Doctors from abroad: How to obtain a medical licence

Doctors who have completed their training abroad and wish to work in Germany generally require a state medical licence. The requirements that must be met depend, amongst other things, on the country in which the medical qualification was obtained.

For doctors with a qualification from an EU Member State, an EEA country or Switzerland, different recognition rules apply than for those from third countries. In the case of qualifications from third countries, the key question is whether the foreign training is equivalent to German medical training.

But what exactly do the terms full medical licence (“Approbation”), temporary practice permit (“Berufserlaubnis”) and knowledge test (“Kenntnisprüfung”) mean? And what steps must doctors from abroad take to be allowed to practise as a doctor in Germany on a long-term basis?

A full medical licence is the standard, permanent state authorisation to practise as a doctor in Germany. It is valid nationwide and, in principle, entitles the holder to practise medicine without restriction.

Doctors generally apply for a medical licence from the relevant authority after completing their medical degree. In addition to successfully completing their degree, further requirements must be met for a medical licence to be granted, such as being fit in terms of health and personal suitability.

In the case of medical training completed in a third country, an assessment is carried out to determine whether the qualification is equivalent to German training. Following the reform of the recognition procedures, the knowledge test will generally become the standard procedure in future. It is currently still possible to select the document-based equivalence assessment employed up to now. The new regulations will largely come into force on 1 November 2026.

A practice permit is a temporary authorization to practise medicine. It may be particularly relevant for doctors from abroad who are still undergoing the recognition or licensing procedure.

Unlike a full medical licence, a practice permit is always temporary and may be restricted to a specific federal state, a specific role or, in some cases, a specific place of work.

A knowledge test may be required if there are significant differences between the medical training acquired abroad and that in Germany. The purpose of the knowledge test is to determine whether the candidate’s medical knowledge meets German training standards.

Passing the knowledge test does not automatically mean that a medical licence has been granted. Like all other doctors in Germany, doctors from abroad must also fulfil certain additional requirements in order to obtain their medical licence.

In addition to general language skills, knowledge of medical terminology is also required for the professional authorisation to practise medicine.

In principle, doctors should be able to demonstrate a German language skill level of at least B2 for general language and C1 for medical terminology. However, the requirements for general language skills may vary from one federal state to another.

The specific procedure depends on whether the medical qualification was obtained in the EU, the EEA, Switzerland or a third country. For doctors with a qualification from a third country, the process may include the following steps in particular:

As a doctor from abroad, you will submit an application for a medical licence directly, rather than first applying for recognition. The knowledge test or equivalence assessment are automatically part of the procedure.

The authorities responsible for granting access to the profession are the licensing authorities in the respective federal states.

To submit your application, you will need various documents and supporting evidence, such as:

• Diploma
• Overview of subjects and grades
• Evidence of professional experience, if available
• Identity documents
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of German language proficiency
• Proof of medical fitness (medical certificate)
• Certificate of good conduct (proof of personal suitability)

You can find out exactly which documents are required from the relevant authority in the respective federal state.

In the case of medical qualifications acquired in a third country, it must be determined whether the training corresponds to German standards.

As mentioned above,  the direct knowledge test will generally be the standard procedure from 1 November 2026. Alternatively, applicants may opt for the document-based equivalence assessment.

In the equivalence assessment, the competent authority compares the foreign professional qualification with the German qualification. Among other things, professional experience and additional qualifications may be taken into account.

If equivalence is established, the procedure – provided all other requirements are also met – can be concluded with the granting of a licence to practise medicine.

The knowledge test assesses whether the applicant’s medical knowledge and skills meet the standards required in Germany. Once the knowledge test has been passed and all other requirements have been met, the medical licence may be granted.

Important: After being granted a full medical licence, you must also become a member of the Medical Association of the relevant federal state. This is a legal requirement in Germany.