Resident, senior registrar or hospital consultant
Most foreign doctors start as an assistant physician, the Swiss equivalent of a resident, in a cantonal or university hospital, doing postgraduate training towards a specialist title. Senior registrar and deputy head posts already require a federal or recognised title.
The MEBEKO commission and EU Directive 2005/36
The Medical Professions Commission (MEBEKO), attached to the Federal Office of Public Health, recognises medical diplomas covered by European Directive 2005/36. For holders of a French, German or Italian diploma, recognition follows a formal check of the file.
Medical degrees from outside the European Union
A Moroccan, Tunisian, Lebanese or Canadian diploma is not recognised automatically. MEBEKO examines each file individually and may require you to pass the federal examination in human medicine, which often takes several years of preparation.
MedReg registration and B2 language level
Every doctor practising in Switzerland is listed in the federal MedReg register, together with the languages they master. The FOPH requires B2 level, proven by a language diploma less than six years old, studies in that language or three years of practice.
Choosing between Geneva, Vaud, Bern and Ticino
In Geneva and Lausanne, French is enough for the HUG or CHUV university hospitals, but Fribourg, Biel and Valais look for bilingual doctors. In Ticino, Italian is essential, and German opens most posts in Zurich, Bern and Basel.
Federal specialist title awarded by the SIWF
The Swiss Institute for Medical Education, known as SIWF or ISFM, awards specialist titles, for instance in general internal medicine, paediatrics or psychiatry. A European title can be recognised by MEBEKO; otherwise you must complete the full Swiss training pathway.
Licence to practise from the cantonal medical officer
Working under your own professional responsibility, in private practice or as a head physician, requires a cantonal licence issued by the cantonal medical officer's service. The file includes the recognised diploma, specialist title, criminal record extract and medical certificate.
Billing compulsory insurance: three years in Switzerland
To bill under LAMal compulsory health insurance, a doctor must have worked at least three years in a Swiss institution recognised for postgraduate training in their specialty. Cantons may also cap the number of newly admitted doctors.
Working hours for assistant physicians
Since 2005, assistant physicians have been covered by the Labour Act, with a ceiling of 50 hours per week. Their association, VSAO/ASMAC, nevertheless reports frequent overruns; record your hours so they can be compensated.
Public hospital pay scales
Public hospital salaries follow published cantonal scales, which vary by canton, training year and position. Compare the classes offered by Geneva, Vaud or Neuchâtel, and see our page on salaries and contributions in Switzerland to understand deductions.
B permit or cross-border status with a hospital post
A European doctor hired by a hospital receives a B or L permit; if living in Annemasse, they can work as a cross-border commuter with a G permit. For non-EU doctors, the hospital justifies hiring within quotas, capped at 4 500 B permits in 2026.
Working alongside other health professions
In French-speaking Switzerland, hospitals and private clinics such as the Hirslanden group or Swiss Medical Network also recruit midwives, pharmacists and nurses. Our overview of healthcare jobs in Switzerland presents the institutions and related careers.
A foreign doctor's route to a Swiss medical post
- Submit your medical diploma recognition request to MEBEKO, with certified copies and a certificate of conformity with the European directive.
- Obtain a B2 language certificate in French, German or Italian, less than six years old, then apply for MedReg registration.
- Have any foreign specialist title recognised, or plan SIWF postgraduate training in a recognised Swiss institution.
- Apply to cantonal and university hospitals with a Swiss-format CV, photo, list of procedures performed and references from heads of department.
- Apply with your employer for a B, L or G permit at the cantonal population office before starting.
- To open a practice, request the cantonal licence to practise and then admission to bill compulsory health insurance.
Doctor income and set-up costs
| Item | Indicative amount | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant physician or senior registrar salary | Based on the public cantonal scale | Canton, training year, on-call duty and department |
| MEBEKO diploma recognition | Fee set by the Confederation | EU or non-EU diploma, additional examination |
| Registering a language in MedReg | 50 to 100 CHF per language | Mother tongue registered free of charge on request |
| DELF B2, Goethe or CELI language certificate | Varies by exam centre | Country and language chosen |
| LAMal health insurance | Monthly premium by canton | Deductible, insurance model, age |
| Cantonal licence to practise | Cantonal fee | Canton and type of activity |
Documents requested from doctor applicants
- Medical diploma with MEBEKO recognition
- MedReg registration certificate showing registered languages
- Specialist title or postgraduate training certificates
- Language certificate at B2 level or higher
- Swiss-format CV with photo and a logbook of procedures
- Reference letters from heads of department
- Criminal record extract and certificate of good professional standing
- Passport or residence permit
Frequent missteps by doctors trained abroad
- Sending applications to hospitals before filing the MEBEKO request, when departments require at least proof that a procedure is under way.
- Underestimating the language requirement: B2 is enough for MedReg, but case meetings and patient files often demand stronger French or German.
- Believing a non-EU diploma allows independent practice, when the federal examination may be required before any autonomous work.
- Opening a practice without checking the three years of Swiss practice needed to bill compulsory insurance, or cantonal admission limits.
- Neglecting employment references and on-call records, which are essential to validate postgraduate training with the SIWF.
Your questions about working as a doctor in Switzerland
How long does MEBEKO take to recognise a French medical diploma?
For a diploma covered by the European directive, the procedure is mainly administrative and generally takes a matter of weeks once the file is complete. Timescales vary with the period; file the request before applying and check its status with the FOPH.
Can a doctor work in German-speaking Switzerland with B2 German?
B2 allows the language to be registered in MedReg, but patients often speak Swiss German dialect. Hospitals in Bern, Basel or St. Gallen value doctors who take extra courses, and they check language level during interviews.
Do you need a specialist title to be hired as an assistant physician?
No. The assistant physician post exists precisely to train towards an SIWF specialist title. You do, however, need a recognised medical diploma, MedReg registration and a valid work permit in the canton where the hospital is located.
Is a Swiss doctorate in medicine required to practise?
The Swiss title of doctor of medicine, obtained after a thesis, is not needed to practise. What counts is the federal diploma or one recognised by MEBEKO, the specialist title and the cantonal licence when working independently.