How to Immigrate to Greece as a Doctor?

Gathering the supporting documents.

When you apply for recognition, you must gather and send some supporting documents to prove you are an eligible doctor. This is a list of the documents you must gather, and you must prepare them according to the instructions.

1. Application form.

You must complete the application form according to the instructions and send them to the DOATAP. You can get them from this link.

2. Paying the fee for processing.

You must pay a fee for processing. If you have an undergraduate degree, you must pay 230.40 € (225€ + 2.4%). If you have a postgraduate degree, you must pay 184.32 (180 + 2.4%) to the Bank of Greece. You should use the SWIFT system and pay the amount to this SWIFT code:

BNGRGRAA, IBAN: GR05 0100 0240 0000 0002 6072 595

Keep the receipt, as you must submit it with your application. Mention in your deposit that you pay for recognition.

3. A copy of your ID documents like a passport or national ID card. The Greek embassy/consulate or a Greek lawyer in your home country must verify it.
4. An official statement of law (N. 1599/86). It must state that:

• All of the documents you have submitted are original.
• You have no other application to DOATAP or any other authority for recognition.
• State the place you studied and got your degree.
• You have completed your studies and got the certificate to be recognized.

5. A verified/certified copy of your High School diploma. It must be issued by a qualified authority if you are a national of one of these countries and say that you, as the holder of a high school diploma, have the right to begin high education.

• non-E.U. countries.
• the U.S.A.,
• the former U.S.S.R.
• Canada

6. A certified copy of your medical degree.

It must be verified by Hague Convention (APOSTILLE) too. If your country is not a member of the Hague Convention, the Greek embassy/consulate in your home country must verify your degree and transcripts. If not, the university must send an official degree to the DOATAP.

7. An official transcript. It must state grades from all of your subjects and for all of your study years. It must be verified by Hague Convention (APOSTILLE) too. If your country is not a member of the Hague Convention, the Greek embassy/consulate in your home country must verify your degree and transcripts. If not, the university must send an official transcript to the DOATAP.
8. A certificate for the location of your studies. The center that issues it must send it directly to DOATAP. If it’s not in Greek, English, or French languages, it must have Hague Convention (APOSTILLE). It must state your studies like this: Applicant name studies from ……..  to …….., took place and were completed in  …………… (country, city, campus) and nowhere else.

If you have a Ph.D. degree and it didn’t have coursework, the university must send a letter directly to DOATAP and state your:

• personal data,
• study program’s duration and type,
• graduation date,
• research supervision
• thesis defense.

Distance learning studies

If you have studied remotely, the university or school must complete a questionnaire and send it directly to DOATAP.

9. A Syllabus / Bulletin of the Institution
10. For postgraduate applicants with a thesis, your thesis with a Greek summary, is needed.
11. An authorization or validation of the applicant’s signature by the Police if someone else on behalf of the application is applying.

Translation.

If your documents are not in Greek, English, or French, you must have them translated by a verified translation office.  Ministry of Foreign Affairs / the Greek Consular Authorities in Greece or an authorized lawyer must verify them.

If you have a degree from one of these countries, you must submit further documents:

• Albania,
• Romania,
• Bulgaria.
• Serbia.

You need a professional license if you get your degree from the EU.

You must submit a complete list of supporting documents, and the DOATAP will not begin your application unless you have submitted a full list of documents. They might ask for further documents and have the right to do it.

If DOATAP co-examines titles, you must pay a fee of 414,72€.

Sending the application to DOATAP.

After you have gathered all of the documents, you must email them to the DOATAP email address:

[email protected]

For technical support, email them to this address: [email protected]

For the Identification process, email them to this address: [email protected]

To correct your supporting documents, email them to this address: [email protected]

Assessment of the medical degree

DOATAP will process your application to determine whether you are eligible to work as a doctor in Greece. They might ask for further supporting documents, and you must submit whatever they require.

They will inform you of the result after they are done with the processing.

If the answer is negative, you may not work as a doctor in Greece. If it’s positive, you can apply for a license and work as a doctor in Greece.

After you receive a positive response from DOATAP, you must apply for a permit at the respective local authority for Public Health. Then you must register with the local medical association. But you must submit this list of documents:

1. Application form to the local authority for Public Health. You will get it from them.
2. A copy of your medical degree or diploma. If you are from a non-EU country, you must submit the Greek translation and DOATAP recognition certificate. If you are from the EU/EEA, a copy of the degree by the Article 3 of Directive 93/16/5.4.93 of the EU is needed. You need a certificate that your degree follows Directive 93/16/5.4.93 of the EU. Your documents must be translated into Greek by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and verified by the authority (APOSTILLE).
3. A copy of your personal penal and it can not be older than 3 months ago at the time of application.
4. A copy of your passport, ID, or birth certificate.
5. Two colored photos.
6. Paying 8€ to the authorities for processing.
7. Paying a fee of 30€ issued by the local Tax Authority,
8. A paper file dossier
9. A work permit for non-EU nationals.
10. For non-EU nationals, a certificate of Greek language competency (B2).

You must register with the local medical association in the city you will work and must submit these documents to them:

1. A copy of your medical degree. It must be verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a lawyer.
2. A copy of your license to practice medicine in Greece.
3. Paying a processing fee to EFKA to get an EFKA serial number.
4. Two color photographs
5. Application form, which you will receive from the local medical association.
6. Paying processing fee. It’s up to various factors, and officials will tell you the amount.
7. Greek language fluency skills.
8. You need a B2 Greek fluency certificate. Every foreign doctor who wants to practice medicine in Greece needs a language fluency certificate. You can find more information about the language test from this link.
9. Registering with the EFKA

Every doctor or physician needs registration with the EFKA public insurance authority. You need registration with them before registering at the local medical association, as explained above. Your registration with them is finalized after you get hired by an employer or open a private office in Greece.

Pass the training

Before you begin working as a doctor in Greece, you might have to pass a training or internship period. The decision is with the local authority for Public Health. The procedure you must follow after recognition of your diploma is with them.

Apply for a residence permit and visa.

Every non-EU person who wants to work in the EU and Greece needs a residence permit. You must apply to the authorities and get approval to stay and work there. This is different than the medical license application explained above. A medical license is permission to practice medicine, but a residence permit is permission to stay for the long term and work in Greece.

There are various options that you can apply for one of them. The first one is a Greece work visa. You must find an employer who needs your medical skills and discuss your employment with him/her. If the employer agrees to hire you, he/she will apply for a work permit; then, you will apply for a work visa to enter the country.

There is also a political asylum option that you can apply for to the Greek officials. Visit the Visa Library menu to learn more about the options you have.