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It is possible to do MBBS abroad practice in India. However, students need to fulfil two key requirements to be able to become a doctor in India. These include graduating from a foreign medical university that follows the latest NMC guidelines and clearing the FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination India exam). The next step is to complete an internship and register with the State Medical Council to receive your license to practice medicine in India. Studying MBBS abroad has become a popular choice for Indian students due to high competition, limited availability of seats and hefty fees in the private Indian medical colleges. In this article, we will discuss everything about the MBBS abroad to India pathway for practicing medicine in India after studying MBBS abroad.
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Students can practice in India after MBBS abroad by following these steps:
Step 1: Ensure that the foreign medical university where you have done your MBBS follows the NMC guidelines.
Step 2: Appear and qualify NEET-UG. Without this, you would not be able to sit for the FMGE exam.
Step 3: The next step is to clear the FMGE exam
Step 4: After passing the licensing exam, it is mandatory to complete an internship in India to gain hands-on experience with patients.
Step 5: Once you have successfully completed the internship, you can then register with the State Medical Council to get the license to practice medicine in India.
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These are the eligibility criteria a student must fulfil to be able to practice in India.
Requirement | Details |
Follows NMC Guidelines | The medical university must follow NMC guidelines |
NEET Qualification | Mandatory for all Indian students going abroad |
Minimum Course Duration | At least 54 months (4.5 years) plus a 1 year internship |
Medium of Instruction | English |
Licensing Exam in India | Clear FMGE |
Best Countries for MBBS Abroad:
Make sure you fulfil the NMC eligibility for foreign MBBS and keep these key considerations in mind before practicing in India after MBBS abroad
The internship that students do after clearing the FMGE exam must be done at hospitals approved by the National Medical Commission.
The duration of the internship must be 12 months (1 year).
After clearing the FMGE, you must do an internship in India as foreign internships are not recognized, in most cases.
There is no limit to the number of FMGE attempts.
Once you register yourself with NMC and obtain the license, you can then apply for both government and private hospitals in India.
The Licensing for foreign MBBS graduates India is a complicated process and Foreign medical graduates (FMGs) may face challenges during the licensing process. These include:
Low pass rates: The FMGE pass percentage rates for FMGE has always been low (between 10% and 30%, with the latest June 2025 session having a pass percentage of 18.61%).
Curriculum differences: The differences between foreign and Indian medical education results in a knowledge gap, giving difficulties in preparing for FMGE.
Varying performance by country: FMGE pass rates differ significantly from country to country.
To sum up, yes—it is possible to practice in India after studying MBBS abroad, but only after fulfilling the mandatory conditions laid by the NMC. If you plan well, choose the right university and country, prepare well for licensing exams, then doing MBBS abroad can be a life-changing decision.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, you cannot practice directly after completing MBBS abroad. You need to clear the FMGE exam, and also fulfil the NMC eligibility criteria for MBBS abroad. In addition to this, you need to do a one year internship to gain practical experience and then register with the state medical council to get a license for becoming a doctor in India.
There is no limit to the number of times you can take the FMGE exam.
Yes, FMGE is mandatory for Indian MBBS graduates who have done MBBS abroad and want to practice in India.
For practicing medicine in India after foreign degree, it is mandatory to clear the FMGE to ensure your qualifications meet Indian standards. It is also mandatory that your foreign medical degree is recognized by NMC. After passing FMGE, it is a must to complete a one-year internship in India and get registered with the state medical council.
Yes, foreign graduates can practice in India after clearing the FMGE exam and fulfilling the NMC eligibility for foreign MBBS. They also need to register with a state medical council to get a legal license to become a doctor in India.
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