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How to Find a Hausarzt in Germany as a Foreigner (Step-by-Step Guide)

2024-09-29

Learn how to find a Hausarzt in Germany as a foreigner — from using Doctolib and Jameda to your first appointment and routine check-ups.

Moving to Germany is exciting, but the moment you catch a cold or need a prescription refilled, you realize you need a Hausarzt — a family doctor — and fast. Finding one as a foreigner can feel overwhelming when you don't know the system, speak limited German, or aren't sure whether your insurance even covers you yet. The good news: with the right tools and a little preparation, you can find a Hausarzt in Germany as a foreigner within a week, even in a big city.

What Is a Hausarzt and Why Do You Need One?

A Hausarzt (literally "house doctor") is your primary care physician in Germany. Think of them as your first stop for almost everything medical — a cough that won't go away, a referral to a specialist, a sick note for your employer (Krankmeldung), or managing a chronic condition like diabetes or high blood pressure.

In Germany, the healthcare system is built around the Hausarzt model. You are not required by law to register with one, but in practice you need one because:

• Specialists (Fachärzte) almost always require a referral letter (Überweisung) from a Hausarzt
• Your Hausarzt keeps your complete medical history in one place
• Statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, or GKV) covers nearly all Hausarzt visits at no additional cost
• You get a Krankmeldung — the sick certificate your employer legally requires — only from a licensed doctor

If you have private health insurance (PKV), the process is slightly different but you still benefit from having a regular Hausarzt.

The Fastest Ways to Find a Hausarzt in Germany

Use Doctolib

Doctolib is the most popular online booking platform in Germany. You can filter by:

• City (try Berlin-Mitte, München-Schwabing, or your specific district)
• "Neue Patienten" (new patients accepted — this filter is crucial)
• Language (English, French, Arabic, and others are listed in many profiles)
• Insurance type (GKV or PKV)

Create a free account, search "Allgemeinmedizin" (general medicine), and book an appointment directly. Many practices confirm within 24 hours.

Use Jameda

Jameda works similarly but also shows patient ratings and doctor bios. It's particularly useful for finding English-speaking or multilingual doctors. Search for "Hausarzt" in your city and check the "Sprachkenntnisse" (language skills) section on each profile. Doctors who speak Arabic, French, or English often list it here.

Call the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (KV)

Every German state has a Kassenärztliche Vereinigung — the association that manages licensed GKV doctors. They run a national hotline: 116 117. Call this number and explain you are a new resident looking for a Hausarzt in your area. They can give you a list of practices currently accepting new patients.

Ask Your Health Insurance Provider

Your GKV provider — AOK, TK (Techniker Krankenkasse), Barmer, DAK — often has a doctor-finder tool on their own website or app. TK's app, for example, lets you filter by language and shows real-time availability. This is worth using because results are pre-filtered to doctors in your specific insurance network.

Walk In and Ask

This is old-fashioned but still works, especially in smaller cities like Freiburg, Erfurt, or Augsburg. Walk into a practice, introduce yourself at reception, and ask if they are accepting new patients ("Nehmen Sie neue Patienten an?"). Bring your insurance card. Some practices will register you on the spot.

Finding an English-Speaking or Arabic-Speaking Doctor

Language is a real barrier, and you have options beyond just hoping the doctor speaks English.

• Doctolib language filter: Type your language in the search and many profiles will surface immediately
• Expat Facebook groups: In cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, expat groups on Facebook have pinned posts with community-recommended English-speaking Hausärzte. Search "[your city] expats" and browse recommendations
• International practices: Major cities have practices specifically designed for international patients. Examples include the International Health Centre Berlin (Ku'damm area) and Medicover in Munich and Hamburg — both with multilingual staff
• University towns: Heidelberg, Göttingen, and Münster have practices near university campuses that are accustomed to international students and often have English-speaking staff
• Translation apps as backup: If your German is limited and you can't find an English speaker nearby, bring Google Translate or a trusted friend to your first appointment

What to Bring to Your First Hausarzt Appointment

German doctors are thorough record-keepers. Show up prepared and your first visit will go much more smoothly.

Required documents:

• Krankenversicherungskarte (your health insurance card) — you receive this from your GKV provider after registration
• Your passport or residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel)
• Anmeldebescheinigung (proof of address registration in Germany)

Helpful to bring:

• A written summary of your medical history in German or English — chronic conditions, surgeries, allergies
• Any current medications you take, with dosage (a photo of the packaging works)
• Previous lab results or vaccination records if you have them
• Name and contact details of any specialist you already see

If you're on regular medication from Morocco, bring the Arabic/French prescription and the medication itself. The Hausarzt can issue a German prescription for the equivalent drug, though this may take a follow-up visit.

What Happens at Your First Appointment

Your first visit (Erstgespräch) typically lasts 20–30 minutes. Here's what to expect:

1. Registration at reception: You hand over your insurance card and it's scanned electronically. No paper forms usually.
2. Medical history intake: The doctor asks about existing conditions, current medications, family history, and lifestyle (smoking, alcohol, exercise).
3. Basic measurements: Blood pressure, weight, and sometimes an ECG (electrocardiogram) if you're over 35.
4. Routine blood tests: Your Hausarzt may order a Blutbild (blood panel) — this includes cholesterol, blood sugar (HbA1c), liver and kidney values, and a complete blood count. This is standard and costs you nothing with GKV.
5. Vaccinations check: Germany follows a vaccination schedule from the Robert Koch Institut (RKI). Your doctor will check if you're up to date and may recommend boosters.

Follow-up appointments are usually shorter — 10 to 15 minutes — and focused on a specific issue.

Routine Tests Your Hausarzt Will Likely Recommend

German preventive care (Vorsorge) is comprehensive and largely free with GKV. Once registered, you're entitled to regular screenings:

• Check-up 35 (Gesundheits-Check-up): A full health screening offered to all GKV members from age 35, then every three years. Covers blood sugar, cholesterol, kidney function, and a urine test.
• Cancer screenings: Bowel cancer screening from age 50, skin cancer screening every two years from age 35, cervical smear for women, prostate check for men from age 45.
• Dental check-up: Twice a year, covered by GKV — handled by a Zahnarzt (dentist), not your Hausarzt, but your Hausarzt can refer you.
• Eye pressure test: Relevant if you have a family history of glaucoma.

What People Get Wrong When Looking for a Hausarzt in Germany

Waiting until you're sick: Many foreigners only look for a Hausarzt when they're already ill. Then they discover the nearest practice isn't accepting new patients. Register within your first month in Germany, before you need it urgently.

Ignoring the "neue Patienten" filter: Booking platforms show all doctors, including those with full patient lists. Always filter for "neue Patienten" or call ahead. Showing up without confirmation wastes everyone's time.

Assuming the emergency room is the answer: In Germany, the Notaufnahme (emergency room) is for genuine emergencies only. For a fever, ear infection, or back pain, you go to your Hausarzt or call 116 117 for an after-hours appointment. Using the ER for non-emergencies is expensive and frowned upon.

Not bringing your insurance card on day one: Without your Krankenversicherungskarte, many practices will ask you to pay out of pocket (around €50–€100 for a standard visit) and claim it back later. Avoid the hassle — carry the card.

Expecting a walk-in system: Germany is appointment-based. Only true medical emergencies allow walk-ins. Book ahead, always.

Conclusion

Finding a Hausarzt in Germany as a foreigner is one of the most practical things you can do in your first weeks here. It protects your health, gives you access to the full German healthcare system, and saves you from expensive ER visits for routine problems. Use Doctolib or Jameda, filter by language and "neue Patienten," bring your insurance card and a short medical history summary, and you'll have a doctor registered within days.

Getting your health sorted is just one piece of settling into Germany. If you're still working on your application documents, use our free CV builder to create a professional German-style Lebenslauf, or generate a cover letter tailored to German employers. Book a consultation with our German immigration specialist (€16) to plan your move — so you can focus on building your new life, not navigating paperwork alone.