Before you can legally work as a nurse in India, you need state council registration. Here's exactly how to get it — timelines, documents, fees for all 22 major councils.
The Indian Nursing Council (INC) sets the national standard, but registration itself is done at the state level. Every state has its own council, its own fee, and — importantly — its own processing time. Getting this right is the difference between accepting an offer letter this week versus six weeks from now.
Documents you'll always need
- 1Class 10 & 12 mark sheets
- 2GNM / B.Sc Nursing degree + transcripts
- 3Original marks card from the university
- 4Two recent passport-size photographs
- 5Aadhaar card and PAN
- 6Migration certificate (if you studied in another state)
State-by-state processing time (typical)
- 1Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala: 2–3 weeks
- 2Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh: 3–4 weeks
- 3Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh (PGI): 3–5 weeks
- 4Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan: 5–8 weeks
- 5North-East states: 4–6 weeks (in-person visit often required)
Fee bands (2026)
Fresh registration ranges from ₹1,200 (Kerala) to ₹4,500 (Maharashtra). Renewal is 5-yearly and roughly half the initial fee. Always check the official council portal — third-party agents charging ₹8,000+ are almost always a scam.
Working across states? Get a migration certificate
If you registered in Kerala but want to work in Karnataka, you need a Certificate of Good Standing from Kerala Nursing Council, then apply for reciprocity in Karnataka. Typical time: 3 weeks. Fee: ₹500–1,500.
Dr.Asia's shortcut
Upload your council registration certificate to your Dr.Asia profile. Our verification team cross-checks it against the state registry within 48 hours and issues a Council-verified badge. Hospitals give priority to verified profiles — you'll typically get 3x more interview requests.
Create a Dr.Asia profile in 60 seconds. Get council-verified, receive SMS job alerts, and start interviewing at India's leading hospitals within a week.
