To practise as a pharmacist in Luxembourg, you require a licence from the Ministry of Health (Ministère de la Santé).

To obtain such a licence, candidates must satisfy the conditions of professional competence, morality, good repute, and physical and mental health required by the profession.

Who is concerned

Pharmacists who wish to practise in Luxembourg must be nationals of:

• an EU Member State; or
• a state of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway), or Switzerland; or
• a third country, and:
  
  • have a valid residence permit; or
  • have been granted international protection.

Prerequisites

Pharmacists must:

• possess the necessary qualifications;
• satisfy the conditions of morality, good repute and physical and mental health required to practise as a pharmacist;      
  
• have the linguistic abilities which are necessary to carry out their profession in Luxembourg;

If the pharmacist's mother tongue is not French, German or Luxembourgish, proof of their language skills must be provided.

The minimum level of language skills required with respect to French or German is equivalent to the Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The level of language proficiency can be proven by any means:

• a copy of the training certificates obtained in one of these 2 languages; or
  
• proof of professional experience in a French or German speaking country; or
  
• any other evidence.

Preliminary steps

The recognition of foreign diplomas is not required if the diploma:

• was obtained in an EU Member State;
• conforms to EU standards;
• corresponds to one of the diplomas listed (see Annex V, point 5.6.2 of European Directive 2005/36/EC).

If the diploma was obtained in a third country, the holder of the diploma must first apply for recognition of the diploma in another Member State of the European Union. The recognition of the diploma must imply that the holder will be authorised to practise in that Member State in the same way as holders of a diploma listed in Annex V of Directive 2005/36/EC and in accordance with the conditions and criteria provided for in Article 44 of the amended law of 28 October 2016 on the recognition of professional qualifications.

Costs

Pharmacists who wish to practise in Luxembourg must pay a tax to obtain a licence to practise.

The amount of the tax is EUR 450.

The tax must be paid by direct deposit or wire transfer to the bank account of the Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority (Administration de l’enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA), along with a statement of the applicant's identity and the purpose of the payment.

How to proceed

Application for a licence to practise

To set up a business and practise in Luxembourg, pharmacists must submit a duly completed and signed application for a licence to practise as a pharmacist to the Ministry of Health, Department for Healthcare Professions (Division Professions de Santé), attaching the following documents:

• a copy of a valid ID document or passport, and, for third-country nationals:
  • a copy of a valid residence permit; or
  • a document attesting that they have been granted international protection;
• an extract from their criminal record less than 3 months old (original document only);
• a certificate of good mental and physical health issued by a licensed doctor (within 3 months prior to the application);
• copies of their diplomas;
• a certificate of good character issued by the Order of Pharmacists (within 3 months prior to the application);
• a curriculum vitae;
• proof of payment of the EUR 450 tax;
• if the pharmacist's mother tongue is not French, German or Luxembourgish, proof of their language skills.

Time frame for a response

When the application is complete, the Ministry of Health will forward it to the Medical Board (Collège médical) for assessment.

The Medical Board can take between 3 weeks and 3 months to issue their assessment.

Requirements

As a reminder, the health professionals' contact details are listed in the register of healthcare professions.

To this end, health professionals are required to update their contact information in the register if their situation changes (address of the medical practice, email address, phone number, etc.).

Using the title of 'Doctor'

It is possible to work as a pharmacist in Luxembourg without having to use the academic title 'Doctor' or 'Dr'.

However, if the pharmacist wishes to use that title, they must register their qualification in the register of certificates.

A copy of the ministerial decree confirming the registration must then be sent to the Ministry of Health, Department for Healthcare Professions, which will update the data in the professional register.

Renewal of the licence to practise

The licence to practise will cease to be valid if the pharmacist does not practise their profession within 2 years of its issuance.

The same applies if they have ceased their professional activity in Luxembourg for more than 2 years and they have left the country.

To obtain a new licence to practise, the pharmacist must fill in the licence application form, sign it and attach the following documents:

• an extract from their criminal record less than 3 months old (original document only);
• a certificate of good mental and physical health issued by a licensed doctor (within 3 months prior to the application);
• a certificate of good character issued by the Order of Pharmacists (within 3 months prior to the application);
• a curriculum vitae;
• proof of payment of the EUR 450 tax.

Possibilities of appeal in the event of refusal

If the application is refused, the applicant may appeal the decision. The appeal must be filed with the administrative tribunal within 3 months of being notified of the decision.

Lapse or invalidity of the authorisation to practise

The licence to practise shall lapse if the pharmacist:

• does not start practising the profession in Luxembourg within 24 months of the issue of the authorisation;
• has ceased their activity in Luxembourg for more than 6 months and transferred their domicile outside of Luxembourg.

Sanctions

The pharmacist's disciplinary, civil and criminal liability may be incurred if, owing to insufficient language skills, they make a mistake in the performance of their duties.

They also run the risk of imprisonment and a fine in the case of:

• illegal use of the title "Pharmacist"; or
• illegal exercise of activity as a pharmacist and usurpation of the title.

Declaration of provision of temporary service

Pharmacists who wish to practise temporarily in Luxembourg must be legally established in the European Union or the European Economic Area.

If they are coming to Luxembourg for the first time, they must file a declaration with the Ministry of Health beforehand.

The pharmacist must also be sufficiently proficient in German and French, and be able to understand all 3 of the administrative languages of Luxembourg.

Pharmacists coming to work in Luxembourg are subject to the same rules of conduct and disciplinary conditions as professionals with established businesses in Luxembourg.

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