IMG U.S. Medical Residency Application Timeline and Checklist

Understanding the U.S. medical residency application process is key for IMGs. This detailed timeline and checklist provides the necessary guidance.

June 2025 Start Your Program Research

June 25, 2025 ERAS Tokens available

• Have you applied and paid for your ERAS token through ECFMG?
  • You can find this under ECFMG’s OASIS ERAS Support
• Have you used your token serial number to register for MyERAS?
• Have you started looking at programs that are best suited to your credentials?
  • Be aware of free databases and program websites which are static and may be out of date, check for timestamps!
  • Call programs for the most up to date information
  • Annually updated and customized for you program requirement lists are available at Match A Resident

July through August 2025 Prepare Your Documents

• Have you spoken with your Letters of Recommendation Authors?
  • Make sure you confirm the authors and give them the Letter Request Form from MyERAS
  • Try to have a one-on-one meeting to discuss their feedback about your performance and your expectations about the letter
  • If you do not waive your LoR, you may upload them to OASIS
• Have you started your Personal Statements?
  • At least ONE per specialty
  • Upload once complete
  • If you need help editing or developing, see Residency Statement
• Have you started work on your ERAS Application?
  • Preview the application with the ERAS Worksheet
  • Fill out your Contact Information, this is the only part of the application you can change after certifying
  • You can work on the application and come back to it
  • DO NOT CERTIFY until the application is complete and error-free, after certifying your answers will be set in stone
• Have you asked for your USMLE transcript?
  • Make sure you authorize the release of this document
  • If you haven’t taken the Step 2 CK, take it before September! (scores take about 8 weeks to come back)
• Have you uploaded a photo?
  • As professional as possible!
• Have you requested an MSPE from your medical school?
  • They will not do this automatically, you must ask

June 2025

• June 4, 2025 (9 a.m. ET): 2026 ERAS season begins. Applicants can begin to register and work on their applications.
• June 25, 2025: ECFMG releases ERAS tokens for IMGs. IMGs can then register with MyERAS and start working on their applications.

August 2025

• August 2025 (Suggested): Suggested OASIS documents submission date to have the documents ready before the application opens.
  • Are your documents in? Follow up with your LoR Authors and make sure to thank them!
  • Check with OASIS, MyERAS, and your medical school for the status of your documents.

September 2025 Apply to Programs and Register for NRMP®

• Sept. 3, 2025 (9 a.m. ET): Residency applicants may begin certifying and submitting MyERAS® applications to programs.
• Sept. 15, 2025 (12 p.m. ET): NRMP® Registration Opens.
• Sept. 24, 2025 (9 a.m. ET): Residency programs may begin reviewing MyERAS applications and MSPEs. All applications submitted between Sept. 3 and Sept. 24 will appear to programs as submitted on Sept. 24.
  • Have you picked your programs, assigned documents, and applied?
  • Apply to at least 100 programs per specialty (if applicable).
  • Confirm you are fulfilling the program requirements.
  • Did you register for NRMP to be Matched?
  • If you need a Visa, have you checked on the status?

October 2025 Applying Continues and Interviews Start

• Are you checking on or following up the status of your applications? Be sure to check your messages for interview invitations.

November 2025 NRMP, Applying, and Interviews

• Have you registered for NRMP?
• If you’ve gotten interviews and gone to them, did you send a thank you letter?

January 2026 NRMP

• Jan. 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET): NRMP Standard Registration Deadline (a $50 late fee applies after this date).

February 2026 NRMP

• Feb. 2, 2026 (12 p.m. ET): NRMP Ranking begins.
• Have you registered and certified your ranking lists? You may make changes to your Rank Order Lists after certifying until the deadline.

March 2026 MATCH and Post-Match (SOAP)

• March 4, 2026 (9 p.m. ET): NRMP Rank Order List Certification Deadline (also the last day to register for NRMP).
• March 16, 2026 (10 a.m. ET): Match Week begins! All regular Match applicants will receive their Match status. SOAP Commences (11 a.m. ET: SOAP applicants can start preparing applications).
  • Have you checked your matches? You will be notified.
  • If you are unmatched, did you apply for SOAP (those who are eligible)?
• March 19, 2026 (9 p.m. ET): SOAP concludes. Dynamic List of Unfilled Programs released.
• March 20, 2026 (12 p.m. ET): Match Day, learn WHERE you matched!

May 2026 ERAS Application Season Ends

• May 31, 2026 (5 p.m. ET): 2025-26 ERAS Application Season Ends.

Dates and times are subject to change. Always keep informed by visiting the websites.

The NATIONAL RESIDENT MATCHING PROGRAM®, The NRMP®, SUPPLEMENTAL OFFER AND ACCEPTANCE PROGRAM®, and SOAP® are registered trademarks of National Resident Matching Program. THE MATCH™ is a trademark of National Resident Matching Program. ResidencyPrep, LLC and this page are not sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated with National Resident Matching Program.