cut for an assignment in another country, but that it paid off in professional and life experience.
Travel considerations
Domestic shifts rarely require more than a two-hour drive, but international locums can demand red-eye flights and unfamiliar airport procedures. In some cases, adapting to jet lag and securing dependent visas for spouses and children could present greater challenges than the foreign licensing process itself.
Procedural differences
In some systems, nurses assume expanded roles while physicians serve more consultative functions; hierarchies and electronic health record (EHR) platforms also differ. A family medicine doctor on Sermo finds value in adapting to new approaches. “There is no better experience than living in a foreign country,” they write. “The learning opportunities are vast. One can get a completely new view of medicine.”
Family impact
While U.S. state boards may process applications in weeks, foreign medical councils often require 6 to 12 months for verification, translations and exams—making early planning essential. Physicians with families may also be concerned with dependent visas, school enrollment and vaccinations when deciding whether an assignment is feasible.
How to get hired as an international locum tenens physician
Just over half of the physicians in a Sermo poll said that they haven’t worked as an international locum. 15% worked in a government or public hospital while 12% worked in a private hospital or specialty center. Rural or underserved clinics, humanitarian or NGO-affiliated programs comprised 17%, while 2% of physicians served in a military or international organization capacity. If you’d like to explore international placements, here’s how to secure an overseas locum tenens assignment:
- Conduct targeted research. Consult the list below (or your own researched list) to find a vetted agency specializing in global staffing rather than general locum companies.
- Initiate your foreign licensure process, allowing six to 12 months for paperwork. Compile primary source verifications (medical school diploma; residency completion letter; board certifications) and confirm translation services.
- Secure visa sponsorship. Ask agencies which work visa category applies, who covers processing and application fees and what dependent visas are available for spouses and children.
- Review your contract thoroughly. Pay attention to tax implications (withholding taxes vs. foreign tax credits) and malpractice coverage details. Review restrictive terms like physician non-compete agreements before signing a locum contract.
- Coordinate on-the-ground logistics. Check whether your assignment includes housing stipends. Arrange housing, required vaccinations, local bank accounts and travel insurance.
4 international locum tenens agencies to consider
The right partner is critical when pursuing global assignments. For a broader look at leading firms, see Sermo’s guide to the top locum tenens companies. Below are six agencies with strong international options.
Global Medical Staffing
As the name suggests, Global Medical Staffing specializes in international placements. It works with healthcare facilities in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. It matches physicians with both long-term and short-term (even weeklong) assignments. It provides support with visa applications and credentialing.
Global Recruitment Experts
While not exclusively “locum” in the traditional U.S. short-term sense, Global Recruitment Experts supports healthcare staffing (including temporary/contract assignments) across the UK, Canada, Australia and the UAE.
Weatherby Healthcare
Weatherby Healthcare offers select international placements, primarily in New Zealand. Its recruitment process is thorough, which can mean longer timelines but higher-quality placements. Some physicians may appreciate the individualized approach, while others may find the process slower than desired.
Global Medics
Global Medics is a medical recruitment agency with a solid footprint placing doctors in locum, contract, and permanent roles in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland. It highlights full support for visa/relocation, credentialing and logistics.
Key benefits of international locum tenens work
In a Sermo poll, members ranked which benefits they most associate with international locum tenens work. Here’s the breakdown:
Clinical exposure in different care settings
Nearly 30% of polled physicians said the chance to manage unfamiliar disease profiles and treatment models is the most meaningful benefit. You might treat tropical infections in Southeast Asia one week and join multidisciplinary rounds in the NHS the next. One GP expressed that international locum tenens work “offers the chance to step outside routine practice, experience different health systems, and gain cultural awareness while still serving patients in need.”
Opportunities to contribute to underserved populations
More than a quarter of respondents credit international assignments with the ability to address critical staffing gaps in remote or resource-limited regions. Whether through NGO partnerships or rural clinic rotations, you can provide essential services where they’re needed most. “It would be an excellent way to diversify skillsets, experience different cultures, and serve others from different parts of the world,” remarks one general surgeon.
Financial and travel incentives
19% of physicians highlight tax-advantaged pay, housing stipends and flight allowances as key perks. Even when base rates are lower, the combined benefits often deliver substantial net value—and memorable family adventures.
Career flexibility and a reset period
Through international local tenens work, some physicians find positions that are less rigid or demanding. It “provides physicians with a flexible career option that combines professional development, financial opportunity, and global service,” per an endocrinologist on Sermo.
One dermatologist member recommends establishing your career at home before working abroad. “I think mid to late career is the best fit because it offers a reset from burnout or mid-career stagnation,” they write. 13% of polled Sermo members view international locums as a sabbatical-style reset—ideal once loans diminish and dependent-care duties ease.
Time away from U.S. administrative pressures
11% of voters appreciate that foreign assignments shift billing, pre-authorizations and documentation to local teams, letting you focus purely on patient care. “I think this is a great way to escape the daily grind, especially for young doctors,” states a pediatrician from Germany. “The risk of burnout is very high these days due to the workload (especially in hospitals).”
Major barriers to becoming an international locum tenens
While compelling, global assignments carry significant hurdles. In a poll, Sermo members revealed which barriers would likely keep them or a peer from pursuing international locum tenens. 28% cited complex licensing or visa processes while 23% chose unfamiliar clinical environments and 19% pointed to safety concerns. One dermatologist explained they’d rather avoid “being subject to a totally different treatment paradigm.”
Malpractice insurance is another sticking point. U.S. policies rarely extend overseas, so you must secure international coverage or purchase “difference-in-conditions” tail policies. These can be expensive and may exclude high-risk procedures or regions with travel advisories.
One-quarter of poll respondents said time away from family or dependents would be a deal-breaker. “I wouldn’t be able to leave my family for an extended period,” a GP member notes.
Those who bring their families with them face a different set of challenges. Dependent visas may limit spousal work rights or require proof of substantial savings. School enrollment for children often requires extra fees, and language immersion can present educational challenges.
One proctologist on Sermo summed up the challenges that aspiring international locum tenens physicians are up against: “Clinical, environment, local culture, safety, health issues, and time away from family are all contributing factors for the decision to work abroad.”
With so many possible barriers, it’s important to plan your first international locum assignment carefully. In a poll, Sermo members ranked understanding scope of practice differences up front (29%), learning basic language and cultural norms (23%) and thoroughly vetting agencies (17%) as the three most useful strategies.
Key takeaways for doctors considering international locum tenens work
International locum tenens work often diverges sharply from domestic assignments. Sermo members report high curiosity about overseas roles but also concern over family relocation logistics, drawn‑out foreign board approvals and potential insurance gaps.
To secure a global assignment demands early planning. Best practices include beginning foreign licensure applications six to 12 months before departure, and scrutinizing every contract for tax obligations, malpractice coverage and tail provisions. Ideally you’ll partner with an agency that specializes in international placements.
While the process is more complex than domestic work, the rewards are substantial: exposure to diverse clinical cases, relief from domestic administrative burdens and opportunities to contribute in underserved settings. If you choose to embark on an international locum tenens journey, it can renew your passion for medicine and broaden your global perspective.
When you’re ready to explore international roles, turn to Sermo. Our community allows physicians on global assignments to share candid experiences, advice and resources.
