Working as a doctor in Germany is a big opportunity. The country has a strong healthcare system and a high demand for medical professionals, making it a great place to build your career. But the process can be challenging. Let us tell you immigrate to Germany as a doctor.
How to Immigrate to Germany as a Doctor?
You might ask yourself, “How to work as a doctor in Germany?” Well, don’t worry anymore. Let’s see the necessary steps to take to start working as a foreign doctor in Germany:
- Learn the German language
- Recognition for your medical qualification
- Apply for a medical license (Approbation)
- Job hunting
- Obtaining a visa and residence permit
- Integration and continuous education
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Immigrate to Germany as a Doctor
Step 1. Learn the German Language
To work in Germany as a doctor, proficiency in German is crucial. Foreign doctors in Germany need a B2 level of proficiency, but some states might require a C1 level. You can show proficiency by taking these tests:
- TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache)
- Goethe-Zertifikat
- telc (The European Language Certificates)
- ÖSD (Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch)
- DSH (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang)
Step 2. Recognition for Your Medical Qualification
To immigrate to Germany as a doctor, your foreign medical degrees have to be recognized in Germany. Medical training and qualifications must meet German standards. The process can take several months to over a year. A quick overview:
- The first step is to submit your credentials to the relevant state health authority. You must meet “doctor in Germany requirements,” including medical degree proof, as well as work experience, qualifications, and identification. A certified translator must do the translation.
- German authorities review your credentials to determine if they are equivalent. You will be considered based on your medical training, practical experience, and any specializations you hold. It’s also essential to know German.
- You can apply for a medical license (Approbation) if your qualifications are equivalent (you can read more in the section below). In the event that they are not considered equivalent, you may be required to pass a knowledge test or complete an adaptation period.
- The German authorities make a final decision after reviewing all documents. Next, you receive the approval, allowing you to practice medicine in Germany.
Knowledge Test
The knowledge test is a clinical exam covering multiple medical fields. The test compares your medical knowledge and skills to a German medical graduate. Though variable, it usually takes a day. The passing scores also vary.
Adaptation Period
An adaptation period instead of a knowledge test usually means working under supervision in a German hospital or medical facility. Your performance and adaptability to German healthcare are evaluated during this time. You must complete it to be considered a German medical graduate. The duration is up to three years.
Step 3. Apply for a Medical License (Approbation)
To immigrate to Germany as a doctor, the Approbation is essential. The Approbation is granted by the respective state health authorities (Landesprüfungsämter or Bezirksregierungen) of each federal state in Germany. It is a license that allows you to practice medicine in Germany.
How do I apply for Approbation in Germany?
To apply for an Approbation in Germany, You must:
- Ensure you have your medical qualifications, proof of identity, and resume ready. Unless in German, documents must be translated.
- Prove proficiency in German.
- You must apply for approval from the state health authority (Landesprüfungsamt) in the state where you intend to work. These applications are processed by each state in Germany.
- Pay the application processing fee, typically from €200 to €600.
- Your medical qualifications are compared to German standards by the state health authority.
- A knowledge test, known as the Kenntnisprüfung, might be required if your qualifications are not directly recognized.
- The Approbation enables you to legally practice medicine in Germany upon completing all requirements and assessments.
How long does it take to get Approbation in Germany?
Moving to Germany as a doctor and obtaining the Approbation can take several months to over a year.
What is the Approbation exam for foreign doctors in Germany?
The Approbation exam tests medical knowledge and skills to ensure they match German standards. Foreign doctors must submit equivalency assessments to the relevant state health authority before applying for the Approbation exam.
How much does the Approbation exam cost for foreign doctors in Germany?
It can cost between €200 to €600.
Step 4. Job Hunting
Approved applicants can apply for jobs. Private practice is an option, but hospitals and medical centers are the main employers. How to get a job as a doctor in Germany? Germany offers networking opportunities at medical conferences, workshops, and professional associations. Consider submitting applications to hospitals or medical practices of interest. In addition:
Job Searching Websites
- Ärztestellen
- StepStone
- Medi-Jobs
- Jobbörse der Bundesagentur für Arbeit
Recruitment Agencies
- CompHealth
- Hays
- TMI
Famous Hospitals in Germany
- Charité
- Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
- Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
- Munich University Hospital (LMU)
Step 5. Obtaining a Visa and Residence Permit
Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for a German work visa to immigrate to Germany as a doctor. Applying for a work visa is easier with a job offer. The process involves several steps:
- Secure a job offer in Germany.
- Apply for a German National Visa (D-Visa) for long-term stays, which is required for employment.
- Get all the documents you need, including a passport, job offer letter, qualifications, CV, photos, and proof of accommodation in Germany.
- Fill out the visa application form.
- Submit your visa application at your home country’s German embassy or consulate. German National Visas usually cost around $75. Fees vary by country and are subject to change. Visas can take a few weeks to a few months to process.
- Attend your visa interview.
- You can enter Germany once your visa has been approved.
- Apply for a residence permit at the local Foreigners’ Office after you get here. You’ll need your passport, visa, job contract, health insurance proof, and residency registration certificate. Depending on where you live, you’ll have to pay between €56 and €100 for a residence permit. As for the processing time, it takes a few weeks to a couple of months.
Step 6. Integration and Continuous Education
To complete the process and immigrate to Germany as a doctor completely, you must integrate into the German healthcare system and continue your education.
Integration Tips
- Get an understanding of how the German healthcare system works.
- Become a member of professional networks. By doing so, you build connections and stay informed about German medicine.
- Find a mentor in Germany. The insights and guidance they provide can be invaluable.
Continuous Education Tips (CME)
- Regularly attend workshops, seminars, and conferences.
- Specializing or gaining additional skills can be beneficial.
- Publish your work and engage in research. This can enhance your professional profile and contribute to your field.
- Stay up-to-date with medical research and practices using online platforms.
- Comply with German CME requirements.
Video description.
list of the authorities who issue the license certificate.
Association of employed and civil servant doctors in Germany
List of German Medical Association
TestAS website to find out more information
Can Foreign Doctors Work in Germany?
There is no restriction on foreign doctors working in Germany, but they must have the appropriate qualifications recognized, have an Approbation (medical license), and be able to speak German fluently.
Immigrate to Germany as a doctor requirements
Not everyone is eligible to be a doctor in Germany. You need the below items to qualify:
Medical license
To work in Germany as a doctor, you need to get a medical license that gets called ‘Approbation.’ The government is responsible for issuing the documents. Once you get it, it is valid in the entire German territory, and there is no expiry date with it as it is valid during your whole lifetime.
You can find the list of the authorities who issue the license certificate from this link.
Job offer
The next requirement is to have a job offer from a German employer, medical center, or hospital. You need to search through the websites that provide such jobs and apply for them. You need an employer’s approval to work in Germany as a doctor.
If you have received your qualifications in a foreign country, they need to be equivalent to comparable to German ones. It becomes especially true for medical certificates gained outside of the EU. the process of evaluating them takes a bit longer.
Until you get your medical license, you can work temporarily by applying for a ‘Berufserlaubnis’ (temporary medical license. It allows you to work in Germany while waiting for your license and officials checking your eligibility.
When you get the ‘Berufserlaubnis, you may start working as a medical resident or by working and studying your medical specialty. It can take some time until your medical eligibility gets processed. It is up to your specialty.
Language requirements
Language proficiency is a must for doctors who want to immigrate to Germany. Some majors and courses are taught in English, but that is not the case with doctors.
You need at least a B2 level of German language proficiency for general; in most cases, you will need a C1-level medical German.
Remember that every federal state has its own regulations for doctors. You have to find out the rules of the state you want to move to and fulfill them. It is true for language requirements as well.
You often have to pass a test called Fachsprachenprüfung to get your Approbation. It tests your written and oral knowledge of German medical knowledge. You can get help from some language schools to get prepared.
Find the language requirements for each state here.
Salary requirements
Your job offer needs to fulfill the payment requirement.
A doctor is a well-paid job in Germany, and even the starting salary is high. Of course, your salary is up to your knowledge, work experience, and the area you work in.
The average salary for an assistant doctor is about 65,000 EUR. At the same time, it is 80,000 EUR for a specialist.
If you get a job in a hospital, you will get raised on years of experience in the hospital.
The highest pay in the area is for the chief physicians, who get about 278,000 EUR per year.
The point you need to remember is that a doctor has lots of responsibilities and tasks to do. The most important thing is people’s life. So you won’t get away with mistakes. Rules are rules, and there are no exceptions.
Skill score
There are exams to evaluate your knowledge and ability as a doctor. You need to get 80% of the required scores in these examples to be eligible.
Bear in mind that German officials are strict with the non-EU people who enter the country as a doctor. So you need to work hard to prove that you are qualified to work as a doctor in the country.
Educational requirements
Your educational certificate must be above 15 to get accepted by the German officials. You would better study as hard as possible to improve your GPA.
It is a necessary point in determining your eligibility.
Age and work experience
The top age limit for doctors who immigrated to Germany is 50 years old. Also, you need to have at least two years of work experience. You would better make up your mind as early as possible to improve your chance of getting accepted. Also, gather as much work experience as you can.
Who needs recognition to work as a doctor in Germany?
What is recognition? It means that if you have got your degree from outside of Germany, you need to apply to get your degree recognized. German officials evaluate your degree and background to find out if you are eligible to work as a doctor in Germany or not.
To know if you need recognition to work as a doctor in Germany, you need to answer the following questions:
- Have you learned your profession abroad (not in Germany), or have you studied abroad at an institute of higher education or a university?
- Have you successfully completed your training or degree?
- Are you from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland?
- Are you living in Germany at the moment?
- Are you from the following list of countries?
- The UK
- New Zealand
- Canada
- Japan
- Israel
- the Republic of Korea
- Australia
- the USA
If the answer to the above questions is no, you need recognition to work in Germany as a doctor. You can find the list of authorities in the state you want to move to in the below section. You can contact them, and they will inform you whether you need recognition or not. But if you have your degree from a non-EU country, you will likely need recognition.
Jobs for English-speaking Doctors in Germany
- Research positions (university hospitals or pharmaceutical companies)
- Teaching roles
- International clinics to cater to English-speaking communities.
- Private healthcare facility positions
- Medical consultant positions
- Public health experts in organizations (international or non-governmental)
- Telemedicine positions
- Medical writing and editorial positions
How Much is the Salary of Foreign Doctors in Germany?
A foreign doctor’s salary in Germany depends on several factors: experience, specialization, employer, and region.
- Salaries for assistant doctors (Assistenzarzt) are typically about €48,000 to €60,000 per year before taxes.
- A specialist doctor (Facharzt) can earn about €60,000 to over €100,000 yearly before taxes.
- Chief physicians (Oberarzt/Chefarzt) can earn about €80,000 to more than €200,000 annually.
Is Medical Residency Free in Germany?
It’s not free. Here is a question: “Do resident doctors get paid in Germany?” Yes, residents in Germany get paid for their work. Residents typically make about €48,000 to €60,000 yearly before taxes as trainee doctors. They get this salary while they’re doing their residency.
What Percentage of Doctors in Germany are Foreign?
About 11% to 15% of German doctors are foreign-trained. Especially in certain regions and specializations, Germany relies a lot on international medical professionals.
How Long is Residency for Doctors in Germany?
It depends on what specialty you choose. To immigrate to Germany as a doctor, doctors in Germany undergo residency training, also called specialist training, for 5-6 years. Some specialties take 6 years, like general surgery and internal medicine.
How Many Hours Do Doctors Work in Germany?
The average doctor in Germany works 40 to 48 hours a week. The doctor’s position, the hospital, and the specialty can affect their working hours. On-call duties in emergency departments and certain specialized departments can make them work longer hours.
Immigrate to Germany as a Doctor: Let’s Recap
Immigrating to Germany as a doctor and starting a medical practice in Germany is an exciting and fulfilling adventure that calls for perseverance and preparation. Navigating the complicated process and building a successful life as a doctor in Germany is possible by following the steps outlined in this guide.
If you have any questions about the process to immigrate to Germany as a doctor, please ask them in the comment section.
FAQs
German doctors have a good living standard, respectable salaries, a good work-life balance, and quality healthcare.
Doctors in Germany are usually 40-50 years old, which means they’re an older workforce.
Medical qualifications must be recognized, language proficiency tests must be passed, and the Approbation must be obtained before a foreigner can practice medicine in Germany.
Yes, doctors pay taxes in Germany. As with other professions, their income is subject to progressive tax rates and social security contributions.
- Published by
- Max-B.
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Will like to apply and work in Germany as Medical Doctor
There are a few crucial steps to become a medical doctor in Germany. You’ll need to get your medical degree recognized in the country and learn German very well before you can practice medicine there. Get a job offer from a healthcare provider in Germany; this can help with the formalities. Apply for a work visa and a residence permit so that you can work lawfully in Germany. Furthermore, depending on your credentials, you may be required to complete licensure exams or aptitude tests. If you want to make it through this process unscathed, it’s important that you stay up-to-date on the current requirements and that you communicate openly and frequently with the appropriate authorities and your potential employer.