How to Work and Immigrate to France as a Doctor?

Medical professionals are in high demand in France, and they have a great deal of respect and autonomy from the public. There is a vast range of medical-related job opportunities for working as a doctor in France and a unique way of life. But if you want to immigrate to France as a doctor, you must go through many steps. This guide aims to help you achieve this goal.

How to Immigrate to France as a Doctor?

Let’s address the elephant in the room and answer: “How to work as a doctor in France?” To immigrate to France as a doctor, you must go through these steps:

1. Getting qualification recognition
2. Having language proficiency
3. Registration with the French medical council
4. Finding a Job
5. Getting work visa and residency permit
6. Professional liability insurance
7. Cultural integration
8. Legal and financial matters
9. Continuing education

Step 1. Qualification Recognition

Usually, this step means getting your credentials approved by French authorities. This process is known as the “Authorization to Exercise Medicine” (Autorisation d’Exercice de la Médecine). CNG, the National Center for the Management of Health Practitioners (National Center for the Management of Hospitalists and Hospital Managers/Directors), does the evaluation.

1. The Ministry of Health needs to approve your application. You’ll need your medical degree, proof of nationality, resume, and anything else the Ministry asks for.
2. They’ll check your credentials for equivalence to French standards.
3. Non-EU doctors in France may have to pass an equivalency test called the ‘Knowledge Verification Test.’ The test measures your medical knowledge against French standards.

Note. Costs can vary. Exam fees, such as the PVC, can reach a few hundred euros.

Step 2. Language Proficiency

It’s essential to know French to practice medicine in France. To communicate with patients and colleagues, you must pass a language test to prove your fluency. A B2 level in the CEFR is typically required for medical professionals.

There are a bunch of French language tests you can take to prove your proficiency. The most common tests are DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française) and TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français)

Step 3. Registration with the French Medical Council

To immigrate to France as a doctor, you must obtain the French Medical Council registration with the French Medical Council (Ordre des Médecins). You might say: “How to get registered as a doctor in France?” The French authorities must recognize your medical qualifications before you can register with the Ordre des Médecins.

1. In this application, you must submit detailed documentation of your qualifications, proof of identity, and anything else the council specifies.
2. A clean criminal record certificate is a requirement for medical practitioners as part of their ethical standards.
3. While your application is being processed, you might get a provisional registration that lets you practice under certain conditions like supervision.
4. There are a bunch of documents you need to submit, like your medical degree, proof of nationality, criminal record check, professional liability insurance, and proof that you’re registered in your home country’s medical register.
5. The Council will grant you full registration after verifying your documents and ensuring you meet all requirements. You can practice medicine in France independently.

Step 4. Finding a Job

Hospitals, clinics, and private practices are all places where you can apply for jobs. Networking, online job portals (Emploi Médecin, Profil Médecin, and Fédération Hospitalière de France), and recruitment agencies (Appel Médical, PHC Consulting, and Michael Page Santé) specializing in the healthcare sector can be useful.

Step 5. Work Visa and Residency Permit

Working and living in France requires a French work visa and residency permit if you’re not from the EU. An employer must offer you a job in the healthcare sector before you can apply for a work visa. Doctors usually need the Talent Passport visa, which is designed specifically for highly skilled professionals.

1. Visit your nearest French consulate or embassy to apply for your visa. Your passport, job offer, proof of accommodation in France, and other documents are needed for the application.
2. When you get to France, you’ll have to get a residency permit at the local prefecture. You usually get this permit for the length of your job.
3. Along with your visa and proof of employment in France, you’ll need to provide documentation similar to your visa application.
4. As long as you keep meeting the requirements, you can renew your residency permit. You might be eligible for citizenship or long-term residency after a certain period.

Step 6. Professional Liability Insurance

When practicing medicine in France, it’s a good idea to have professional liability insurance.

Some well-known companies that offer professional liability insurance for doctors in France are MACSF, La Médicale, and Groupe Pasteur Mutualité.

Step 7. Cultural Integration

To immigrate to France as a doctor successfully, you must be able to understand and integrate into French culture, which is important for both your career and personal life.

• Familiarize yourself with French social norms, like shaking hands with colleagues or kissing their cheeks (la bise).
• Become familiar with the French healthcare system to better relate to patients.

Step 8. Legal and Financial Matters

Taxes, social security, and other regulations relevant to working in France should be understood.

• There are different costs of living in different regions of France. Depending on where you live and your lifestyle, you can expect to pay 1,000 to 3,000 euros per month.
• Tax rates in France can range from 20% to 45% based on income.
• You’re part of the social security system as a doctor. You usually register through your employer. The URSSAF also requires independent practitioners to register.

Step 9. Continuing Education

Keeping up with the latest medical practices and technologies may require additional training in France.

• Stay on top of required continuing education by checking the websites of medical associations and the French Ministry of Health.
• Take advantage of online platforms that offer specialty courses.
• Stay up to date with new developments and network with peers at medical conferences in France.
• Take advantage of resources and training programs by joining professional medical associations.