Greece is a beautiful and historically important country in southeastern Europe. It has about 10.4 million people and is a world-famous tourist destination with many islands and beaches. Ancient Greece made major contributions to Western civilization, including democracy, political science, philosophy, and literature.
Today, Greece is a modern EU country that continues to strengthen its economy and public services after the debt crisis. Its public health system still faces staffing pressures, and some specialties and public-sector posts can be hard to fill. In this article, we will go over the main requirements for foreign-trained doctors who want to become eligible to work as a doctor in Greece.
1. Greek Proficiency Requirements
The Greek language is one of the oldest languages still in use, and you are probably already familiar with some of its letters because they are widely used in fields such as mathematics and physics. However, Greek differs greatly from English and many other widely spoken European languages, so foreign-trained doctors should plan for serious language preparation.
Greek language proficiency is not optional in practice. A B2 Certificate of Modern Greek Language Knowledge is required to practice in a medical profession in Greece, and the certificate may also be used for employment and public-sector applications. The Modern Greek Language Teaching Center of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens offers B2 examinations twice a year. Even where a procedure does not look like a separate language exam on the application form, doctors should not assume that they can safely or realistically work without Greek, because hospitals, public services, records, exams, and most patient communication are in Greek.
2. Attend Greek Medical Schools if Possible
Studying medicine in Greece may be an option for students who can gain admission and meet the language and financial requirements. Medical degrees in Greece are normally six-year programs. Public universities offer Greek-taught medical education through medical schools in major university cities, while newer English-taught medical programs are designed mainly for international students and usually cost much more than standard Greek-taught public programs.
EU/EEA students generally benefit from publicly funded undergraduate education at Greek public universities, while non-EU/EEA students may pay modest fees for many Greek-taught programs. However, English-taught medical programs charge significantly higher tuition. For example, recent English-taught medical programs list annual tuition of €12,000 at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, €15,000 at the University of Crete, and €17,000 at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens for the 2026–2027 academic year. Always check the current university admissions page before applying.
3. Passing the Greek Medical Tests
After graduating, or after having a foreign medical degree recognized, a doctor must apply for authorization to practice medicine in Greece. The main government service for a doctor’s license is handled through gov.gr and the Panhellenic Medical Association. The basic gov.gr service states that graduates of a medical school in Greece or an EU member country can apply for a doctor’s license.
Doctors with degrees from outside Greece may need academic recognition through the Hellenic National Academic Recognition and Information Center, known as DOATAP or Hellenic NARIC. DOATAP’s current first-cycle degree recognition procedure is digital, has a €180 fee, and lists a three-month completion deadline. For Medicine or Dentistry degrees from non-EU countries, or from EU member states before their accession to the EU, applicants may be required to sit examinations in courses set by DOATAP.
There is no single medical licensing test that applies to every doctor in every situation. However, foreign degree recognition, Greek language certification, and specialty recognition can all involve separate requirements. Specialist qualifications acquired in an EU member state or in the United States may be eligible for automatic recognition through the Panhellenic Medical Association, allowing the holder to practice the specialty in Greece without further examinations or additional training, subject to the required documents.
4. Doing the Residency
Residency in Greece is specialty training. Doctors who want to become specialists normally complete a specialty training curriculum in a hospital, and the total duration generally ranges from 4 to 7 years, depending on the specialty. Placement for specialty training is handled through applications to the relevant public health authorities and hospital waiting lists.
After completing the required specialty training, doctors take the medical specialty exam. Doctors who are already specialists should check whether their specialty qualification can be recognized in Greece. Specialist qualifications from the EU and the United States may be recognized through the automatic recognition procedure, while other qualifications may require a different review.
5. Becoming Licensed
The medical license that allows doctors to practice in Greece is now applied for through the official gov.gr service connected with the Panhellenic Medical Association. Current procedures route applications through the Panhellenic Medical Association and gov.gr, and related recognition procedures list indefinite validity.
Requirements can vary depending on where the doctor was trained and whether the doctor is applying for general practice rights or specialist recognition. Applicants should expect to provide proof of identity, their medical degree or recognized foreign degree, official translations and apostilles where required, Greek language evidence, and professional-status documents where applicable. After licensing, doctors must also register with the local medical association in the area where they intend to practice and complete social insurance and tax steps as applicable.
6. Work Permission
Greece is a member of the European Union. Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland can work in Greece without a special work permit, but doctors must still meet the professional licensing, language, registration, and employment requirements that apply to medical practice.
Non-EU citizens generally need both immigration permission and professional authorization. For employment in Greece, a third-country national typically needs a national visa for employment and a residence permit for employment. A long-stay National Type D visa allows stays of more than 90 days and may be issued for employment, study, research, and other long-term purposes. Holders of a national visa must apply for the appropriate residence permit in Greece after arrival and before the visa expires.
For an employed-worker route, the visa and residence-permit process may require documents such as a passport, a signed employment contract, a criminal-record document, an approval decision for the employment, photos, a residence-permit fee, and evidence of health insurance. Because document lists and procedures can change, applicants should confirm the current requirements with the Greek consulate and the competent Greek immigration authority before applying.
7. Getting jobs in Hospitals in Greece
Greece’s public health system continues to face staffing shortages, especially in some public-sector posts and specialties, despite the country’s high number of licensed doctors per population. This means there may be opportunities, but availability depends heavily on the doctor’s specialty, Greek language level, location, immigration status, and whether the doctor has completed Greek licensing and registration.
The safest route is to check official hospital announcements, Ministry of Health and Panhellenic Medical Association channels, regional health authority postings, and the relevant waiting-list procedure for specialty training. Foreign-trained doctors should complete degree recognition, Greek language certification, licensing, and immigration steps before relying on any job offer.
8. Starting your own practice
Private practice is possible in Greece, but it is not as simple as opening an office after graduation. A doctor must first be legally authorized to practice medicine in Greece, register with the appropriate local medical association, handle social insurance and tax obligations, and comply with any rules that apply to the premises, business form, and medical services offered.
Specialty training is required if the doctor intends to practice or advertise as a specialist. A doctor who already has specialist qualifications from abroad should check whether those qualifications can be recognized in Greece. Greek language ability is also essential for safe patient care, consent, documentation, prescriptions, referrals, and communication with authorities, even in private practice.
9. How can doctors trained internationally become doctors in Greece
The procedure varies depending on the doctor’s citizenship, immigration status, degree origin, and specialty status. EU-trained doctors may benefit from EU professional-recognition rules, but they still need permission to practice in Greece, Greek language evidence, and registration with the appropriate medical bodies.
Doctors trained outside the EU should expect additional steps. These usually include academic recognition of the medical degree through DOATAP when required, Greek language certification, application for a license through the Panhellenic Medical Association and gov.gr, registration with the local medical association, and the correct visa and residence permit if the doctor is not an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen. If the doctor is already a specialist, the specialty qualification should be checked separately for recognition in Greece.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, check out the available courses in Europe for international students and the Europe Scholarships Page.
