Applying for a temporary licence to practise as a vet
As a vet with a foreign qualification, you may practise your profession in Germany on a temporary basis. To do so, you must apply for a temporary licence to practise.
The licence is granted subject to the following restrictions:
- It may be revoked at any time.
- It does not apply to official duties, such as the inspection of animals for slaughter and meat inspection, or official veterinary tasks.
- It applies only to employment in a dependent capacity, for example as an assistant in a veterinary practice or as a staff member at an institute.
- It is subject to a valid residence permit.
- It is restricted to the relevant employment relationship; in the case of employment as a practice assistant, the licence applies only to work carried out at the specified practice.
- It is limited to a maximum of four years and may only be extended in exceptional cases under specific circumstances.
Forms/Online Services
Responsible authority
Stuttgart Regional Council
Department 35
Ruppmannstraße 21
70565 Stuttgart
Details
Prerequisite
A temporary licence to practise may only be granted if you
- hold a certificate of competence or a qualification entitling you to practise as a veterinary surgeon, a certificate of passing the veterinary examination or a veterinary diploma, and
- can provide confirmation from your future employer, for example an employment contract.
Procedure
You must submit your application for a temporary work permit in writing to the Stuttgart Regional Council.
The required form (PDF) is available for download on the Stuttgart Regional Council’s website. Alternatively, you can obtain it directly from the Stuttgart Regional Council.
You must sign the fully completed application form by hand or with a qualified electronic signature.
The Stuttgart Regional Council will inform you within four weeks whether your application is complete or whether you need to submit further documents.
You will receive written notification regarding the temporary work permit.
Deadlines
The temporary licence is valid for a maximum of four years.
As a rule, the licence cannot be extended beyond the period mentioned above. Once the professional licence has expired, the veterinary profession may only be practised on the basis of a licence to practise.
Required documents
You must submit the following documents, either as originals or as officially certified copies:
- Application for authorisation to practise the veterinary profession on a temporary basis in accordance with Section 11 of the Federal Veterinary Regulations (BTO)
- Copies of the certificate or diploma confirming completion of the veterinary examination, or proof of qualification or training entitling the holder to practise as a veterinary surgeon
- A copy of your identity card, passport or proof of identity
- where applicable, proof of asylum status or recognition of ethnic origin
- Curriculum vitae: up to date, concise and containing a detailed, chronologically complete account of your educational and professional background
- Evidence of a prospective position as a veterinary surgeon, for example an employment contract
- Proof of no criminal convictions: a police certificate of good conduct (type ‘O’), not older than one month, or a police certificate of good conduct or equivalent certificate (Certificate of Good Standing) from the country of origin. When applying for the police certificate, please specify Department 35 of the Stuttgart Regional Council as the recipient.
- A medical certificate confirming that you are physically fit to practise as a veterinary surgeon
- Confirmation of registration from the Residents’ Registration Office of your municipality of residence
- Proof of German language proficiency at level B2 (or higher) according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
You can obtain official certifications, for example, from your local council or municipal administration.
Please note: If the documents submitted are not issued in German, you must also provide a certified translation. Translations must generally be carried out by a sworn interpreter.
Costs
Issue of a temporary work permit: EUR 125.00
Processing time
once all the required documents have been received: usually one month, up to a maximum of three to four months
Miscellaneous
The work permit is linked to your job. If your employment ends, the work permit will lapse. If you change jobs, you must present your new employment contract and apply for a new work permit.
Detailed information
Further information and notes as well as the necessary forms can be downloaded from the "Veterinarian" topic of the regional councils.
Legal basis
Bundes-Tierärzteordnung (BTÄO)
- § 2
- § 11
Release note
The German original version of this text was drafted in close cooperation with the relevant departments. The Ministerium für Ernährung, Ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz released it on 02.11.2026. Only the German text is legally binding. The Federal State does not assume any liability for the translated texts.
In cases of doubt or if you have any questions or problems, please contact the relevant authorities directly.