NMC Guidelines for FMGs Seeking Permanent Registration in 2025

 Key NMC Guidelines for FMGs Seeking Permanent Registration in 2025

1. Qualifying Examination

• All Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) must clear the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) or its replacement, the National Exit Test (NExT), to be eligible for permanent registration and medical practice in India.

2. Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI)

• FMGs are required to complete a 12-month CRMI in an NMC-recognized hospital in India.

o    The internship is typically structured across major medical specialties such as medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics & gynecology, and others, mirroring the Indian MBBS internship format.

o    The State Medical Council assigns the place of internship.

o    FMGs are entitled to a stipend equivalent to Indian MBBS interns.

• No additional fees can be charged for the internship by medical colleges.

3. Special Guidelines for Pandemic/War-Affected Graduates

• If an FMG’s final year or penultimate year of medical school was conducted partly or fully online due to COVID-19 or war, additional internship requirements may apply:

o    One disrupted year (final): Up to 2 years required (1 year internship + 1 year additional clinical clerkship).

o    Both final and penultimate years disrupted: Up to 3 years required (1 year internship + 2 years additional clerkship).

o    If the FMG completed “compensatory” physical/clinical training onsite and provides evidence, and this is accepted by NMC/State Council, only the standard 1-year internship is required.

4. Medical Course and Institutional Criteria

• Course Duration Abroad: The basic medical qualification (MBBS/MD) abroad must be at least 54 months (4.5 years) excluding the internship.
• Completion at a Single Institution: The medical degree and required clinical clerkship/internship must be completed at the same foreign institution.
• Eligibility for Local Practice: FMGs must be eligible for medical practice (registration/licensing) in the country where their degree was awarded.

5. State and Administrative Procedures

• No State Domicile Restriction: FMGs can complete their internship anywhere in India; there are no mandatory domicile requirements.
• Degree Verification: State Medical Councils must verify all foreign qualifications and clinical training through university and embassy channels as per NMC guidance and Supreme Court direction.
• Timelines:

o    Internship must be finished within two years of passing the FMGE/NExT.

o    Extensions (up to 24 months) may be granted under exceptional circumstances.

Summary Table of Main Requirements for 2025

Requirement	NMC 2025 Guideline
Qualifying Exam	Must clear FMGE or NExT
Minimum Indian Internship/CRMI	12 months*
Pandemic/War Disrupted Training	2-3 years if no compensatory onsite training
Stipend	Same as Indian MBBS graduates
Medical Course Duration Abroad	At least 54 months (excluding internship)
Foreign Practice Eligibility	Must be eligible for local practice in awarding country
Domicile Restriction	None; any Indian state/UT allowed
Internship Fees	Additional fees not allowed

*Standard 12 months if compensatory onsite clinical training for online semesters is accepted; otherwise, additional periods apply per NMC notifications.

These guidelines are intended to standardize medical licensing for FMGs and uphold clinical competence across all states.