Studied medicine in Egypt? When Germany recognises your degree

Egypt 5 min read · English

The question that decides your case: do you hold your Egyptian Ministry of Health licence today? That licence is what German law looks for, because it is Egypt's proof that your training is complete and that you may practise on your own.

What "complete" means for an Egyptian doctor

Germany recognises a medical degree from outside the EU only if the training is completed: under the law of the country that issued it, it must give the full, independent right to practise medicine (§ 3 Bundesärzteordnung; the same test stays in the new law from 1 November 2026). For Egypt that means three steps:

your MBBCh,
the compulsory internship (imtiyaz), finished,
your Ministry of Health licence. If you graduated from December 2019 on, the national licensing exam is part of getting it.

If you studied the 5-year programme, you need both internship years before you can apply. With the old 6-year programme it is one year.

You do not need a specialist title such as the Egyptian Board or a fellowship. A licensed general practitioner can apply.

While your internship is still running, your training counts as unfinished in Germany. Use that time: German is a step you can start right away.

Your route to Germany, step by step

German: B2 to start, then the Fachsprachprüfung (medical German, C1 level) with the state medical chamber.
Documents: MBBCh certificate, transcript, internship certificate and Ministry of Health licence, plus passport and CV. Most states also ask for proof of Syndicate registration or good standing; the exact list depends on the state.
Legalisation: Egypt is not part of the apostille system. Your documents are stamped by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then legalised by the German Embassy in Cairo (the embassy lists EUR 31 plus EUR 5 per document). Then sworn German translations.
Filing: with one of the 16 federal states. Requirements and waiting times differ a lot between them, so the choice of state matters. Applications filed by 31 October 2026 still get the document review first; from 1 November the Kenntnisprüfung (knowledge exam) becomes the rule.

Men who still owe military service need a travel permit from Egypt. Check your status early.

You are not the first

More than 1,800 doctors from Egypt are registered in Germany (German Medical Association, end of 2025). The route is well travelled. Legalisation, translation and German each take time, and they can run in parallel if you plan them.

How Solvia helps

We check your documents before you pay for legalisation and translations, choose the federal state that fits you, prepare the file and stay with you until the decision. Prices are public: from EUR 1,490.

Questions we hear from Egyptian doctors

Can I apply in Germany before my internship is finished?

No. Until the internship is finished and you hold your Ministry of Health licence, German law treats your training as unfinished. Start German in the meantime.

I studied the 5-year programme. How many internship years do I need?

Two. Graduates of the 5-year programme complete two internship years before they receive the licence; the old 6-year programme had one.

Do I need the Egyptian Board or a specialist title?

No. A licensed general practitioner can apply for the German licence. Specialist recognition is a separate, later step.

Do I need an apostille?

No, Egypt is not part of the apostille system. Documents are stamped by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then legalised by the German Embassy in Cairo.

Which federal state should I choose?

It depends on your documents, your German and where you want to work. Waiting times and requirements differ a lot between the 16 states; we compare them for your case.