Registration

Temporary Registration for Visiting EEA Practitioners

Temporary Registration for Visiting European Economic Area (EEA) Practitioners

EU citizens who are fully established to practise medicine in another EU member state may practise medicine in Ireland on a temporary and occasional basis without having to take out specialist or general registration. Doctors should apply at least one month in advance of providing a service. In order to be eligible for this type of registration, applicants must provide satisfactory evidence of the following

  1. They intend to provide temporary and occasional services related to medical practice in Ireland. This must be done by completing a declaration form in accordance with Article 7 of EU Directive 2005/36/EC. This form may be found in additional information below. Please note doctors intending to provide occasional service on an annual basis must renew the written Declaration annually.
  2. They are an EU citizen. This can be done by providing a notarised/attested copy of their current EU passport and a recent passport-size photograph, as proof of identity
  3. They are currently established with the relevant regulatory/registration body in another EU member state to practise medicine. The relevant body must send a current Certificate of Current Professional Status / Good Standing (dated within the last three months) directly to this office
  4. They hold a recognised primary medical qualification and (where applicable) higher specialist qualification. If the Certificate of Current Professional Status / Good Standing does not display the applicant's primary medical qualification, they must also provide a notarised/attested copy of their primary medical degree
  5. They are currently in good professional standing with all other regulatory/registration bodies with whom they have been registered within the past five years. The relevant body/ies must send a current Certificate of Current Professional Status / Good Standing (dated within the last three months) directly to the Medical Council's offices

Application Procedure

Doctors should apply in advance of providing the service. However, in emergency situations, the above documentation must be provided within fifteen days of the service being provided together with satisfactory evidence that they attended in an emergency.

The Medical Council will examine the documents submitted in support of an application and inform the applicant within one month if it is necessary to further examine/verify the documents provided. If the Medical Council anticipates a delay, the applicant will be informed of the reason for the delay and the estimated timescale for a decision. In the event of a delay, a final decision on the application will be made within two months of receipt of the above documentation. The application will be completed within one month of the final decision. The Medical Council may contact any third party to verify the legality of the service the applicant intends to provide and to verify their professional competence to practise. The Council is entitled to verify such details for each provision of service.

If eligible, the applicant will be registered for temporary and occasional provision of services and assigned a registration number which the doctor should cite in all future correspondence with the Medical Council as well as on all prescriptions, reports and other documents issued by them. Registered visiting EEA practitioners are subject to the Medical Council's rules and disciplinary provisions when practising in this jurisdiction.

The Medical Practitioners Act 2007 makes no provision for the temporary registration of non-EEA practitioners. Specialists who are not eligible for Visiting EEA Registration should apply for specialist registration well in advance of the date they intend practising in Ireland. Click here for further information on specialist registration.

Additional Information