Attempts to limit the number of overseas doctors in Australia is likely to threaten the future of dozens of GP practices in the suburbs, a recruitment firm is warning.

Under Federal Government reforms, the next four years will see the loss of some 800 workforce visas for doctors to work in primary care. 

And for practices willing to sponsor IMGs, there are new requirements to obtain Health Workforce Certificates, which are restricted to areas of chronic workforce shortage usually located in remote and rural communities.

The changes are an attempt to deal with the rural workforce crisis.