The official Gazette notification issued by the National Medical Commission regarding the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021, including course duration, internship norms, licensing eligibility, and permanent registration guidelines.
Guidelines for Foreign Medical Graduates to Practice in India Description:

Key Points – NMC Foreign Medical Graduate Regulations, 2021

• Issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) under the NMC Act, 2019.

• Applicable to Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) seeking to practice modern medicine in India.

• Effective Date: From the date of final publication in the Official Gazette (18 November 2021).

Eligibility to Practice Medicine in India

• No Foreign Medical Graduate can practice medicine in India without permanent registration granted under these regulations.

• Permanent registration is mandatory for independent medical practice in India.

Conditions for Grant of Permanent Registration

A Foreign Medical Graduate must:

• Complete a minimum 54-month foreign medical degree course.

• Complete 12 months of internship in the same foreign medical institution.

• Receive the medical degree with English as the medium of instruction.

• Study all mandatory subjects as specified by NMC.

• Be registered/licensed by the relevant medical authority of the country where the degree was awarded.

• Complete a 12-month supervised internship in India after applying to NMC.

• Clear the National Exit Test (NExT) or any other examination mandated by NMC.

Course & Training Requirements

• Education and training must be equivalent to MBBS in India.

• Internship must include hands-on clinical training in:

  • Community Medicine

  • General Medicine

  • Surgery

  • Obstetrics & Gynaecology

  • Pediatrics

  • Psychiatry

  • Orthopedics

  • ENT, Ophthalmology, Dermatology

  • Emergency & Laboratory Services

• Entire course, training, and internship must be completed outside India in the same foreign institution.

• Total duration of the medical course must be completed within 10 years from the date of joining.

Exemptions & Applicability

• These regulations do not apply to:

  • FMGs who obtained their degree before the regulations came into force.

  • Students already studying abroad prior to notification.

  • FMGs specifically exempted by NMC or Central Government.

• Such candidates will be governed by earlier applicable regulations.

Public Policy & National Security

• Permanent registration will not be granted if it violates public policy or national security.