General
In order to work in The United Kingdom you must first gain registration from the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC). The whole process of being able to work as a nurse in the UK is governed by the UKCC and all of their requirements must be met.

Gaining registration
All applications for entry to the UKCC's register on the basis of education, training and registration outside the UK are considered on an individual basis. Therefore it is not normally possible to state in advance whether your application will be accepted immediately.
However, nurse training in some countries may lead to acceptance providing certain criteria are met.
These countries are The U.S.A., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, the West Indies and Hong Kong.
Depending on an applicant's experience and education, you may be accepted, may be required to gain further clinical experience - either in the UK or abroad - or undergo a further period of education and training.

Previous training
As mentioned above, each application is considered individually but here are some guidelines for the type of training which would normally give you immediate acceptance.
Nurses trained in the U.S.A or Canada
If you hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Diploma in Nursing, it is likely you will be accepted for registration if you have completed at least one year's relevant post-registration experience.
Nurses trained in New Zealand or Australia
If you hold a Comprehensive Nurse qualification or an Applied Science Diploma you are likely to be accepted for registration if you have completed at least one year's relevant post-registration experience.
Nurses trained in South Africa, Zimbabwe or the West Indies
If you are applying for registration as a general nurse you are likely to be accepted for registration if you have completed three months post-registration experience relevant to your training.
Nurses trained in Hong Kong and China
You are likely to be accepted for registration if you have completed three months relevant post-registration experience.

Language
You must be able to communicate effectively in English to practise as a nurse in the UK. If you have not been trained in English or sat relevant exams, you must show that you are able to communicate effectively in English by obtaining a specific pass mark in The British Council's English Language Test. More information can be obtained on their website. Click the above link.

Immigration/Work Permits
In order to practise as a nurse in the UK you must get the relevant work permit and immigation status. It is important to take into account that registration with the UKCC does not entitle you to work in the UK as a registered nurse or midwife.
If you are a European national you are free to come to the UK without any immigration status or work permit as you are eligible under European Directives to live and work in the UK. Further European information is available at the Immigration & Nationality Directorate website - Click here
If you are from outside Europe you must apply for the relevant Work Permit. Various types are available, but the most common one is the Working Holidaymaker visa. If you have not yet reached your 28th birthday and are a Commonwealth citizen then you can enter the UK for a "Working Holiday" of up to two years, entitling you to take up certain categories of employment which can include temporary locum work.

Further and more detailed information, including the relevant application forms, can be accessed at the following websites:
Immigration & Nationality Directorate
Overseas Labour Service
Immigration Advisory Service