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Prerequisites

• You want to work as a doctor in Germany.
• You have a comparable professional qualification from a third country.
• Their professional qualifications are equivalent.
  • The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification.
• You are reliable for work and have no criminal record.
• You can work mentally and physically in the profession.
• You have German language skills at the required level.
• This usually means general language skills at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and specialist language skills at level C1.

Documents required

The responsible authority will inform you about which documents you must submit. Important documents are generally:

• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• CV
• Proof of training
• Evidence of the content of your education: List of subjects studied and training hours completed
• Evidence of your relevant professional experience as a doctor
• Information on whether you have already applied for a license to practice medicine in Germany
• Proof that you would like to work in the profession in Germany (e.g. applications, application for an entry visa for employment, personal declaration)

You only need to submit the following documents if your professional qualification was completed before a specific date (cut-off date). The responsible authority will inform you:

• Certificate of conformity
  If no certificate of conformity is available: proof of the content and duration of your education (e.g., list of subjects and grades, record book, diploma supplement, transcript of records)
• Certificate that you have effectively and legally practiced the medical profession for at least 3 years continuously during the last 5 years

You usually submit these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when you should submit the documents:

• Criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin (maximum 3 months old)
• Medical certificate (maximum 3 months old)
• Language certificate
  • Proof of general German language skills at level B2
  • Proof of knowledge of technical language at level C1.

The responsible authority will inform you which documents you must submit as a simple copy, a certified copy or the original.

If your documents are not in German, you must submit German translations of them. These translations must be done by officially appointed or authorized translators.

Please note

The licensing process involves assessing the equivalence of your qualifications (recognition procedure). You can request a separate notification of the results of the assessment.

If you only want to offer services in Germany occasionally and for a short period of time, you usually don't need a government permit. The responsible authority can provide you with more detailed information.

Deadlines

No

Procedure

• You submit your application to the responsible authority.
• The responsible authority will examine your application and request any missing documents or information from you.
  • If you started your vocational training after your country of training joined the EU/EEA, your professional qualification will be recognized without an individual equivalence assessment (automatic recognition).
  • If you began your vocational training before your country of training joined the EU/EEA, your vocational training can also be automatically recognized. You must submit a certificate of conformity or provide evidence of professional experience. The responsible authority will provide further information.
• The responsible body will compare whether your professional qualification is equivalent to the German professional qualification.
• If the competent authority identifies significant differences, you may be able to compensate for them.
• You can also forgo an equivalence assessment and take a compensatory measure directly.
• If your professional qualifications are equivalent or you have been able to compensate for any significant differences, and you meet the other requirements, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The responsible authority can confirm the result in writing.
• You will receive the approval.

Processing time

Individual case dependent

Fees

The responsible authority will inform you about the costs. The costs generally depend on the effort required for processing.

Additional costs may also arise (e.g. for translations or certifications). These costs vary from individual to individual.

Legal remedies

Contradiction

Legal basis

§ 2 ff. Federal Medical Code (BÄO)





§ 36 ff. Licensing Regulations for Doctors (ÄApprO