How to Work and Immigrate to Austria as a Doctor?

How to Immigrate to Austria as a Doctor?

There are a few things you’ll need to do to immigrate to Austria as a doctor. Since regulations are subject to change, it’s important to check with the Austrian government or an immigration attorney for the most up-to-date information. Following is a basic procedure:

Step 1. Recognition of Qualifications

You must apply to the Austrian Medical Chamber to have your degree and experience recognized. The following steps:

1. Apply to the Austrian Medical Chamber (Ärztekammer) for recognition of foreign qualifications.
2. Submit all relevant documentation, including but not limited to degrees, certificates, and evidence of your previous work experience. Having these documents translated into German is a common necessity.
3. The Medical Chamber determines if your credentials are up to par with Austrian requirements.
4. There may be a need for you to complete extra training or take an examination if the differences are substantial. For foreign-trained physicians to practice in Austria, they must pass an examination covering theory and practice.
5. The Austrian Medical Chamber will officially acknowledge your credentials after you’ve been evaluated and found competent.

Step 2. Language Proficiency

Prove your fluency in German, which is usually required for doctors to work in Austria. Proof of German language proficiency at the C1 level is required for physicians seeking licensure in Austria. Recognized tests include:

• ÖSD Zertifikat C1
• Goethe Zertifikat C1
• telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule
• DSH2 (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang)
• DSD II (Deutsches Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz)
• All parts of TestDaF must be at least level 4
• Level C1/2 exam at the Language Center of the University of Vienna
• ÖIF Test (C1) from the Österreichischer Integrationsfonds

Step 3. Employment Offer

Find a healthcare organization in Austria willing to sponsor your stay or offer you a job. Doctors in Austria can work in various settings, including hospitals, private practices, academic institutions, and government agencies. StepStone Austria and Jobs in Vienna are websites where medical professionals, including those who don’t speak German, can find employment. Recruitment agencies like Hays help people find work that is a good fit for their skills and experience.

In Austria, job contracts typically outline duties and responsibilities, pay, hours, benefits, and termination policies. As a doctor relocating to a new country, you should carefully review the contract and, if necessary, negotiate terms to ensure they meet your expectations and needs.

Step 4. Visa Application

To immigrate to Austria as a doctor, you should apply for the appropriate visa or residence permit, such as the Red-White-Red Card. To gain entry to the country with the points-based system of the Red-White-Red Card, you must meet the requirements for vocational training in a shortage occupation (up to 30 points), work experience (up to 20 points), proficiency in German or English (up to 25 points), and age (up to 15 points). The minimum score required for qualification is 55 points.

The Red-White-Red Card is Austria’s visa for skilled workers like doctors, entails the following steps:

1. Verify your educational background, work experience, age, and language skills with the point system used to identify highly skilled workers.
2. Find a suitable job in Austria.
3. To apply, contact the Austrian embassy or consulate in your country of residence or, if you are already legally present in Austria, the Austrian immigration authorities.
4. Include your passport, photographs, evidence of housing in Austria, health insurance, a job offer, and any relevant documentation to prove your qualifications.
5. You should wait for approval before traveling to Austria, as the processing time can be lengthy.
6. You must enter Austria within the visa’s validity period and apply for a residence permit.

Step 5. Residence Registration

Your first order of business in Austria should be to register your address with the local registration office, or “Meldeamt.” The steps are as follows:

1. Within three days of settling into your new home, you must report to the local registration office.
2. Bring your new address information and your passport or other form of identification.
3. Landlord approval may be required before submitting the “Meldezettel” form.
4. Registration confirmations are required for various Austrian government procedures and can be obtained after submitting the form.

Step 6. Medical License

To immigrate to Austria as a doctor and get a doctor’s license in Austria, you must first apply to the Austrian Medical Chamber. Foreign doctors seeking to practice in Austria must meet some requirements for their Austria Medical Council registration.

• Have nationality of the EEA or Switzerland, a valid residence permit, the right to seek asylum, or be eligible for subsidiary protection. Prove that you have the right kind of legal capacity, a good reputation, and the ability to handle the demands of your profession.
• Prove your command of the German language by either taking a language test administered by the Austrian Medical Chamber or by having completed your medical education in a German-speaking region.
• Prove that you earned a medical degree in Austria or that it is recognized as equivalent to Austrian standards by a medical school there.
• If your credentials qualify under Directive 2005/36/EC, you may be eligible for automatic recognition once you prove that your education meets the requirements of the Directive’s articles.

Once these conditions are met, you can apply to take the Austrian medical practice exam for your Austrian medical license verification. To practice medicine in Austria, doctors must take and pass a comprehensive exam. This test covers a wide range of medical knowledge, skills, and competencies and ensures that doctors in Austria are up to the high standards required for practicing medicine there. The purpose of the exam is to determine if foreign medical graduates are ready to practice in the Austrian healthcare system and if its content and structure are flexible.

Step 7. Integration Agreement

Additional evidence of German language proficiency and familiarity with the Austrian legal and social system may be required before signing an integration agreement. To sign the Integration Agreement in Austria, foreign nationals must prove they can communicate effectively in German and are familiar with Austrian democratic institutions and values.

The agreement is divided into two parts:

• Module 1. Requires German proficiency equivalent to A2 level and familiarity with fundamental values of Austrian law and society, and must be completed within two years of receiving certain residence permits. Some people don’t have to complete Module 1 because of special circumstances. A 12-month extension to the deadline for compliance may be requested by individuals under special circumstances.
• Integration Exam. Proof of passing the Integration Exam from the Österreichische Integrationsfonds (ÖIF) at the A2 level or higher is required to complete Module 1.