IMGs with GP fellowships from the UK say they are being forced to choose between their families and a job because they are no longer eligible for exemptions to the 10-year moratorium.

Changes introduced last September mean specialist GPs trained in countries like the UK and Canada are no longer automatically entitled to RACGP or ACRRM fellowships.

Instead, they have to spend at least 12 months on a college training program in a designated rural area with a shortage of GPs.

The revamp was made in an attempt by the Federal Government to deliver more GPs to the bush.