24. September 2024.
How to get a doctor’s license in Sweden? We’ll explain the process in detail for all doctors who got their education in some of the EU member states.
Doctors who got their education outside the EU, like in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Turkey, can obtain their license only after they’ve acquired a minimum of three years of work experience in some of the member states of the European Union.
This article is a part of our series on work licenses for healthcare workers in Sweden. Find our other guides here:
In Swedish, doctors of medicine are called läkare (read: le-ka-re). This name is legally protected, which means that only persons who have an adequate license are permitted to use it.
To work as a doctor in Sweden, you must have a Swedish license.
The first step towards getting a doctor’s license in Sweden is requesting a license from the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen).
With your application, you should also submit the following documents:
1) evidence that you’ve paid the fee for application processing – submit a bank statement or an image that confirms you’ve made the payment
2) a copy of a valid identification document, i.e., a copy of the first page of a valid passport or national ID card
3) document confirming the name change – if you changed your name or surname after you finished your education, you will also need to submit a copy and a translation of a document that confirms this change, such as your marriage certificate
4) proof of your language skills – a copy and translation of a certificate and credentials confirming that you know the language at the C1 level. You need to prove your knowledge of Swedish, Danish, or Norwegian language. This is a requirement for everyone, including the residents of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway, since language skills are key in communicating with patients and colleagues.
5) a copy and translation of your doctor of medicine diploma
6) a certificate confirming that you are allowed to practice – this document (Certificate of Good Standing) can’t be older than 3 months.
7) a document that confirms alignment with the EU directives – if you’re coming from an EU member state, you should also submit a document that confirms that you meet the requirements specified by certain articles of the EU directive 2005/36/EG. You can get this document from your national chamber for doctors of medicine. It is called Certificate of Aquired Rights ili Certificate of Conformity.
The next step is getting a coordination number:
Applying for a coordination number on your own: to speed up the process, you can also contact the Skatteverket yourself before you start the license application process and request a coordination number.
If you simultaneously want to apply for a specialist license, you will also need to submit several additional documents:
If you can’t get the necessary certificates from a competent body of authority, you can alternatively submit academic documents that describe the courses you took and how long they lasted.
These documents need to be translated and officially certified.
This goes for all doctors who are not able to obtain a Certificate of Aquired Rights or a Certificate of Conformity. Try to avoid it, though, since the process is significantly more time-consuming and complicated.
In order to get a doctor’s license in Sweden, two things are key: following all the instructions you get from Socialstyrelsen and preparing and collecting documents that confirm your expert qualifications and language skills.
This process requires careful preparation and meeting administrative requirements.
If you want to make this process easier for yourself, our team can guide you through the entire procedure in order to help you get a license faster and more efficiently.
We can distinguish between two types of employment in Scandinavia, national and foreign.
National employment allows you to apply for all open jobs in Scandinavia. However, you’ll need to cover the costs of your language course and your relocation costs yourself.
Foreign employment implies that you’ll need to wait for the Scandinavian countries to open new jobs. The advantage here is that your language course and relocation expenses will be paid for you.
To become more competitive and get foreign employment more easily, we suggest enrolling in Zrinka’s Swedish School. That way, you can complete your C1 level of Swedish in advance, which is one of the main requirements for obtaining a doctor’s license.
Employee satisfaction is a priority in the Swedish healthcare system.
Scandinavia continuously invests in:
Sweden rewards its employees through stimulation programs, which show that the employees’ work is appreciated.
Employers give everyone more or less equal opportunities to participate in professional conferences and congresses.
Employees’ health is also important, which is why they frequently receive financial support for wellness, fitness, etc.
Young families have special benefits since maternity leave in Sweden lasts 480 days, with 90 days being reserved for the fathers. During the first 180 days since birth, HR pays its employees child support alongside regular state support.
There’s also a big emphasis on good interpersonal relationships, with 0 tolerance for violence and abuse.
In his review, dr. Vladimir Ostojić, an abdominal surgeon who moved to Uppsala in Sweden, says:
“At work, there is almost never – and maybe even literally never – any nervousness or arguments… Swedes are not familiar with these concepts.”
With all of this in mind, obtaining a doctor’s license in Sweden implies working in a healthcare system that cares about its employees. Contact us if you want to take advantage of working and living in such an environment in one of the most advanced countries in the world. We’ll help you with every step, from learning the language to moving and obtaining a license.
Are you ready to take advantage of the benefits that Sweden can give you? Contact us and we’ll help you get your doctor’s license.
There’s a chance that the healthcare institution that decides to employ you will pay for your Swedish course. If you already have a job lined up, you can take the course at our school.
If you don’t have a job yet, you’ll get it more easily if you complete the C1 level of Swedish. Zrinka’s Swedish School can help you with that, too.
Start today! The sooner you do, the sooner you’ll be ready to move to Sweden. Choose a course here or contact us at [email protected].
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