IMGs From Nepal: Schools, Test Centers and Visa Notes

If you graduated from a medical school in Nepal, start with one question: does your school's ECFMG Sponsor Note cover your graduation year? Everything else, from exams to visas, depends on the answer. This guide covers what is known about Nepali IMGs in published data, how to check eligibility, testing, documents and the US visa process. It is general information, not legal advice.

What the published data say about IMGs from Nepal #

NRMP reports IMGs by citizenship, not by country of medical school. In the 2026 Main Residency Match, 11,944 non-U.S. citizen IMGs submitted rank order lists and 6,733 matched to a PGY-1 position, a match rate of 56.4 percent. NRMP's July 2026 Charting Outcomes report for non-U.S. IMGs breaks results down by preferred specialty, not by country.

We found no Nepal-specific match number in the NRMP reports we downloaded. ECFMG's certification fact sheet reports totals only. We do not quote a Nepal figure, and we suggest you distrust any that lacks a named source and year. See IMG match statistics for how to read what is published.

Checking eligibility #

ECFMG requires a listing in the World Directory of Medical Schools with an ECFMG Sponsor Note covering your graduation year, and since 2024 it has required accreditation by an agency recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). ECFMG states that the WFME Recognition Programme is the only program it accepts for recognizing accrediting agencies. Follow the steps in the World Directory guide and accreditation requirement.

What we could verify about Nepal:

• The regulator: the Nepal Medical Council registers doctors. Registration is not the same as WFME-recognized accreditation of your school.
• The accreditor: Nepal's Medical Education Commission (MEC) appears on WFME's list as an agency applying for recognition. A Nepali news site reported that the MEC started the formal process in October 2023. We did not find it among recognized agencies in November 2026.
• What it means: we could not open ECFMG's own statement on Nepal, so do not guess from news or from a school's marketing. Your school's listing and the years it states are what ECFMG applies.

If you are still a student, check before final year and ask your school what its accreditation timeline is.

USMLE testing from Nepal #

IMGs register through FSMB since January 2026, with ECFMG deciding certification eligibility. Step 1 and Step 2 CK are given at Prometric centers worldwide; Step 3 only in the US and its territories (USMLE Bulletin). A Kathmandu center is described by third-party sources, but we could not confirm it on usmle.org or Prometric's own pages. Use the Prometric site after you receive your scheduling permit, and prepare a backup location and travel plan. See USMLE test centers outside the US and scheduling with Prometric.

Score validity is another point. The USMLE can invalidate a score when the pattern of performance is highly irregular and can require a validation exam. The Kathmandu Post reported in February 2024 that some Nepali examinees received such notices; the Nepal Medical Council said the decision belonged to USMLE. We cite that as a news report, not an official USMLE statement. The lesson for everyone: use legitimate preparation materials, and read the Bulletin's rules on irregular behavior. See exam day rules.

Credentials and documents #

ECFMG verifies your diploma and transcript directly with the issuing school. Ask your registrar early who handles verification and how long it takes. ECFMG's Reference Guide for Medical Education Credentials gives the diploma title required for your school and year. See EPIC credential verification and common ECFMG delays.

The Kathmandu Post reported that the Nepal Medical Council issues Letters of Good Standing, many of them for doctors headed to the US. Whether ECFMG, a state board or a program requires one is for that body to say, so ask before you request it.

The US visa process for Nepali nationals #

Matched IMGs from Nepal usually need a J-1 (sponsored by ECFMG) or an H-1B. See J-1 visa process, J-1 vs H-1B and visa interview preparation. Also read the two-year home residency rule, since it may apply to J-1 physicians.

Interview availability at the US Embassy in Kathmandu changes, and we could not verify current wait times; check its appointment page.

Community and professional resources #

We could not verify a specific alumni or professional network to recommend. Ask your school's alumni office and your faculty who trained abroad, and treat unofficial groups as a source of leads rather than rules.

Next steps #

1. Find your Sponsor Note and the covered graduation years.
2. Ask your registrar how verification works and who requests your documents.
3. Book exams around confirmed Prometric availability.
4. Plan US clinical experience and visa timing after eligibility is clear.