• Types of visas:
There are two types of visas that medical professionals can apply for:
– §16f visa
– §16d visa
• Translations and descriptions of the names
| Abbreviation after the name of the law for the visa | §16f visa | §16d visa |
| 🇺🇸 Name in English | Visa for language acquisition | Visa for the recognition of foreign qualifications |
| 🇩🇪 Name in German | 🇩🇪 Visum zum Spracherwerb | 🇩🇪 Visum zur Anerkennung ausländischer Berufsqualifikationen |
• Differences between §16f visa & §16d visa
The difference is simple. The only obvious difference is that Visa d16 gives doctors room to work and earn money. The number of hours the visa holder is allowed to work depends on the type of job you get:
| Job type | Related to medicine | Not related to medicine |
| Maximum allowed number of working hours | 40 hours (maybe more, not sure) | 10 |
| Alternative name | It’s called a mini-job. Article: What is a mini-job exactly? |
• What determines which type of visa I will receive?
Based on the reason for coming to Germany:
| You have a B1 language certificate and booking language courses in Germany: | B2 level language certificate and acceptance for training in a hospital. | |
| The type of visa granted “most of the time” | §16f visa | §16f visa |
Unfortunately, there are differences in how the different applications are treated. Some who apply for §16f visa might get a §16d visa 🥳, but also, some who apply for §16d visa might get a §16f visa. 😕
But do not be sad. After coming to Germany, one can after taking with the foreigners’ authority (🇩🇪 die Ausländerbehörde) change the type of his/her visa.
• How do you convert the visa type from §16f to §16d?
You must speak with the foreign office employee who is responsible for you. The employee frequently seeks multiple proofs that the doctor is in Germany to later work as a doctor.
Later, when you pass the medical language exam and receive confirmation of employment, he can change his visa type.
• Can you bring your spouse with these visas?
Unfortunately, the doctor cannot reunite with his family members before he succeeds in the medical language exam, obtains a work contract, and gets a blue card (🇩🇪, die Blaue Karte EU).
• Required documents for the visa
• Language courses training in a hospital (🇩🇪 die Hospitation)
• Proof of residence
• Proof of financial resources: Either a (1) closed bank account (🇩🇪 das Sperrkonto) or a (2) declaration of commitment (🇩🇪 die Verpflichtungserklärung). More details in this article:
🇩🇪 Proof of financial resources for the visa application
… We will update the list in the future.
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