FMGE Internship in India: Eligibility, Process, Stipend & CRMI Rules

Introduction

Clearing FMGE is a genuine milestone, but it’s not the finish line. The FMGE internship that follows is where your training in India actually begins, and getting the process right matters just as much as passing the exam itself.

This guide covers everything about the FMGE internship: eligibility, the CRMI process, stipend rules, and where the latest slot allocations stand for foreign medical graduates.

What Is the FMGE Internship?

FMGE internship, formally known as the Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship or CRMI, is the mandatory 12-month clinical training every foreign medical graduate must complete in India after passing FMGE. The National Medical Commission oversees this internship to ensure foreign-educated graduates receive clinical exposure that meets Indian training standards before they receive permanent registration.

Internship after FMGE isn’t optional or something you can substitute with clinical training already completed abroad. Even if you interned in your country of study, Indian regulations require you to complete this CRMI separately within India.

Eligibility for Internship After FMGE

Internship for foreign medical graduates in India requires meeting a few specific conditions before you can register. You need to have qualified FMGE with at least 150 out of 300 marks, and you must complete your internship within two years from your FMGE result declaration date.

You’ll also need to submit mandatory documents, including your passport, Aadhaar card, FMGE pass certificate, and other eligibility proof, as required by your State Medical Council. Importantly, internship allotment for FMGs is not based on domicile, meaning you can intern in any state or union territory, regardless of where you’re originally from.

CRMI Duration: How Long Your Internship Actually Runs

Foreign medical graduate internship duration depends on how you completed your MBBS coursework. Under NMC’s CRMI Regulations, most FMGs complete a standard 12-month internship if their entire course and exams were conducted offline.

However, students who had significant online classes during their penultimate or final MBBS years, largely due to pandemic-related disruptions, may face a longer 2-year or 3-year internship requirement instead. NMC has also clarified through a public notice dated March 18, 2026, that FMGs admitted on or after November 18, 2021 must follow the 2021 CRMI Regulations specifically, so checking which regulation applies to your admission date matters before you plan your internship timeline.

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The FMGE Internship Allotment Process

Foreign medical graduate internship in India works through a structured allotment process managed by State Medical Councils. Here’s how it generally unfolds:

Step 1: Provisional Registration. Obtain provisional registration from your State Medical Council, such as the Maharashtra Medical Council or Delhi Medical Council, allowing you to work as a trainee doctor at a recognized hospital.

Step 2: Merit-Based Allotment. Based on a state merit list, typically determined by your FMGE marks and overall slot availability, you’ll be allotted to a medical college or recognized non-teaching hospital.

Step 3: Reporting. Report to your allotted institute within the stipulated timeframe to officially begin your CRMI.

Step 4: Completing Rotations. Complete your rotations across required clinical departments over the internship duration applicable to you.

FMGE internship approved hospitals include both teaching medical colleges and non-teaching hospitals specifically recognized by NMC to conduct CRMI programs for foreign medical graduates.

FMGE Internship 2026-27: Slot Allocation Update

In a significant recent development, NMC directed medical institutions to begin allotting over 43,250 CRMI internship slots to eligible FMGs across 797 colleges nationwide for the 2026-27 academic year. This came after NMC prepared a comprehensive nationwide CRMI seats matrix, following persistent complaints from FMGs about internship slot shortages.

These 43,250 slots are in addition to seats already assigned at previously approved non-teaching hospitals and institutions. Notably, 100 percent of CRMI seats in newly established medical colleges, along with all internship seats created through increased intake between 2022-23 and 2025-26, have been reserved specifically for FMGs. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra currently offer the highest number of CRMI slots, followed by Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

Number of Hospitals Offering FMGE Internship

Here’s a state-wise breakdown of hospitals approved for FMGE internship placements:

This 673-hospital count reflects previously approved institutions and doesn’t yet include the additional 43,250 slots announced for 2026-27, so total capacity has expanded meaningfully beyond what this table shows.

Source: National Medical Commission (NMC) — List of Internship Hospitals for FMGs. 

FMGE Internship Stipend: What NMC Mandates

FMGE internship stipend has historically been a genuine point of conflict for foreign graduates. In the past, several private institutions either refused to pay FMGs altogether or charged illegal “bench fees” just to allow them to train at their facilities.

NMC has firmly clamped down on this. Under current rules, medical colleges and hospitals are strictly forbidden from charging FMGs any fee to provide the FMGE internship. FMGs must also receive a stipend equal to what Indian medical graduates receive at the same institution, a rule NMC calls the Equal Stipend Rule. For FMGs on the extended 2-year internship track, stipend is typically paid only during the second year.

While this rule is clear at the national level, actual implementation can still vary by state, so it’s worth confirming stipend terms directly with your allotted institute and State Medical Council if anything seems off.

Read more: NEET PG Marks vs Rank 2026: How Cutoffs and Percentile Really Work

FMGE Internship Rules for Foreign Medical Graduates

FMGE internship rules for foreign medical graduates cover more than just stipend. Facilities including duty hours, department rotations, and access to accommodation and insurance must be identical to what Indian medical interns receive at the same institution.

If your MBBS included any online coursework, NMC’s March 2026 clarification notice sets out specific conditions: if your online training was already compensated through equivalent physical instruction abroad, you may not need additional clerkship training in India. If it wasn’t, you’ll likely need to complete supervised clerkship, sometimes involving a nominal monthly clerkship fee, before you’re eligible to begin your CRMI.

How Career Plan B Helps

Navigating internship allotment, documentation, and stipend rules as an FMG can be genuinely confusing without guidance. Career Plan B helps you approach this stage with clarity.

• Personalized Career Counselling: Guidance on understanding your specific CRMI duration and internship eligibility based on your MBBS timeline.
• Psychometric & Career Assessment Tests: Helps identify which specialization and practice path genuinely fits you.
• Career Roadmapping: A plan connecting your FMGE internship completion to permanent registration and further career steps.
• Admission & Academic Profile Guidance: Support in understanding documentation, State Medical Council registration, and internship allotment requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How long does the FMGE internship last?
Typically, 12 months for FMGs whose entire MBBS course was completed offline. Those with significant online coursework during their final years may face a 2-year or 3-year internship requirement instead.

Q2. What stipend are FMGs entitled to during their internship?
NMC mandates that FMGs receive a stipend equal to Indian medical interns at the same institution, with no internship fee allowed to be charged.

Q3. How many CRMI slots are available for FMGs in 2026-27?
NMC has allocated 43,250 CRMI slots across 797 institutions for the 2026-27 academic year, in addition to previously approved non-teaching hospital seats.

Q4. Is FMGE internship allotment based on domicile?
No, Allotment is not domicile-based, meaning FMGs can complete their internship in any state or union territory, regardless of their home state.

Q5. What happens if my MBBS included online classes during the pandemic?
Depending on whether your online training was already compensated by equivalent physical instruction abroad, you may need to complete additional supervised clerkship before starting your CRMI, as clarified in NMC’s March 2026 notice.

Conclusion

The FMGE internship is a mandatory, structured step every foreign medical graduate must complete before receiving permanent registration in India. With NMC’s recent 43,250-slot allocation and firmer stipend enforcement, the process has genuinely improved, though understanding your specific eligibility and CRMI duration in advance still matters.

If you’re navigating your FMGE internship or planning your path to permanent registration, reach out to Career Plan B’s counsellors for personalized guidance.