Registering with a Hausarzt, or general practitioner (GP), should be one of your first steps after arriving in Germany. Many newcomers forget about this until they get sick and have to find a doctor quickly.

This guide explains what a Hausarzt is, how to find one, what to expect at your first visit, what documents to bring, and how to manage if you do not speak much German.

What Is a Hausarzt and Why Do You Need One?

Hausarzt means “house doctor” in German, but it refers to your registered general practitioner. In Germany, your Hausarzt is the first person you see for most non-emergency health problems.

Your Hausarzt will:

• Conduct routine check-ups and preventive screenings.
• Diagnose and treat common illnesses.
• Issue prescriptions and sick leave certificates (Krankmeldung)
• Refer you to specialists (Facharzt) when needed.
• Coordinate your overall care and maintain your medical history.

Once you register with a practice, you become a Stammpatient — a regular patient. This status matters. Stammpatient is given priority for appointments, and your doctor builds familiarity with your health history over time. It is a meaningfully different experience from walk-in care.

How to Find a Hausarzt

It can take some time to find a Hausarzt who is accepting new patients, especially in big cities. Here are the best ways to search:

Online Directories

• Doctolib (doctolib.de) is the most popular appointment platform. You can filter by speciality (Allgemeinmedizin or Innere Medizin), location, and insurance type (GKV or PKV). Many practices show whether they are accepting new patients.
• Jameda (jameda.de) is Germany’s main doctor review site. You can search by location, read patient reviews, and book appointments directly if available.
• Your Krankenkasse’s Arztsuche (doctor search) is also helpful. Most public insurers have a tool on their website to find doctors in your area who accept your insurance.

The Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (KV)

Every German state has a Kassenärztliche Vereinigung, which is the official group of doctors who treat GKV patients. Their websites have directories of all registered practices. For urgent cases, you can call 116 117 to find a practice that is taking new patients.

Ask Locally

Word of mouth still works well. Ask your colleagues, neighbours, or other expats nearby. Local Facebook groups and expat forums for your city are also good places to find recommendations, especially for English-speaking doctors.

What to Look for When Choosing a Practice

Besides location, think about these factors when choosing a practice:

• Language: Does the practice have English-speaking staff or doctors? Try searching for “Arzt Englisch” or “English speaking GP” on Doctolib or Jameda.
• Insurance: Make sure they accept your Krankenkasse (GKV) or treat private patients (PKV). Not every practice accepts all insurers.
• Online booking: Practices that use Doctolib or similar systems make it much easier to schedule and manage appointments.
• Opening hours: Check if the practice offers evening or Saturday hours if you cannot make daytime appointments.
• Waiting times: Look at recent reviews to see how long people usually wait, as this can vary a lot between practices.

How to Register: Step by Step

You do not register with a Hausarzt through a government website. Instead, you arrange it directly with the practice. Here is how it usually works:

1. Contact the practice by phone, in person, or through their online booking system to ask if they are taking new patients. Some practices show this information on their website.
2. Book a registration or new patient appointment, sometimes called an Erstgespräch or Aufnahmetermin. This is often a short introductory visit, not a full consultation.
3. Bring the required documents — see the checklist below.
4. Fill out the Patientenbogen (registration form) with your personal details, insurance information, and basic health history.
5. Your Hausarzt will record your medical history, including any conditions, medications, allergies, and family history. Bring any previous medical records or summaries you have.
6. Once registered, you are a Stamp patient and can book future appointments directly with the practice.

Documents to Bring

Prepare the following before your first appointment:

Your First Appointment: What to Expect

Your first visit to a new Hausarzt usually takes longer than a regular follow-up. It often lasts 20 to 40 minutes. The doctor will ask about your health history, may do a quick physical exam, and will talk with you about any current health concerns.

Some things to be prepared for:

• You might need to fill out a written questionnaire (Fragebogen) about your health history before seeing the doctor. These forms are usually in German, so bring a translation of important terms if you need to.
• Blood pressure, weight, and basic vitals are commonly measured at the first appointment.
• If you have chronic conditions or take regular medication, the doctor will want to review these and may need to issue new prescriptions, as prescriptions from abroad are not valid in Germany.
• If your German is limited, bring a written list of your symptoms or concerns in German. DeepL is a great tool for this.

Walk-In vs Appointment

In Germany, most doctors work by appointment. Walk-ins are usually only accepted for urgent cases. If you show up without an appointment and it is not urgent, the staff will likely ask you to book a slot for another time.

For urgent but non-emergency issues, like a sudden infection, high fever, or injury, most practices keep a few same-day urgent slots (Akuttermine or Notfalltermine). Call the practice early in the morning to ask for one.

Out-of-Hours Care

When your Hausarzt is closed, such as in the evenings, on weekends, or on public holidays, the medical on-call service takes over. This is called the Ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst, and you can reach it by calling 116 117.

The 116 117 service will assess your situation by phone and either:

• Advise you over the telephone.
• Direct you to the nearest on-call practice.
• Arrange a home visit in certain cases.

This service is available 24/7. For non-life-threatening problems outside practice hours, always call 116 117 before going to the emergency department. This helps hospitals and is often faster for you.

Sick Leave: Getting a Krankmeldung

If you are too sick to work, your Hausarzt will give you a sick leave certificate (Krankmeldung or Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung, AU). This is a normal part of their job and does not take long.

Important points:

• You must inform your employer on the first day of absence, regardless of how long you expect to be ill.
• You need a Krankmeldung starting from the fourth day you are sick. Some employers want it from day one, so check your contract.
• Since 2023, the eAU (electronic sick note) has been used. Your Hausarzt sends it directly to your Krankenkasse, but you still need to tell your employer yourself.
• If you are ill on a Friday and your Hausarzt is closed, call 116 117 — the on-call service can also issue sick notes.

Tips for Non-German Speakers

A language barrier should not stop you from registering with a good Hausarzt. Here are some tips to help:

• On Doctolib, you can filter for English-speaking practices. Many cities list English as a language they offer.
• Prepare a written medical summary in German before your appointment. Use DeepL to translate key details about your health history, current medications, allergies, and symptoms.
• Use the DeepL or Google Translate app during your appointment for real-time translation.
• Your Krankenkasse may offer a telephone interpretation service — call them to ask before your appointment.
• If you can, bring a German-speaking friend or colleague to your first appointment. Even a little language help at reception can make things much easier.

Summary: Key Takeaways

• Register with a Hausarzt as soon as you arrive in Germany, even if you feel healthy now.
• Use Doctolib, Jameda, or your Krankenkasse’s doctor finder to find practices that are taking new patients.
• Bring your Krankenversicherungskarte, passport, proof of address, and any important medical records to your first appointment.
• When you register, you become a Stammpatient. This gives you priority and ongoing care.
• For non-emergency care outside regular hours, always call 116 117 before going to the hospital.
• Language support is available. Look for English-speaking practices and use translation tools.