Saxony-Anhalt medical professionals face long delays in qualification recognition

In the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, approximately 580 medical professionals are currently waiting for the recognition of their foreign qualifications. This includes 480 applications from doctors and 100 from dentists.

Data released on October 16, 2026, indicates that the recognition process takes an average of 86 weeks, or roughly one year and eight months. This delay persists despite previous efforts to reduce processing times to under a year. The State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Health noted that while the final approval can take only a few days once all documentation is complete, the overall procedure remains lengthy.

The applicants have primarily obtained their medical degrees in countries including Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Syria, and the Russian Federation. The backlog includes applications dating back to 2022, highlighting a significant administrative bottleneck in a region facing urgent shortages of qualified medical personnel.