Foreign Doctors and Medical Professionals
in Germany

We're here every step of the way to help you make the move to Germany. We can find you a job vacancy and prepare you for a job interview. We can help you with diploma accreditation, information support, residence registration, registration at the Office for Migration and financial consultation.

Germany is in need of doctors from all disciplines, but there is particular demand for

• neurologists
• anesthesiologists
• rehabilitologists
• psychiatrists
• pediatricians

You can expect to earn an average starting salary of around €49,000 a year, and doctors can expect to be well paid throughout their careers. But do remember with that comes a big workload and a lot of responsibility. An average salary for an Assistenzarzt, or assistant doctor, is €65,000 per annum, while a Facharzt, or specialist, can expect in the region of €80,000 per annum. At the highest level chief physicians have an average salary of €278,000 per annum.

• STEP 1: Choosing the right visa (non-EU citizens)

The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit for non-EU nationals, and it gives you a path to permanent residence and EU citizenship. It's aim is to attract skilled professionals from non-EU countries to work in Germany. It gives recipients benefits over the basic work permit, such as putting you on a fast track to permanent residency. But there are stringent conditions attached to the EU Blue Card, for instance, you will need a job offer with a starting salary of €38,688 per annum, and your degree must be recognized in Germany.
If you don't qualify for an EU Blue Card don't worry, you may be able to get a 'residence permit for the purpose of gainful employment'. This may be a longer process than acquiring an EU Blue Card, but it is a valid and much used residence permit for Germany, and ultimately gives identical rights as the EU Blue Card.

• STEP TWO: Gaining a medical license

Your final goal if you're looking to live and work in Germany is the 'Approbation', which is the medical licence from the German state that allows doctors to work in Germany. It lasts a lifetime and is valid throughout the country.

There are several elements to gaining your 'Approbation'. Firstly, you need a definite job offer in writing before you apply. You will also need medical standard German at level C1. Next, your qualifications gained in your country of origin need to be gauged as equivalent to similar German qualifications. Evaluation of your academic qualifications by the German state can be lengthy, particularly for diplomas issued in non-EU countries.
You can apply for a 'Berufserlaubnis', or temporary medical licence, if you have been offered a job. This enables you to work in Germany while your 'Approbation' application is being processed and scrutinized.

The good news is that with both the 'Approbation' and the 'Berufserlaubnis' you can begin to work in Germany, either by studying and working in your medical speciality simultaneously, or as a medical resident. While this can be a lengthy process that might take a few years, you are able to work and earn money. During this time you receive the title of 'Fachartz', or medical specialist.

• STEP THREE: Language requirements

To practice medicine in Germany, it is important you gain advanced language skills to communicate with patients and colleagues clearly and effectively. It is vital you are able to communicate medical diagnoses in an understandable and caring manner.

Therefore you need to prove that you are fluent in general German to at least B2-level.
To gain your 'Approbation', you may need to take an exam that tests your oral and written German medical knowledge, called the 'Fachsprachenfrüfung'. We offer courses that prepare you for this, working closely with specialized tutors with extensive medical language knowledge and experience.