The recognition of the professional qualification of a foreign citizen of the European Union in another member state when exercising a regulated profession is a matter whose regulation in most cases turns out to be unclear. As far as practicing the medical profession is concerned, a whole set of documents are required to be presented to the competent state authorities. Regarding the same, there are a number of specific requirements in order to be accepted, and based on them to issue the certificates, through which the foreign citizen can exercise the medical profession.
First of all, although the citizens of the European Union have the right of free movement, when they intend to reside on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, they are obliged to acquire the corresponding certificate for long-term residence from the Directorate "Migration" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Secondly, once the EU citizen has obtained the above-mentioned certificate of long-term residence, it remains to proceed with the question of how to acquire a permit to exercise a regulated profession. According to Art. 58, para. 2 of the Law on Labor Migration and Labor Mobility, the procedure for acquiring a certificate for the recognition of professional qualifications is done according to the procedure of the Law on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (ZPPK). In it, for the exercise of the medical profession, the order for the start of the proceedings is comprehensively regulated, the documents necessary for presentation to the Ministry of Health are determined, as well as their form, the obligation to pay a state fee is mentioned, as well as a one-month deadline for a ruling, when all documents are submitted as an appendix to the application form, is specified.
The applicant must submit the following documents:
- Document on the presence or absence of imposed administrative or disciplinary penalties, confirming the absence of temporary or final deprivation of the right to exercise the profession
- A document reflecting a clean criminal record
- Document of identity of names when the person has different names
- Academic reference
Thirdly, and after the issuance of a certificate for the recognition of a professional qualification in a medical profession by the Minister of Health or a deputy minister authorized by him, the next phase of the procedure is the issuance of a certificate for the recognition of a specialty in the field of health care for foreign citizens (but EU citizens) who wish to practice it on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. For the purpose of issuing the second certificate by the recognition authority, the following documents are required:
- A copy of a diploma or other proof of professional qualification in the medical profession
- The certificate for the recognition of a professional qualification (according to the previous paragraph)
- Document for acquired specialty in the healthcare system
- A clean criminal record document
- Documents certifying the mental and physical health of the applicant
- Academic reference (if the major was not acquired within the EU)
- Document for paid state fee
Fourthly, in order for the person wishing to practice the medical profession on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and if the provision of the given service will be for the first time, the person is obliged to submit a declaration to the recognition authority (the Minister of Health) together with the annexes specified in the Law on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications. Some of them are:
- Доказателства за професионалните квалификации
- Certificate that the declarant is legally established in the territory of the relevant member state and that he has not been banned from exercising the relevant profession
- The declarant must have practiced the regulated profession for at least one year in the last 10
- Декларация за владеене набългарски език
- Certificate regarding the nature and duration of the activity, issued by the relevant competent authority in the Member State where the person is established.
Finally, after the applicant receives the certificate of recognition of a specialty in the field of health care, the necessary steps should be taken to register the person in the Bulgarian Medical Union. Enrollment in a given medical college has a constitutive effect and is a prerequisite for the exercise of the medical profession, and such a conclusion is confirmed by the detailed regulations in the Law on professional organizations of doctors and dentists.
Law firm "Galeva and Mitkova" has extensive and long-term experience and in-depth knowledge in the fields of medical law and the legal regime of health care. We assist foreign citizens, including citizens of the European Union, in the preparation of all necessary documents and the conduct of all administrative proceedings for the recognition of professional qualifications and specialties. Our team provides a wide range of assistance - from the initial consultation, through the preparation and submission of applications, to the final registration in the Bulgarian Medical Union. Our goal is to make the process as easy as possible for our clients, guaranteeing its legality, speed and successful completion.