Germany is preparing reforms to speed up the recognition of professional qualifications obtained abroad, reduce bureaucracy and make it easier for foreign healthcare professionals to enter the German labour market.
The changes cover doctors, dentists, pharmacists and midwives, introducing more standardized and digital procedures.
Under the proposed system, professional knowledge examinations would become the standard route for doctors, dentists and pharmacists who completed their studies outside the European Union. Document-based assessments of qualification equivalence would remain an alternative.
German state authorities would also be able to assess applicants’ German-language skills before completing the final evaluation of their professional qualifications. Digital document exchange between institutions is expected to further accelerate the process.
For midwives trained outside the EU, applicants would be able to choose between a professional knowledge examination and an adaptation course without first undergoing a document-based equivalence assessment.
According to Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health, the reform aims to address staffing shortages while maintaining healthcare quality and patient safety.
The Bundestag approved the legislation on March 26, 2026, with entry into force planned for November 1, 2026, subject to the required approval by the Bundesrat.
The changes could benefit healthcare professionals from Kosovo and other Western Balkan countries seeking employment in Germany. However, recognition of a diploma does not automatically grant permission to practise. Applicants must also meet the relevant licensing, German-language and other professional requirements.
