How Much Does It Cost for a Nigerian Medical Doctor to Relocate to the United States? 🇺🇸
For Nigerian doctors, the US path runs through ECFMG certification, the USMLE Step exams, and then matching into a US residency before full state licensure. It is long and competitive — passing exams is not enough; you must secure a residency post via the NRMP Match. Most international medical graduates train on a J-1 visa sponsored by ECFMG, but Proclamation 10998 has suspended J visas for Nigerian nationals since 1 January 2026. Nigerian doctors need a residency programme that sponsors the H-1B, which is not suspended.
Quick Numbers
Total Cost
₦3.9M – ₦4.5M
Starting Salary
$60,000/yr
Median $275,930 (physicians and surgeons, May 2025) (2025)
Nigerians Who Moved
Largest IMG source markets incl. Nigeria
2024-2025
Source Rank
BLS OOH May 2025
Step-by-Step: Registration & Costs
1ECFMG Certification applicationECFMG Certification application (Pathway application $945 additional)
Apply for ECFMG certification, the gateway for international medical graduates to enter US residency and licensure. A Pathways application is also required.
2Pass USMLE Step 1USMLE Step 1 (plus $210 international surcharge)
Sit USMLE Step 1 (pass/fail). An international test-delivery surcharge applies when testing outside the US/Canada.
3Pass USMLE Step 2 CKUSMLE Step 2 CK (plus $235 international surcharge)
Sit USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge. International surcharge applies when testing outside the US/Canada.
4Match into residency, then USMLE Step 3USMLE Step 3 (ERAS/NRMP registration extra, not verified here)
Apply through ERAS and rank programs in the NRMP Match. After starting residency you sit Step 3 (administered only in the US, so no surcharge) toward full licensure.
Other Costs to Budget For
Required for ECFMG certification; fee not on an official .gov fee schedule.
Official source ↗ERAS fees scale with number of programs; exact 2025/26 figures not verified in this pass.
Official source ↗Good News: Employer Sponsorship
US teaching hospitals sponsor residency visas for matched IMGs. The usual route, the J-1 exchange visitor visa sponsored by ECFMG, is closed to Nigerian nationals: Proclamation 10998, s.5(j), has suspended J visas for them since 1 January 2026 (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-12-19/html/2025-23570.htm). The open route is a residency programme that sponsors the H-1B, which is not on the suspended list.
What employers typically cover:
- J-1 visa sponsorship via ECFMG (suspended for Nigerian nationals since 1 Jan 2026)
- Some programs sponsor H-1B petitions (the open route for Nigerian nationals)
- Residency salary/stipend during training
What You'll Earn: Median $275,930 (physicians and surgeons, May 2025) (2025)
Entry
$60,000
per year
After 2 Years
$275,930
per year
Top of Band
$488,320
per year
BLS reports a median wage for physicians and surgeons of $275,930 (May 2025); 10th percentile $76,560, 90th percentile $488,320. Residents earn far less during training (resident stipends are not a BLS figure). Source ↗
Important Things to Know
- Exams alone do not let you practise — you must match into a US residency through the NRMP before full licensure.
- ECFMG is the official J-1 sponsor for IMGs, but J visas have been suspended for Nigerian nationals since 1 January 2026 (Proclamation 10998, s.5(j)). Target residency programmes that sponsor the H-1B.
- The international test-delivery surcharge applies to Step 1 and Step 2 CK only; Step 3 is US-only.
- OET Medicine with scores of 350/350/350/300 (in one sitting) is the current ECFMG English requirement.
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Start Free CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
How much do the US medical exams cost a Nigerian doctor?
Roughly $2,925-$3,370 across ECFMG certification, the three USMLE Steps and international surcharges, before the Pathway fee, OET, ERAS/NRMP and travel costs.
Can I work as a doctor after passing the USMLE?
Not directly. After ECFMG certification and the USMLE, you must match into a US residency program via the NRMP before you can be licensed to practise.
What visa do IMG residents use?
Most IMGs train on a J-1 visa sponsored by ECFMG, but J visas have been suspended for Nigerian nationals since 1 January 2026 under Proclamation 10998. Nigerian doctors need a residency programme that sponsors the H-1B instead, which is not suspended.
Related guides
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See cost breakdowns for this profession in other countries
Compare what it costs Nigerian medical doctors to relocate to each top destination.
Sources & Verification
We reviewed this page against official sources on 8 Oct 2026; each figure links to its source where an official one exists. We do not use AI training data for any costs, fees, or policy claims.
Verification Notes
BLS only publishes the physician median as '≥$239,200' (May 2024); 10th/90th percentile annual wages could not be retrieved from the official source due to BLS bot protection.
ERAS and NRMP registration fees are tiered and were not verified to exact figures in this pass.
Residency stipend figure (~$60,000) is indicative, not an official BLS figure.
Written by Max Ayobami
Founder of Japa Calculator, Nigeria's first data-driven relocation decision tool. Every cost figure and expert tip on this page is independently researched and verified against official government and regulatory body sources.