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Veterinarian; application for a permit to temporarily exercise the veterinary profession

If you wish to practise the veterinary profession in the Federal Republic of Germany temporarily without a license to practice as a veterinarian, you require a permit.

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Anyone wishing to practice veterinary medicine in the Federal Republic of Germany requires a state license to do so. If you wish to practice the veterinary profession on a permanent basis, you will need a license to practice as a veterinarian. If you have completed your training in a country outside the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, you may also practice the veterinary profession temporarily or limited to certain activities on the basis of a permit that can be revoked at any time (so-called professional license). The permit may be limited to certain activities and employment positions. It may only be granted on a revocable basis and only up to a maximum total duration of four years of veterinary activity. In exceptional cases, the permit may be extended beyond this period. The government of Upper Bavaria is responsible for issuing the license if you wish to work in Bavaria

If you have completed your training in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you will generally not be granted a permit. Instead, you must apply for a license to practice immediately. An exception applies if there is a special interest in obtaining a license with regard to the intended veterinary activity.

In certain cases, you may practice the veterinary profession in the Federal Republic of Germany even without a license to practice as a veterinarian or without a permit to temporarily practice the veterinary profession, provided that you are only temporarily and occasionally acting as a provider of services within the meaning of Article 57 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This possibility exists for persons who are nationals of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland. However, they are subject to a registration requirement. The government of Upper Bavaria will inform you on request whether you require a permit.

An essential prerequisite is that you can prove that you have completed your veterinary training in accordance with the law of the country in which you completed your training.

Further prerequisites are that

  • you have not been guilty of any behavior that would make you unworthy or unreliable to practice the veterinary profession (reliability),
  • you are not unfit in terms of health to practise the veterinary profession (health suitability) and
  • you have the knowledge of the German language required for practising the profession (language skills must be proven at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages by means of a certificate from a recognized language institute).

  • Birth certificate/parentage certificate or extract from the parents' family register
    (certified copy)
  • if the name used differs from that on the birth certificate: proof of a change of name (e.g. marriage certificate)
    (certified copy)
  • valid proof of identity (e.g. passport)
    (certified copy)
  • complete and personally signed curriculum vitae

    (tabular and chronological list of the training courses completed and the relevant gainful activities pursued, stating the periods (month/year) and enclosing the relevant supporting documents)

  • Proof of impunity
    • Submission of criminal record extracts from all countries outside Germany in which the applicant has resided for more than six months.
    • The criminal record extracts must not be older than three months at the time of submission.
    • Certified copies of these extracts must be submitted.
  • Proof of your completed education (certified copy)
    • Proof of education such as diploma
    • If necessary, further country-specific certificates
  • Proof of authorisation to practise medicine in the country of training and/or the country of origin
    (certified copy)
  • if applicable, certificate of good standing (certified copy)

    (Required from all countries where the health professional activity has already been exercised in the last five years. This certificate must not be older than three months at the time of its presentation).

  • Proof of required German language skills (certified copy)
    (A certificate from an ALTE-certified language institute at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages [CEFR] must be submitted).
  • On separate request:
    • Certificate of good conduct of document type "O", if the applicant has already stayed in Germany for more than six months in the past or has had or still has a residence in Germany.
      • In Germany, this must be applied for at the registration office of the place of residence, stating the purpose "Permit as veterinarian". The certificate of good conduct is sent directly to the competent authority by the Federal Office of Justice.
      • It must not be older than one month at the time of its presentation.
    • Medical certificate (original)
      This must be issued and signed by a general practitioner or internist practicing in Germany or another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or in Switzerland and bear a practice or clinic stamp. If the practice or clinic stamp is not available in German, a German translation of the stamp is required.

The costs depend on the period of validity. A fee of €100 is charged for every six months or part thereof.

Administrative court action

Status: 20.11.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Gesundheit, Pflege und Prävention
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