The Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection [ Bundesministerium für Arbeit, Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz ] is the competent authority for the recognition of equivalence of a diploma acquired in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for nurses responsible for general care.

Working in Austria without the state recognition and the registration in the register of healthcare professionals or employing such persons, is an administrative offence, punishable by a fine. It may also be subject to personal liability consequences under criminal and civil law.

Nurses responsible for general care may also apply for recognition using the European Professional Card - EPC ( → EU ) .

Diploma for nurses responsible for general care, issued on the basis of a state certified training. Diploma have to be issued by the Government of an EEA -State or of Switzerland.

Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection
Radetzkystraße 2
1031 Vienna

email: anerkennung@sozialministerium.at

A written application can be submitted in person, by post or by e-mail with an electronic signature. There is also the option to apply for recognition using the European Professional Card (online tool).

In case of significant differences between the national qualification and the Austrian qualification, recognition can be granted only on the basis of compensation measures such as completion of adaptation training or an aptitude test in an Austrian training institution. In this case the recognition process can be expected to take four months .

If there is no training or test required, the recognition process can be expected to take three months.

Appeals may be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection in writing within four weeks after receiving the decision.

• Application
• Austrian residence permit or Austrian postal address with an authorised recipient for formal delivery (written authorisation!)
• Formal qualification confirming officially recognized and successfully completed training in an EU Member State, EEA -State or in Switzerland
• Attestation certifying that the applicant is legally established in a Member State for the purpose of pursuing the activities concerned and that she/he is not prohibited from practising, even temporarily, at the moment of delivering the attestation
• Persons who satisfy the conditions of training required, in addition to evidence of formal qualifications: Certificate from the competent authorities of the home Member State stating that the evidence of formal qualifications is covered by Directive 2005/36/ EC
• Certificate of acquired rights under Art 23, 33 und 33a of the Directive 2005/36/ EC and, if possible/available, proof of professional experience
• In case the applicant's name differs from the name shown on the diploma or on the certificate, a wedding or divorce certificate or any other official document proving the change of name must be submitted
• Evidence of citizenship , valid passport or personal identification document (copy)

All documents and certificates (except evidence of citizenship) must be submitted as originals or as copies authenticated by a court, a notary public or a municipal authority. Documents in other languages than German or English have to be translated by a certified court translator.

Non authenticated copies or untranslated documents are not accepted as evidence. After processing, all original documents will be returned immediately.

Administration fees are approximately 250 Euro. The fees have to be paid after completion of the procedure.

This application is for: Nurses responsible for general care

• sections 28a , 28b , 29 of the Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegegesetz (GuKG)
• Gesundheits- und Krankenpflege- EWR -Qualifikationsnachweis-Verordnung (GuK-EWRV)
• section 15 of the Gesundheitsberuferegister-Gesetz (GBRG)

I have noted that the data provided by me, as well as any data received by the administration over the course of the preliminary investigation, will be automatically processed as per article 6, para. 1 lit. c and e of the General Data Protection Regulation in accordance with the underlying material laws of the legal process. Furthermore, I am aware that this is for the purpose of executing the legal procedure initiated by me, the granting of regulatory approval and also for the purpose of review. I have read the general information regarding: 

• the right to access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, withdrawal and objection, as well as on data portability
• the right to lodge a complaint with the Austrian data protection authority
• the responsibilities of the process controller and the data protection officer as per https://datenschutz.stmk.gv.at.

Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection

8 July 2026