Planning an international fellowship
Check training eligibility, professional registration and immigration separately before committing to a destination.
Begin with the institution
Ask whether your qualifications and completed training are accepted for the exact programme. International eligibility recorded in this directory is a source statement, not a promise of a place, sponsorship or a licence.
Separate clinical and observational access
An observership may restrict patient contact and procedures. Research or a short visit does not automatically permit clinical work. Ask the host to state the permitted activities, supervision and required registration in writing.
Check sponsorship early
For US clinical training, ECFMG’s Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program describes the J-1 physician route and its requirements. Sponsorship eligibility and the host’s ability to appoint you must both be checked. Use the official checklist for your circumstances; requirements can change.
Build a realistic budget
Ask for written amounts and currency for salary or stipend, tuition, registration, insurance, immigration, accommodation and travel. A grant amount and a clinical salary are different funding arrangements. Unknown funding in a listing should stay in your budget as an unresolved item.
Plan the sequence
Track the application decision, credential verification, registration, sponsorship and proposed start date as separate milestones. Confirm the correct government and professional regulator sources with the host.
Language and examinations
Some programmes require evidence of language ability or specific examinations, and the requirements differ between countries and between programmes. Ask which tests are accepted, how recent they must be and whether your previous training is treated as equivalent.
Registration and indemnity
Clinical work usually requires registration with the local regulator and professional indemnity cover. Confirm who applies, who pays and how long registration takes, and whether you may start before it is granted.
Family and relocation
If you are moving with family, ask early about dependants’ visas, schooling and healthcare cover. These rules are set by governments and change over time, so rely on official government sources.