The best immigration method for doctors

The best immigration method for doctors

The applicants must at first consider the conditions in each country. Physicians must equate their degree in the destination country before obtaining a work permit. The critical issue is that the applicants can receive an equivalence visa only in a few countries. In many cases, the applicants must first obtain a residence permit in the country of their choice and then equalize their documents. Methods to obtain residency for doctors are:
• Work visa
The applicants can obtain work visas as an equivalent visa in some countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. They can work in this country and receive their work visa after passing the equivalence process.
• Student visa
As mentioned, only a few countries grant visa equivalents to applicants. Many applicants can enter their destination country with a student visa to go through the equivalence process and enter the job market. This type of visa has a specific duration, and the applicants can only stay in the country for a limited period to complete the equivalence process of their degree.
• Investment visa
Applicants who wish to obtain residency in the country of their choice and equate their degree without worrying about time limitations can use this method. Investment residency becomes permanent after a while regardless of the applicant’s activity in the medical field. However, the equivalence process and finding a medical job speed does not affect extending this residency. Each country has its methods for obtaining residency by investment, for example, buying a property, registering a company, buying company shares, entrepreneurship, start-ups, buying bonds, self-support, and donation.

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Topics reviewed in this article:

• The best country for doctors to migrate
• Medical degree equivalence stages
• The doctors’ income abroad

The best country for doctors to migrate

Choosing the best country for the physician to migrate depends on several different parameters. The first and most vital parameter is the living quality in the destination country and the facilities they provide to the applicants. For example, the top countries treat applicants like their citizens and provide all the facilities. However, some countries (like the Arab countries) use the immigrants to increase capital as temporary destinations for immigrants. The doctors’ income is the second one, and the medical degree equivalence issue in the destination country is the last one. In general, the document equivalence steps in different countries follow the same rules, but the ease of these steps is by no means the same. For example, this process is much more difficult in Canada and Australia than in European countries. The applicants cannot obtain a residence visa to go through the equivalence process in some countries, such as the United Kingdom and Canada. They must enter these countries by other visas and then start the equivalence process. We will examine the medical degree equivalence stages for physicians in popular countries in the following:

• Immigration of doctors to Denmark

Doctors can enter this country on an equivalent visa. The applicant must learn Danish at level C1 and then pass the equivalence test. After passing the equivalence test, the applicant must take courses related to health laws and regulations and a six-month internship under a Danish doctor’s supervision. Then, the applicant can receive one’s work permit.

• Immigration of doctors to Sweden

The applicant is given a one-year opportunity to be present in Sweden and take the language test after reaching the C1 language level. Then, the applicant participates in the equivalence test. They must pass several university units related to the Swedish medical system and a six-month internship under the supervision of a Swedish doctor. After that, the applicant can get one’s work permit.

• Immigration of doctors to Germany

Applicants must first reach C1level in the German language. The applicants can take their language courses in Germany due to this country’s medical staff shortage. It is better to learn up to the B1 level before applying. After applying for a C1 in the German language, the applicant can work for two years as a medical assistant in a paid clinic. After this period, the applicant can take the equivalence exam and obtain a work permit as a physician. This method has many benefits, including working with the family at the same time, receiving a high salary during the internship, and financial assistance from the German government for language courses.

Medical degree equivalence stages

We will examine different countries’ equivalence stages and the immigration conditions for doctors in this section. As mentioned earlier, physicians must equate their degree in their destination country and then obtain a work permit. The applicants must know that the equivalence stages are different in different countries. We will examine the equivalence process conditions in several countries in the following:

• The medical records equivalence process in Germany

The state authorities in Germany must issue an Approbation certificate so that the doctors can obtain a work permit in Germany. The steps of this process are as follows:

1. Obtaining a Goethe German-language degree at B2 and then C1 level.
2. Applying for a German clinic as a guest doctor (Gastarzt) with the following documents:

• The B2 and C1 level language certificate
• The application letter in German
• Resume (CV)
• A copy of the Medical System Organization license

1. Apply to the State Office for the Occupational Health (Landesprüfungsamt für Medizinische Heilberufe) of the State where the clinic is located to obtain a temporary medical employment permit or work permit (Berufserlaubnis) for two years.
2. In these two years, physicians can pass the medical knowledge test to confirm their degree equivalence and a permanent work permit.
3. After passing these steps, doctors can get a paid job as a resident or assistant in clinics and become a specialist (Facharzt) after five years.

• Immigration of doctors to Austria

To equate a medical degree in Austria, you must first reach your C1 German language level and pass the language test. In the next step, the applicants must send their documents for evaluation and, if approved, take the equivalence test. Then, the applicants will receive a work permit. Austria does not have a doctor-equivalent visa, and applicants must enter Austria by other methods such as studying or investing.

• Immigration of doctors to the United States

Physicians must take the USMLE test in the United States to equate their degrees. This test is in three steps:

1. In the first stage, they will examine the physician’s information about the contents of basic sciences.
2. The second stage of this test consists of two parts. In the first part, the applicants pass a clinical skills test, and in the second stage, there are questions about communication with the patient and the patient examination in an emergency. The second part of USMLE STEP2 is oral, and the applicants must have a very high language level.
3. In the third phase of the USMLE test, they will ask the physicians about patient management from onset to treatment and recovery. It is an online exam and will have a negative score. This exam will take two days, and the second-day exam is related to the doctor’s patient management skills.

• Immigration of doctors to Canada

Equivalence of medical records in Canada consists of three steps, which are:

Step 1: The applicant must take the MCCQE1 test and pass it. This test is online and evaluates the physician’s information and clinical decision-making power.

Step 2: Applicants must take the NAC test and pass it. In this test, the physicians’ skills, knowledge, and attitudes are evaluated.

Step 3: The applicants take the MCCQE2 test. They will examine the physician’s skills such as applying medical knowledge, demonstrating clinical skills, physician behavior and presenting clinical and research programs.

The applicant can obtain an LMCC certification from the Canadian Medical Board by following these steps.

• Immigration of doctors to Australia

Physicians must take the AMC test to equate their degree in Australia. It is a two-stage test. The first stage is in theory and measures the physician’s knowledge, and in the second stage, they will examine the physicians’ practical skills. After passing this test, the doctor’s degree is equivalent, and the applicant can look for an employer. Moreover, the applicant must have IELTS 7 or equivalent to participate in this test.

• Immigration of doctors to the UK

Applicants for medical degree equivalence in the UK must take the PLAB exam. It is a two-step procedure, and then they will obtain a work permit. The first stage is the theory test, and the second stage is the clinical test. After passing these tests, the applicant’s degree in the UK is equated.

• Immigration of doctors to Arab countries

Arab countries such as Oman usually have two stages of testing for degree equivalence. In the first stage, the applicant sets the Prometric multiple-choice test as a criterion. In the second stage, they will invite the applicant to the interview, and then the applicant’s degree is equated, and one can look for a job.

The doctors’ income abroad

One of the most critical things that applicants consider when choosing the best country and the best way for doctors to immigrate is the amount of doctors’ income in a country. In addition to all the cases mentioned in this article, the issue of income is one of the issues that have a great impact on the selection of doctors and applicants before examining the destination country to review the doctors’ salaries in different countries. We will discuss the doctors’ salaries in the most popular countries among the doctors in the table below: