If you move to Germany, you are required to register your new residential address with the local residents registration office.

If you become subject to registration in Germany due to moving there, you will automatically receive a tax identification number (Steuer-ID) from the Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern) within approximately 1 to 3 months.

Important: If you do not move to Germany but still work in Germany, please contact me. In this case, your tax identification number often has to be applied for separately. Some employers may handle this voluntarily, but they are not legally required to do so.

Your German social security number is usually applied for automatically by your employer through the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung).

A German bank account is required for many administrative processes in Germany even if you continue to live in the Netherlands or Belgium.

Once you have received your licence to practise medicine in Germany (Approbation), you are required to become a member of the responsible Medical Chamber (Ärztekammer) in the federal state where you work. This registration is not completed automatically by your employer and must be submitted independently by you.

Deadline: Within 1 month after receiving your Approbation

The Medical Pension Fund (Versorgungswerk der Ärztekammer) is the professional pension scheme for physicians and replaces the statutory pension insurance.

As a mandatory member of the Medical Pension Fund, you may apply for exemption from the statutory pension insurance scheme.

Members of the Medical Chambers can apply for a physician ID card free of charge. This card can be presented, for example, at pharmacies or continuing medical education events. It is a visual identification card with a photo and a Uniform Continuing Education Number (Einheitliche Fortbildungsnummer – EFN).

Please note that this visual ID card cannot be used for applications within the German telematics infrastructure. For this purpose, you need an electronic health professional card (elektronischer Heilberufsausweis – eHBA).

Your clinical work in a hospital or medical practice is often covered by your employers liability insurance. However, additional liability risks may still exist, for example: Providing medical advice to colleagues Temporary substitute work Voluntary medical activities Medical support during holidays or private situations Personal liability risks outside your professional role A private professional and personal liability insurance policy can help ensure that you are reliably covered in these situations as well.

As a member of the Medical Pension Fund, you already have a basic level of protection in the event of occupational disability. However, the benefits are often limited. A disability pension from the Medical Pension Fund is frequently only paid if you are permanently unable to carry out any medical work at all and no longer actually practise medicine. Working part-time or in another medical field may limit or exclude your entitlement to benefits. Since these requirements are often difficult to meet in practice, additional private occupational disability insurance is strongly recommended.

At the beginning of your employment, you are usually insured under the statutory health insurance system (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung / GKV). Once your income exceeds a certain annual threshold, you may be able to switch to private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung / PKV). Both systems differ in several important areas, including: Scope of benefits Contribution structure Family coverage Options if you become self-employed Long-term premium development Healthcare provision in retirement Individual advice can help you understand which option best fits your personal and professional situation.