Social Authority

Apply for permission to temporarily practice the profession of pharmacist

Are you interested in obtaining a temporary permit to practice as a pharmacist? You can find more information here.

Detailed description

If you want to work as a pharmacist in Germany, you generally need a permit, the so-called approbation.



If you completed your training abroad, you may initially receive this permit only temporarily. This means, for example, that you may only work under supervision or only in a specific pharmacy and for a limited time. This temporary permit does not officially recognize your foreign training, but it does not prevent you from obtaining your full license later on. During the maximum of two years in which you are allowed to work with these restrictions, you can, for example, prepare practically and specifically for the exams required for full licensure.



If you come from an EU or EEA country, or from a country with which Germany has corresponding agreements, you may practice as a pharmacist temporarily and occasionally without a license, for example, in the context of providing services. In this case, you must register your planned activity with the relevant authority.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • You would like to work as a pharmacist in Germany.
  • They have a comparable professional qualification from abroad.
  • They are reliable for work and have no criminal record.
  • They can work in this profession both mentally and physically.
  • They have German language skills at the required level.

Documents required

The necessary forms can be found under the further links.

Please note

Foreign certificates must be submitted with certified translations from state-sworn translators. For qualifications completed outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland, official documents must be apostilled or legalized. Further information can be found via the links below.

Deadlines

You don't have to meet any deadlines.

Procedure

  • You submit your application to the relevant authority.
  • The responsible authority will review your application and may request missing documents or information from you.
  • The responsible authority will decide on your application and inform you of the decision in writing.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the individual case.

Fees

60.00 EUR - 360.00 EUR


plus expenses

Legal remedies

Contradiction

Legal basis

§ 11 Federal Pharmacist Regulations (BApO)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bapo/__11.html

Address and contact information

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Keywords: pharmacist in the interim certificate work permit

Last updated: 10.10.2026