Apply for European Professional Card

To apply for the European Professional Card, you need an online account with the European Commission.

• The online account at the European Commission is free of charge. You register with the authentication service of the European Commission ("EU Login").
• Then you create your profile with your personal data (identity card or passport number, name, nationality) and your contact data (address, e-mail address, telephone number, etc.). The information about yourself will be in your European Professional Card.
• After you have created your profile, you can apply for the European Professional Card. To do this, go to the European Commission's European Professional Card website and select "Access the EBA procedure".
• When applying, you will find out which documents the host country requires for the recognition of your professional qualification. You can upload the documents directly. Please upload each document as a separate file.
• The responsible office will process your application and possibly send it to the responsible office in the host country for further processing.
• Once you have sent your application, you cannot change the information about yourself. An update can only be made by the competent office that is processing your application. However, you can update your contact information at any time.
• After your application has been approved, you will be able to create an EBA certificate in PDF format. The EBA certificate contains a reference number. With this reference number, your future employer can check the validity of your European Professional Card online.
• If your application is rejected, you will receive a decision. You can take legal action against the decision of the competent body. The decision will then be reviewed. Details on this can be found in the appeal instructions at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

Note: The competent office in your country of origin will confirm within one week that your documents have arrived. It will inform you if any documents are missing.

Please contact the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training.

Alternatively, you can contact the Single Point of Contact in Rhineland-Palatinate.The Single Point of Contact is a public body through which you can handle all administrative procedures and formalities required for the commencement and exercise of your service activity and for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification. Further information can be found on the website of the Point of Single Contact.

• Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training
• Website - Single point of contact Rhineland-Palatinate

You need one of the following professional qualifications from a country in the EU or EEA:

• Nurse Practitioner (general care nurse).
• Pharmacist
• Physiotherapist
• Mountain guide
• Real estate agent (Immobilienmaklerin or Immobilienmakler)

If you did not obtain your professional qualification in the EU or EEA, you may also be able to apply for a European Professional Card. The following requirements apply:

• Your professional qualification has already been recognized in a country of the EU or EEA, and
• You have practiced your profession in that country for at least three years after your professional qualification was recognized.

The documents required depend on the profession for which you are applying for the European Professional Card. The electronic application wizard on the European Commission website will tell you which documents are required.

As a rule, the following documents are required:

• Proof of identity (passport or identity card).
• If your name has changed: Your marriage certificate or an equivalent official document
• Diploma or degree certificate of your professional qualification
• Proof that you are allowed to practice the profession in your country of origin and that you have not been convicted of a criminal offense (Certificate of Good Standing)
• Possibly a certificate of conformity
• Possibly a health certificate

Note: You may need to have the documents translated into the language of the host country. The translations must be done by publicly appointed or authorized translators.

Costs may be incurred in the country of origin and the host country for processing your application. The costs differ depending on the country and profession.

You can estimate the costs in advance on the European Commission's website on the European Professional Card.

In addition, there may be other costs (e.g. for translations and certification of your documents). These costs vary individually.

Period of validity of the European Professional Card:

• In case of temporary activity (service): 18 months in most cases. if your profession could have an impact on public health and safety and is not automatically recognized (e.g. physiotherapists and mountain guides): 12 months
• in case of permanent activity (establishment): indefinitely

The processing time depends on your profession and whether you want to work temporarily or permanently in the host country. If your occupation may have public health and safety implications, special screening may be required in the host country.

Temporary occupation (service).

• Maximum of 3 weeks if no special verification is needed in the host country.
• Maximum 4 months if special review is needed in host country. The competent body in the country of origin will review your application in a maximum of one month. Subsequently, the competent body in the host country will decide in a maximum of 3 months.

Permanent activity (settlement)

• Maximum 4 months for professions without automatic recognition. The competent body in the country of origin examines your application in a maximum of one month. Subsequently, the competent body in the host country decides in a maximum of 3 months.
• Maximum of 3 months for professions with automatic recognition (pharmacist, health care worker and nurse). The competent body in the country of origin examines your application in a maximum of one month. Subsequently, the competent body in the host country will decide in a maximum of 2 months.

Note: If the competent body in the host country does not make a decision within the above-mentioned time periods, your professional qualification is automatically considered recognized.

• Artikel 4a - 4f Richtlinie 2005/36/EG über die Anerkennung von Berufsqualifikationen
• Durchführungsverordnung (EU) 2015/983 betreffend das Verfahren zur Ausstellung des Europäischen Berufsausweises

Forms: no

Online procedure possible: yes

Written form required: no

Personal appearance required: no

• Onlineverfahren zur Beantragung der Europäischen Berufsausweises

For other professional qualifications, you must go through the regular recognition procedures of the host country. For more information, please contact the relevant Single Point of Contact.

Please note that the EPC does not usually automatically confer a right to practise the profession (exception: occasional and temporary services with no impact on public health or safety).

If you are planning to establish yourself, you may need to register with a professional organization in the host country or provide certain evidence (e.g. regarding reliability or health) before you start practicing the profession. Ask a single point of contact or the authorities in the host country whether this is necessary in your case.

07.04.2019