Government decides to accelerate recognition procedures in healthcare professions

German hospitals, medical practices, and pharmacies are more urgently than ever seeking doctors, pharmacists, dentists, and midwives from abroad – but until now, one thing in particular has deterred many qualified applicants: a recognition process that often takes months and varies from state to state, with unclear document requirements. With the regulation to accelerate the recognition procedures for foreign professional qualifications in healthcare professions ( Federal Council document 504/26 ), submitted to the Federal Council on September 1, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Health is now taking concrete action to address this problem. Healthcare professionals as well as hospital personnel departments should take a closer look at the planned changes, as they affect practically every step on the way to obtaining a medical license in Germany.

What exactly did the federal government decide?

The regulation implements details of the Act to Accelerate the Recognition Procedures for Foreign Professional Qualifications in Healthcare Professions , which was passed by the Bundestag on March 27, 2026, and approved by the Bundesrat on May 8, 2026. The legal basis includes, among others, Section 4 of the Federal Medical Practitioners' Act, Section 5 of the Federal Pharmacy Regulations, Section 3 of the Act on the Practice of Dentistry, and Section 71 of the Midwives Act. Essentially, it addresses three key aspects: the digitalization of the procedures, nationwide standardized requirements for submitted documents, and the consistent implementation of EU legal requirements from the Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC. This is also prompted by ongoing infringement proceedings by the European Commission (No. 2018/2171) and a ruling by the European Court of Justice (C-940/19), which oblige Germany to implement the directive more consistently. Importantly for all those affected: the professional requirements themselves remain unchanged – only the procedures are being accelerated, not the substantive standards.

Why does the reform hit the exact nerve of many international professionals?

Doctors from the USA , as a pharmacist from Anyone who wants to come to Germany from Great Britain or as a dentist from Canada knows the problem: They have a job offer, but their license to practice is still missing – and the The immigration authority issues a Residence permits are often only granted temporarily and subject to a swift recognition procedure. Until now, many recognition authorities required certified copies and official German translations of all documents, which alone could take several weeks. For hospitals, this often meant a desperately needed A skilled worker loses patience or accepts an offer in another country while their application is still pending with the relevant authority. Simply trying to help themselves with online templates or general guides regularly leads to precisely the errors that cause such delays: incorrectly assigned reference occupations, incomplete documentation, or applications submitted to the wrong state authority. From numerous cases we have handled, we know which recognition bodies actually require which documents and how to avoid unnecessary inquiries from the outset.

How does the new digital recognition procedure work?

The newly inserted Section 33a of the Licensing Regulations for Physicians (with parallel regulations for pharmacists, dentists, and midwives) establishes, for the first time, uniform federal requirements for submitted documents. Crucially for applicants from English-speaking countries, documents can now generally be submitted in either German or English – a certified German translation is only required in justified exceptional cases. Furthermore, electronically transmitted copies are sufficient; the previously standard formal authentication is no longer necessary. The issuance of the recognition certificate itself can also be done digitally and with a qualified electronic signature. The responsible authority must confirm receipt of an application within one month and indicate which documents are still missing. If there are doubts about the authenticity of documents, the authority may contact the issuing authority in the country of origin directly, instead of generally requesting further authentications.

What will change in the knowledge test for doctors and pharmacists?

Those without an automatically recognized EU qualification must still take a knowledge test as part of their professional licensing examination. This test is now structured uniformly across Germany for the first time, thanks to the newly revised Section 37 of the Licensing Regulations : oral-practical, in German, with preliminary patient-related exam preparation and the compulsory subjects of internal medicine and surgery, as well as emergency medicine, clinical pharmacology, imaging procedures, radiation protection, professional law, and medical communication. It is important to note that the examination will not be shorter, but longer – for physicians, the duration will increase from 60 to 90 to 120 minutes, and for pharmacists from 30 to 60 to 60 to 90 minutes. The legislature is deliberately accepting this additional effort to ensure patient safety and comparability of examination results across the federal states. Furthermore, a new notification requirement between the states applies: those who definitively fail a knowledge test in one federal state can no longer simply transfer to another and retake it there.

What applies to foreign students who were unable to complete their medical studies?

A previously overlooked but practically significant point concerns individuals who began their medical or pharmacy studies abroad but were unable to complete them for reasons beyond their control—such as a state of war in their country of study. The newly revised Section 12 of the Licensing Regulations now allows this group to continue their training in Germany from the second part of the medical or pharmaceutical examination onward, provided they can demonstrate the required German language skills. A detailed comparison of academic achievements completed abroad with German requirements is no longer necessary, as successful completion of the examination itself demonstrates the required level of knowledge.

When will the regulation come into force – and what does that mean in practice?

The regulation will come into force on November 1, 2026, together with the underlying law. For everyone submitting their application for licensure or professional authorization from this date onwards, the new, more digital and standardized rules will already apply; for applications submitted before this date, the previous legal situation generally still applies. It remains important to note: the recognition procedure is only one component. In parallel, most professionals require... residence permit or a EU Blue Card , issued at the local Immigration office , or, in Berlin, at the immigration office An application must be submitted to the State Office for Immigration . Those wishing to enter the country while their recognition procedure is ongoing often also need a [missing information - likely a specific document or document]. Visa and proof of a secure livelihood and a Health insurance . For accompanying spouses and children, the question of health insurance also arises. Family reunification . Employers should discuss these procedures with the relevant authorities early on. Integrate the employment contract into the contract process, instead of initiating it only after the skilled worker has given their commitment.

Why is early legal support worthwhile?

The new rules undoubtedly simplify many things – but they don't replace careful preparation. From hundreds of cases we've handled, we know that the practical application by individual state authorities still varies considerably, that questions about training content often remain unanswered for unnecessarily long, and that a rejected or delayed decision is frequently met with an appeal or, if necessary, a lawsuit. It must be challenged in court proceedings . We support both individual Specialists as well as human resources departments that coordinate several international recruitments simultaneously, from the initial application to the final approval and the appropriate residence permit.

Conclusion

The regulation to accelerate the recognition procedures for foreign professional qualifications in healthcare professions brings noticeable improvements: digital applications, the elimination of routine certifications, the option of English-language documents, and clearer nationwide standards. At the same time, the extended knowledge assessment demonstrates that acceleration must not be confused with a lowering of professional requirements. Those seeking international recognition will benefit from this regulation. Healthcare professionals or employers who wish to benefit from the new opportunities should use the transition period until the law comes into effect on November 1, 2026, to prepare documents, timetables and residency-related arrangements together with experienced legal support.