If you wish to practice the profession of pharmacist in the Federal Republic of Germany, you generally require a license to practice as a pharmacist. If you have not completed your training in a member state of the European Union or a contracting state of the Agreement on the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you can also be granted a permit to temporarily practice the profession of pharmacist upon application. The permit may be restricted to certain activities and places of employment. It may only be granted revocably and only up to a total duration of two years at the most. In exceptional cases, the permit may be extended beyond this period. In Bavaria, the Government of Upper Bavaria and the Government of Lower Franconia are responsible for issuing the permit. The Government of Upper Bavaria is responsible if you wish to practice the profession of pharmacist in the administrative districts of Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate or Swabia. The government of Lower Franconia is responsible if you wish to practice the profession of pharmacist in the administrative districts of Upper, Middle or Lower Franconia.
If you have completed your training in an EU/EEA state or Switzerland, you will not usually be granted a permit. Instead, you must immediately apply for an Approbation. An exception applies if there is a special interest in the granting of the permit with regard to the intended practice of the profession of pharmacist.
In certain cases, nationals of an EU/EEA state or Switzerland may practice the profession of pharmacist in the Federal Republic of Germany without an Approbation or without a permit to temporarily practice the profession of pharmacist, provided that they temporarily and occasionally act as providers of services within the meaning of Article 57 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (ex Article 50 of the EC Treaty). However, they are subject to a notification requirement. The Government of Upper Bavaria and the Government of Lower Franconia will inform you - in accordance with the distribution of responsibilities described above - whether you require a permit.