10 Countries Accepting Indian Medical Degrees

Indian medical degrees are accepted outside of India as well, and this list of 10 countries accepting Indian medical degrees will help you identify countries which accept medical degree obtained in India.

Although doctors around the world have the same job, medical degrees vary significantly in different countries. In addition to that, language can be a barrier to finding your dream job elsewhere. Due to the differences in curricula around the world, different countries might require additional education or tests in order to be eligible for a job in that country. Best countries for Indian doctors to migrate depend on their preferences as well as how easily they can get working permit and visa for the target country. Of course, what you first look at when you are searching for a job? Salary, of course! Insider Monkey already compiled a list highest paying countries for doctors, and you might take a look to see where you can get the highest salary.

In this article, we will discuss best countries for Indian doctors to work in and give small guidelines about the steps which will help you to get a job. We’ve also compiled a list of easiest countries to work as a doctor, but once again, everything depends on your country of origin and whether or not your medical degree is recognized there. So, the most frequent question was — is Indian medical degree recognised in USA? The answer is yes, and no matter where you are from, you can technically, work as a doctor in the US, but you have to pass the USMLE (The United States Medical Licensing Examination). This examination is organized into three sections; two are done in India while the last one has to be done in the USA. Quora users also wondered can Indian doctors work in Singapore and is Indian medical degree recognized in Singapore since allegedly, there is a shortage of doctors in that city-state. Dr. Narahari Myaka shared his experience stating that only doctors graduating from a specific list of medical colleges in India are eligible to work in Singapore. He makes an excellent point stating that besides the college you attended, your overall success and grades will impact your chances of finding job outside India. Some countries such as Australia have very tough exams which Indian doctors have to pass in order to practice medicine in Australia. If you are interested which international medical degrees are valid in India, check out the official website of Medical Council of India.

The tricky part is that Indian medical degrees are accepted all over the world but almost every country requires licensing examination. The starting point of compiling this list were Quora threads on countries which recognize Indian medical degrees and which degrees are accepted and which are not. After collecting initial ideas, we checked information for these countries to double-check if Indian medical degree is accepted in these countries or not. If yes, we tried to identify specific requirements of each country on the list. Some of the most popular choices for those with Indian medical degrees include the UK, USA, and Australia, so we decided to check requirements for these countries as well. Since salary is often the most important factor when choosing a workplace, we ranked these countries according to median annual salary for general practitioners, from lowest to the highest salary. Information about median annual salaries were obtained from the Insider Monkey article about highest paying countries for doctors we already mentioned. Please consider that salaries for specialists and consultants are higher.

This list of 10 countries accepting Indian medical degrees can serve as a starting point for those with Indian medical degrees who wish to pursue their careers or continue their education elsewhere. However, make sure to check if rules changed in the meantime and what are the specific requirements for countries you are planning to travel to.

10. Saudi Arabia

Median annual salary: $32,920

Saudi Arabia, the first in line on our list of countries accepting Indian medical degrees accepts Indian medical degrees as well, and demand for medical practitioners is high. Many non-Arab doctors choose to come to Saudi Arabia on a family visa and then look for job opportunities. MBBS and MBChB holders with less than two years experience as practitioners are required to do at least one year of internship. Specialists and consultants have much smoother transition to a new environment since their expertise is in high demand. Moreover, hospitals and clinics in Saudi Arabia prefer hiring medical practitioners from Egypt, Pakistan or India. This makes it much easier if you have Indian medical degree.

9. Qatar

Median annual salary: $40, 000 + benefits and yearly bonus

According to some information we found, Indian medical degrees are highly valued in Qatar. Doctors in Qatar have a lot of opportunities, especially those who finished with their specialization. Although many choose to emigrate to countries like Australia or USA, Qatar has very high salaries for medical practitioners. It is definitely worth checking out.

8. Germany

Median annual salary: $58,200

When it comes to European countries, Germany, the number 8 in our list of countries accepting Indian medical degrees is among top choices for those with medical degrees primarily because of a high pay for doctors. On top of that, Germany leads the way in medical courses and work as well. You need to take international medical degrees recognition exam and get all the paperwork ready. It can be easier if you see your medical degree as an entry level for further studies. Anyhow, if you excelled during your studies, we’re pretty sure that it will be much, much easier to obtain a job anywhere in the world.

7. Kuwait

Annual salary: $59, 496

While investigating about acceptance of Indian medical degrees in Kuwait, that ranks 7yh in the list of countries accepting Indian medical degrees, I came across an interesting forum, Indian Doctors Forum, established in 2004 by Indian doctors working in Kuwait. Every year, they organize free medical camps which can be a good opportunity to check out future employment possibilities. You might need to pass MOH exams before you are given license to practice.

6. Singapore

Median annual salary: $70,000

Singapore, the next in line in our list of countries accepting Indian medical degrees offers stable jobs with high salary for doctors, which is definitely a plus if you consider working as a doctor somewhere else. Make sure to check if your college is on the list or you need to take additional steps to get your license in Singapore.

5. Ireland

Median annual salary: $90,000

We are continuing our list of countries accepting Indian medical degrees with Ireland that is looking for qualified doctors and in order to check if you can qualify for a job, you can visit Medical Council official website. Prerequisites include undergraduate diploma from a good Indian university and TOEFL/IELTS. Like with many other countries on this list, Indian medical degree is recognized but you have to take additional exams and go through a licensing exam.

4. Australia

Median annual salary: $91,000

Besides the United Kingdom and the United States, Australia, the number 4 in our list of countries accepting Indian medical degrees, is a very popular choice for those with medical degrees. Since English is one of the official languages in India it makes sense that top choices will include English-speaking countries. So if you were wondering is Indian MD degree recognized in Australia, the answer is yes. Once again, individuals are required to pass qualifying exams in order to practice. To be more precise, almost all countries require certain proof of your knowledge before you are given the right to practice medicine. More information is available on Medical Board of Australia official website.

3. United Arab Emirates (UAE) / Dubai

Median annual salary: $116,339

Demand for medical professionals in Dubai is pretty high. According to one Quora respondent, Indian medical degree is recognized in UAE and it is easy to get a job. Those who already went through this path, explain that one has to wait for the approval of the certificate and additional DHA exam (Dubai Health Authority) can be required. Once you get your first job you will enjoy high pay with additional benefits (usually the employer pays your rent and possibly some other expenses as well). If you already finished your specialization it will be much easier to immediately get a job in Dubai or UAE in general (though Dubai is the most popular destination).

2. United Kingdom

Median annual salary: $118,000

Up next in our list of countries accepting Indian medical degrees is the United Kingdom that is a very frequent destination for Indian doctors. Moving away to a different country can be refreshing but getting used to a new environment can be challenging, especially with a stressful job of medical worker. Due to the historic and cultural reasons, UK is often number one desired destination for Indian doctors. Students are equipped with transferable knowledge since a lot of medical schools in India use the same textbooks as in the UK. Administrative hurdles and difficulty of getting a visa might be a big setback for those who wish to work in the UK. If you manage to handle all administrative tasks, you will probably be very satisfied with your working environment. However, be prepared to take additional tests before getting licensed to practice medicine in the UK.

1. USA

Median annual salary: $161,000

American dream seems to impress everyone in the world and no matter where you are, there is a big chance you want to chase your own American dream. Medical degrees from India are accepted in the USA, BUT foreign medical practitioners must pass licensing exams and complete a residency in their chosen specialty. Exams have multiple stages. USMLE is the first step and you are expected to pass exams in clinical knowledge and clinical skills. After passing these exams, individuals with a foreign medical degree have to choose their residency program. According to U.S. physician who shared his knowledge on Quora, MBBS degree is equal to the M.D. degree in the United States but one has to fulfill one year of residency. However, you have to consider the fact that there is a large number of young doctors from the U.S. who are equally qualified and will probably get the advantage over foreign candidates. Anyways, it is worth trying since the USA is probably the best country for Indian doctors to migrate, so it’s no wonder that is the number one on our list of 10 countries accepting Indian medical degrees.