Temporary authorisation to replace a medical practitioner established in Luxembourg
Last update
The Minister of Health and Social Security may in certain circumstances grant a temporary authorisation to practice by way of replacement for a medical practitioner established in Luxembourg.
The authorisation is limited to nationals of a Member State of the European Union.
Who is concerned
Nationals of a Member State of the European Union (EU) or persons treated as such wishing to temporarily replace a medical practitioner established in Luxembourg and who are:
- in their final year of specific training in general medicine or specialist training; or
- in their final year of training in dentistry or specialist dentistry.
Prerequisites
Required language skills
Applicants must possess the language skills that are necessary for them to exercise their profession in Luxembourg.
If their mother tongue is not French, German or Luxembourgish, proof of their language skills must be provided in order to be authorised to temporarily practise medicine in Luxembourg.
The minimum level of language proficiency required in French or German is level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The level can be proven by any means such as:
- a copy of the training certificates obtained in one of these 2 languages;
- proof of professional experience in a French- or German-speaking country.
Applicants who cannot provide such proof as listed above must provide a level B2 language proficiency certificate issued by an approved examination centre.
In Luxembourg, the approved examination centre is the National Institute for Languages Luxembourg (Institut national des langues Luxembourg - INLL).
Replacement authorisation
General medicine
Authorisation to replace a general medical practitioner is granted where the applicants:
- are nationals of a Member State of the European Union (EU) or treated as nationals of a Member State of the EU;
- hold a recognised basic medical qualification in accordance with the provisions of the amended Law of 28 October 2016 on the recognition of professional qualifications; and
- produce evidence showing that they are in their final year of specific training in general medicine and that they have completed at least half of the planned professional training in an approved general medical practice or an approved centre in which medical practitioners deliver primary care.
Specialist medicine
Authorisation to replace a medical practitioner in a field of specialist medicine may only be granted for the discipline forming the subject-matter of the specialist training of the person concerned.
It is granted where applicants:
- are nationals of a Member State of the European Union (EU) or treated as nationals of a Member State of the EU;
- holds recognised basic medical qualification in accordance with the provisions of the amended Law of 28 October 2016 on the recognition of professional qualifications; and
- produce evidence showing that they are in their final year of specialist training.
Dentistry
Authorisation to replace a practitioner in the field of dentistry is granted where the applicants:
- are nationals of a Member State of the European Union (EU) or treated as nationals of a Member State of the EU;
- produce evidence showing that they have successfully completed the final year of theoretical and practical studies comprised in their training in dentistry.
Specialist dentistry
Authorisation to replace a practitioner in specialist dentistry is granted where the applicants:
- are national of a Member State of the European Union (EU) or treated as nationals of a Member State of the EU;
- hold a qualification as a trained dentist or a qualification as a trained specialist dentist recognised as such in accordance with the provisions of the amended Law of 28 October 2016 on the recognition of professional qualifications; and
- produces evidence showing that they have successfully completed the final year of theoretical and practical studies comprised in their specialist training .
Costs
The application for a temporary replacement authorisation requires the prior payment of a fee of EUR 150.
The application for the extension of a temporary replacement authorisation requires the prior payment of a fee of EUR 150.
When applications are made online through MyGuichet.lu, the fee must be paid online.
For applications submitted by post, the fee must be paid to the following bank account:
IBAN : IBAN LU13 1111 0011 4679 0000
BIC : CCPLLULL
Name of the beneficiary: Administration de l’enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA
Communication: REMPLMED + name of the professional or REMPLMEDDENT + name of the professional
Note: fees will not be reimbursed if the Minister of Health and Social Security refuses to grant the temporary replacement authorisation, or if the applicant withdraws their application.
How to proceed
Submission of the application for a temporary replacement authorisation
Applicants can apply for a temporary replacement authorisation:
- online via MyGuichet.lu. The online procedure can be done with or without authentication using a LuxTrust product or electronic identity card (eID) (see 'Online services and forms'). It is also available in the mobile app;
- by post by sending the form (see 'Online services and forms') and required supporting documents to the following address:
Ministère de la Santé et de la Sécurité sociale
1, rue Charles Darwin
L-1433 Luxembourg
The procedure with authentication has several advantages compared to the procedure without authentication. In particular, it allows the temporary saving of the data entered so that the applicants can access them later.
Once the declaration has been submitted, all subsequent messages and notifications concerning changes in the processing status of the application will be sent to the applicants by email.
Supporting documents
General medicine
You must include the following supporting documents with your application:
- a curriculum vitae;
- a copy of your basic medical qualification;
- evidence showing that you are in your final year of specific training in general medicine and that you have completed at least one half of the prescribed professional training in an approved general medical practice or an approved centre in which medical practitioners deliver primary care;
- a copy of your identity document;
- a medical certificate certifying that you are fit to practise the profession;
- an extract from the criminal record;
- a certificate of good character and professional integrity, issued by the relevant medical association in your country of origin or provenance (only if you are registered with the association overseeing your profession).
The documents referred to in points 5, 6 and 7 must not be more than 3 months old.
Specialist medicine
You must include the following supporting documents with your application:
- a curriculum vitae;
- a copy of your basic medical training;
- evidence showing that you are in your final year of specialist training;
- a copy of your identity document;
- a medical certificate certifying that you are fit to practise the profession;
- an extract from the criminal record;
- a certificate of good character and professional integrity, issued by the relevant medical association in your country of origin or provenance (only if you are registered with the association overseeing your profession).
The documents referred to in points 5, 6 and 7 must not be more than 3 months old.
Dentistry
You must include the following supporting documents with your application:
- a curriculum vitae;
- evidence showing that you have successfully completed the final year of theoretical and practical studies comprised in your training in dentistry;
- a copy of your identity document;
- a medical certificate certifying that you are fit to practise the profession;
- an extract from the criminal record;
- a certificate of good character and professional integrity, issued by the relevant medical association in your country of origin or provenance (only if you are registered with the association overseeing your profession).
The documents referred to in points 4, 5 and 6 must not be more than 3 months old.
Specialist dentistry
You must include the following supporting documents with your application:
- a curriculum vitae;
- a copy of the document certifying your training in dentistry;
- evidence showing that you have successfully completed the final year of theoretical and practical studies comprised in your training in dentistry;
- a copy of your identity document;
- a medical certificate certifying that you are fit to practise the profession;
- an extract from the criminal record;
- a certificate of good character and professional integrity, issued by the relevant medical association in your country of origin or provenance (only if you are registered with the association overseeing your profession).
The documents referred to in points 5, 6 and 7 must not be more than 3 months old.
Translations of documents
All documents that are not drawn up in French, German or Luxembourgish must be accompanied by their French, German or Luxembourgish translation produced by a sworn/certified translator.
Duration of the temporary replacement authorisations
The replacement authorisation is issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Security on the advice of the Medical Board (Collège médical).
It is granted for a maximum period of 6 months and may be renewed, but without however exceeding a total duration of 18 months from the starting date of the first authorisation granted.
Extension application
The procedure for an extension application is the same as the initial application procedure (submission via MyGuichet.lu or by post).
Applicants must attach proof of payment of the fee of EUR 150 to their extension application.
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 one month of being notified of the decision.
Requirements
Information
Medical practitioners should apprise themselves of the public-health and social legislation applicable in Luxembourg, as well as the applicable code of ethics.
Liability insurance
Medical practitioners who practise in Luxembourg must have liability insurance covering professional risks.
Using the title of 'Doctor'
The title 'Dr' may only be used by practitioners who have obtained a diploma entitling them to use the academic title 'Doctor' after having defended a doctoral thesis. This diploma must be recognised as the equivalent of level 8 in the Luxembourg Qualifications Framework (Cadre luxembourgeois des qualifications - CLQ).
A copy of the ministerial decree confirming the registration must then be sent to the Ministry of Health and Social Security, which will update the data in the professional register.
Sanctions
The medical practitioners' 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 'Doctor'; or
- illegal practice of the profession, or incitement to illegal practice of the profession.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
-
Ministry of Health and Social Security Health Professionals - Medical professions
- Address:
- 1, rue Charles Darwin L-1433 Luxembourg Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 85 505
- Email address:
- professions.medicales@ms.etat.lu
- Website:
- https://m3s.gouvernement.lu/en.html
Related procedures and links
Links
Legal references
-
Directive 2005/36 du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 7 septembre 2005
relative à la reconnaissance des qualifications professionnelles
- Code de la santé
-
Loi modifiée du 29 avril 1983
concernant l'exercice des professions de médecin, de médecin-dentiste et de médecin-vétérinaire
-
Loi modifiée du 28 octobre 2016
relative à la reconnaissance des qualifications professionnelles
-
Règlement grand-ducal du 10 juillet 2011
fixant la liste des spécialités en médecine et médecine dentaire reconnues au Luxembourg
-
Règlement grand-ducal modifié du 30 mai 1996
fixant les modalités de remplacement en médecine et médecine dentaire ainsi que la procédure à suivre pour obtenir l'autorisation de remplacement
