India (IN)
India is the world's most populous nation and a fast-rising global power — a vibrant federal republic of extraordinary cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity.
Qualification Recognition
Getting your foreign credentials recognised in India.
India does not have a centralised national system for recognition of foreign qualifications equivalent to Germany's ANABIN database. Recognition is profession-specific and sector-specific. For licensed professions (medicine, law, engineering, architecture), foreign qualifications must be recognised by the respective professional council before practice is permitted. For most corporate and IT roles, Indian employers conduct their own assessment of foreign qualifications. Academic degrees for university admission are assessed by individual universities. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) provides equivalency certificates for foreign degrees. Note: Employment Visa applicants need not get formal recognition — their employer assesses qualifications as part of the hiring process.
Regulated Professions
Process: Each professional council has its own recognition process. For medicine: FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduates Examination) is a mandatory screening test administered by NBEMS (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences — natboard.edu.in) for Indian citizens, OCIs, and eligible foreign nationals with foreign MBBS degrees. FMGE 2026 is held twice annually (January and June sessions); June 2026 exam date: 28 June 2026; application fee ₹6,195. Must score 150/300 (50%) to qualify. For law: Bar Council examines the foreign degree and may require All India Bar Examination. For architecture: CoA evaluates foreign degrees. Check each council's website for current procedures.
Authority: National Medical Commission (NMC): nmc.org.in. Dental Council of India: dciindia.org.in. Bar Council of India: barcouncilofindia.org. Council of Architecture: coa.gov.in. ICAI: icai.org. Each regulated profession has its own statutory body.
Timeline: 3–12 months depending on profession and documentation completeness
Cost: Varies by profession: ₹5,000–50,000 for application and assessment. Additional costs for examinations where required.
Academic Degrees
Authority: Association of Indian Universities (AIU) — aiu.ac.in. Individual universities conduct their own assessment for admission purposes.
Process: For university admission: apply to the specific university; they conduct their own equivalency assessment. For general recognition or immigration purposes: apply to AIU for an Equivalency Certificate.
Equivalency service: AIU Equivalency Certificate: apply with certified copies of all academic transcripts, degree certificates, and translations. Processing: 4–8 weeks. Fee: ₹59,000 (₹50,000 + 18% GST) for new applications; ₹5,900 (₹5,000 + GST) for renewals. AIU Equivalency Certificate is widely accepted by Indian employers and institutions.
Document Rules
Apostille: India is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention (since 2005). Documents from 124 Hague Convention countries can be apostilled in the issuing country and are accepted in India without further legalisation. Indian apostille: MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) at mea.gov.in/apostille.htm provides apostille for Indian documents.
Legalisation: For documents from non-Hague countries: full legalisation chain required — notarisation, home country foreign ministry, Indian embassy/consulate attestation.
Sworn translation: Documents not in English must be translated into English by a certified or sworn translator. For submission to Indian courts or regulatory bodies: notarised translation by an approved translator. For general employer/university submission: professional translation service accepted.
Counselling & Help
- - AIU (Association of Indian Universities): aiu.ac.in — degree equivalency certificates
- - National Medical Commission (NMC): nmc.org.in — medical degree recognition
- - EduCanada, British Council, DAAD India (for respective country qualifications in India)
- - Indian HR professionals at major employers typically conduct informal equivalency assessments
- - Law firms specialising in employment immigration assist expats with qualification recognition for Employment Visa applications
- - Relocation service companies (Santa Fe, Sirva) assist with document preparation and recognition
Typical Timelines
Medical degree recognition (FMGE): 6–18 months (exam-based). Law degree recognition (BCI): 3–9 months. Architecture degree recognition: 3–6 months. AIU Equivalency Certificate (for academic degrees): 4–8 weeks. Employer-based assessment for IT/tech/business roles: 1–2 weeks (informal — just part of hiring process). No formal recognition needed for most corporate and IT roles — employer assessment is sufficient.
Most expats working in India in corporate, IT, finance, consulting, or management roles do not need formal qualification recognition — employers conduct their own assessment. Formal recognition becomes necessary for licensed professions (doctors, lawyers, architects) and for admission to Indian higher education. The Employment Visa process requires the employer to verify qualifications as part of the visa sponsorship — the Indian government relies on the employer's assessment for most non-clinical roles. OCI holders: same recognition requirements as foreign nationals for licensed professions.
Qualification Recognition
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