Update to process for EEA and Swiss National applicants
Updates to the process for European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss optometrists and dispensing opticians who wish to join the GOC register from 1 January 2021.
We would like to share updates to the process for EEA and Swiss optometrists and dispensing opticians who wish to join the GOC register from 1 January 2021.
Subject to further legislation to implement the Swiss Citizen’s Rights Agreement, Swiss nationals applying for registration may still apply under the EU directive on the recognition of professional qualifications through the general system of recognition until 31 December 2024. This will be under our existing EEA applications process, in line with the EU directive on the recognition of professional qualifications.
EEA and Swiss applicants who have started their application for registration prior to 11pm on 31 December 2020 will still be able to apply on the same basis that they started the process. This will be under the existing EEA application process which complies with the EU directive on the recognition of professional qualifications.
Existing EEA and Swiss GOC registrants will not be affected by these changes.
Declaration guidance for all student, fully qualified and body corporate applicants and registrants applying to join the register or to restore or retain their registration.
Identification form to be submitted with correctly certified identification as part of the application to apply to renew to the fully qualified registers.
For the 2024/25 registration period, there will be an increase in the main registration fee for optometrists, dispensing opticians, and body corporates of 6.6%, to £405, in line with inflation.
