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NMC rules for MBBS abroad, explained

If you study medicine abroad and want to practise in India, your course must meet the National Medical Commission's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021. They apply to everyone who joined a foreign course from 18 November 2021. Here is what they require, where each country stands, and what to check before you pay.

The FMGL checklist

Every point must be met. Missing one can stop you registering to practise in India.

  1. 1

    Qualify NEET before you go

    Indian citizens and OCI cardholders who want a primary medical qualification from abroad must qualify NEET. This has applied since the 2019-20 academic year.

    MCI public notice, 11 Dec 2018

  2. 2

    At least 54 months of medical study

    The course itself must last a minimum of 54 months.

    Reg 4(a)(i)

  3. 3

    A 12-month internship at the same institution

    The course must be followed by an internship of at least 12 months in the same foreign institution.

    Reg 4(a)

  4. 4

    Taught in English

    The whole course must be taught in English.

    Reg 4(a)(iii)

  5. 5

    Subjects equal to the Indian MBBS

    The course must cover the subjects listed in Schedule I of the Regulations.

    Schedule I

  6. 6

    One institution, no part in India

    The whole course, training and internship must be done outside India, in the same foreign institution. Transferring part-way can make you ineligible.

    Schedule I, Reg 2(iii)

  7. 7

    A licence there, at par with local citizens

    You must be registered with, or licensed to practise by, the authority in the country that awards the degree, on the same basis as that country's citizens.

    Reg 4(b)

  8. 8

    Finish within 10 years

    The whole foreign course must be completed within 10 years of joining.

    Schedule I, Reg 2(iv)

  9. 9

    Pass the licensing exam in India

    After you return you must pass the National Exit Test or another test the NMC mandates. Until NExT starts, this is the FMGE, which NBEMS conducts.

    Reg 4(d)

  10. 10

    A 12-month supervised internship in India

    After the exam you do a supervised internship in India of at least 12 months, with provisional registration from a State Medical Council.

    FAQ answers 14 and 15

Taken from the NMC's FAQs on the FMGL Regulations. The NMC says its FAQs only explain the rules; the Regulations as published in the Gazette are what count. This page is general guidance, not legal advice.

Where each country stands

A short summary of the NMC questions for each country we cover. Each guide lists its official sources.

CountryWhat fits the rulesWhat to watchChecked
Flag of GeorgiaGeorgiaSix-year English-medium MD, so course length is met on paper.The licence rule. Graduates can work as supervised junior doctors, but an independent licence needs a Georgian post-diploma exam and residency. An NMC reply reported on 1 October 2026 said the answer depends on Georgian law. State universities took no new foreign students for 2026–27.23 Oct 2026
Flag of KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstanEnglish-medium courses are offered, but many are five years long.A five-year course must still show 54 months of study plus a full 12-month internship at the same university. 13 institutions failed accreditation in 2026, and a Ministry of Health order of 14 September 2026 moved students between universities. NMC rules do not allow transfers, and we found no published NMC exemption.23 Oct 2026
Flag of UzbekistanUzbekistanSix-year programmes with English-medium tracks.An NMC advisory of 1 April 2026 named Bukhara State Medical Institute, Samarkand State Medical University and Tashkent State Medical University; the Embassy of India called it precautionary, not a ban. The NMC warned against TSMU's Chirchik branch in July 2025. Offshore or India-based 'campuses' do not count. The course becomes '5+1' from 2027/28.23 Oct 2026
Flag of PhilippinesPhilippinesThe MD is taught in English, but the BS before it is not counted.The MD alone must meet every condition. Foreign graduates can take the Philippine licensure exam only where reciprocity exists, and India and the Philippines have not announced one. We found no NMC notice confirming that an MD started now meets the Regulations.23 Oct 2026

The NMC's position can change at any time. Check nmc.org.in before you pay and again before each academic year.

How to check a university before you pay

  1. 1

    Check the NMC website first

    Look at the public notices and advisories on nmc.org.in for the country and the university by name. Do this again before each academic year, because notices can change.

  2. 2

    Ask for the course structure in writing

    Get a document from the university that shows the months of study, the months of internship, and that both happen at the same institution. 54 months of study plus 12 months of internship is the test.

  3. 3

    Confirm English medium for every year

    Ask whether clinical teaching and patient contact in the later years are also in English, or whether you will need the local language with an interpreter.

  4. 4

    Get the licence question answered

    Ask the university, in writing, whether an Indian graduate can be licensed to practise in that country on the same basis as its citizens, and what exam or training that needs.

  5. 5

    Read the Indian Embassy's advisory

    The Embassy of India in each country publishes advisories on medical study, including lists of institutions to avoid. Our country guides link to them.

  6. 6

    Avoid transfers and offshore campuses

    Do not choose an arrangement that splits your course between universities, countries or a campus in India. The whole course must be at one foreign institution.

  7. 7

    Pay the university, not an agent's account

    Check the university's own fee page and pay to the university's account. Keep receipts and the admission letter.

Questions parents ask

What are the FMGL Regulations 2021?

They are the National Medical Commission's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021, in force since 18 November 2021. They set the conditions a foreign medical degree must meet for the holder to practise in India: at least 54 months of study, a 12-month internship at the same institution, English medium, Schedule I subjects, a licence in the country of study at par with its citizens, and completion within 10 years.

Do I need NEET to study MBBS abroad?

Yes, if you want to practise in India. The Medical Council of India's public notice of 11 December 2018 says Indian citizens and OCI cardholders who want a primary medical qualification from abroad must qualify NEET, from the 2019-20 academic year.

Can I transfer to another university or country during the course?

The Regulations require the whole course, training and internship to be done in the same foreign institution, so a transfer can make you ineligible. Check with the NMC before you agree to any move, even one arranged by a foreign government.

Is a five-year course allowed?

Only if it still gives at least 54 months of study and is followed by at least 12 months of internship at the same institution. Ask the university for a written month-by-month breakdown.

What exam do I take after returning to India?

The Regulations say the National Exit Test or another test the NMC mandates. Until NExT starts, foreign medical graduates take the FMGE, which NBEMS conducts. You then do a 12-month supervised internship in India.

Does the NMC publish a list of approved foreign universities?

The NMC's rules apply to the course you take, not to an approved list. It does publish notices and advisories about particular countries and institutions, so check nmc.org.in before you pay and treat any 'NMC approved' claim with care.

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