How to Book a Doctor Appointment in Germany

In Germany, seeing a doctor usually starts with making an appointment, a Termin. For new residents, the main route is this: for ordinary complaints, start by looking for a family doctor, a Hausarzt; for a specialist, a Facharzt, book directly or with a referral, an Überweisung; and for an urgent but not life-threatening situation, use the on-call medical service 116117. If there is a threat to life or a severe acute condition, call 112 instead of waiting for an appointment at a practice.

How the patient pathway works

The German system relies heavily on outpatient practices. A doctor’s practice is not a polyclinic in the familiar sense: each doctor has their own schedule, rules for accepting new patients, and ways of communicating. That is why one practice may offer online booking, another may work only by phone, and a third may temporarily stop taking new patients.

For newcomers, it is easiest to start with a Hausarzt. This is a general practitioner or internist who handles basic complaints, colds, chronic illnesses, sick notes, vaccinations, and initial diagnostics. If the issue requires a narrower specialty, the Hausarzt issues an Überweisung and tells you where to go next.

You can reach some Facharzt practices without a referral, but in practice a referral often helps: it explains the reason for the visit, can be attached to test results, and is sometimes required for diagnostic services such as radiology. If you are not sure whether you need a referral, ask the specialist’s practice before booking.

Who to contact in typical situations

Situation	Where to go
Cold, pain, blood pressure issues, chronic complaints, first unclear symptom	Hausarzt
You need a cardiologist, nephrologist, orthopedist, dermatologist, or another Facharzt	First ask your Hausarzt or book directly if the practice accepts patients without an Überweisung
You need diagnostics such as an MRI, CT scan, X-ray, or a specialized examination	A prescription or referral from a doctor is usually required
Practices are closed, you cannot wait until tomorrow, but there is no threat to life	116117 or Bereitschaftspraxis
Severe chest pain, stroke-like symptoms, serious injury, loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, heavy bleeding	112

How to find a doctor and make an appointment

Start with Hausarzt practices near your home. You can search through the website of the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung in your federal state, the 116117 service, maps, recommendations from neighbors, and your health insurance company. If you are insured with a public Krankenkasse, say gesetzlich versichert when booking. If you have private insurance, say privat versichert.

Before calling, prepare a short sentence in German:

Guten Tag, ich suche einen Termin. Ich bin neu in Deutschland und gesetzlich versichert. Nehmen Sie neue Patientinnen und Patienten auf?

If you have a specific complaint, it is better to mention it right away. You do not need to retell your entire history on the phone, but it is important to explain the urgency: high fever, severe pain, pregnancy, injury, worsening of a chronic condition, or suspected infection.

What to do if there is no appointment

A refusal from one practice does not mean you will not get help. In Germany, you often need to call several doctors. Proceed step by step:

1. Call several Hausarzt practices near your home and ask whether they are accepting new patients.
2. If you have a referral to a Facharzt, ask the specialist whether you need a Vermittlungscode or other documents.
3. Use the 116117 appointment service if you are insured through the gesetzliche Krankenversicherung and are looking for a doctor or psychotherapist.
4. If your condition worsens, call the practice again and ask for an urgent appointment, an Akuttermin.
5. If practices are closed and you need help today, contact the ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst through 116117.

Sometimes a practice allows you to come without a regular Termin if you are already a patient there and your condition cannot wait. This is not a guaranteed right: the decision depends on your symptoms, workload, and the rules of that specific practice. If you have never been there before, they may direct you to a Bereitschaftspraxis, another doctor, or the Notaufnahme.

116117, Notaufnahme, and 112: what is the difference

116117 is the Patientenservice and ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst. It is for situations when ordinary practices are closed or you need guidance to a doctor, but the case does not look life-threatening. The service can point you to the nearest Bereitschaftspraxis, help assess the situation, or direct you to the right medical option. The conversation and service are usually available in German.

Notaufnahme is the emergency department of a hospital. It is intended for genuine emergencies. You should not go there only because a regular doctor has no free appointment for several weeks: the wait may be long, and patients are triaged by urgency.

112 is the emergency number. It is used for life-threatening situations, serious injury, suspected heart attack or stroke, severe shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, and other conditions where minutes matter.

Which documents to bring with you

For an appointment, people usually bring:

• the electronic health insurance card, the Gesundheitskarte;
• a passport or another document, if the practice asks you to confirm your identity;
• an Überweisung referral, if you have one;
• a list of the medicines you take;
• test results, discharge letters, images, and medical reports;
• a short description of your symptoms: when they started, what makes them worse, and what you have already tried.

If your German is not strong enough yet, prepare your symptoms in writing. You can bring an interpreter or a person you trust, especially if the visit concerns a diagnosis, surgery, pregnancy, a chronic illness, or a child’s health.

Common mistakes newcomers make

The most common mistake is waiting until the condition becomes really bad. If symptoms are developing, it is better to call your Hausarzt or 116117 first and get directed to the right place.

The second mistake is going to the Notaufnahme with an issue that a regular practice can handle. The emergency department is required to deal with urgent cases, so with a non-urgent problem you may spend many hours waiting.

The third mistake is not checking the booking rules. Some practices have online appointments, others set aside separate hours for an Akutsprechstunde, and some accept new patients only after a preliminary conversation.

Short checklist

• Find a Hausarzt near your home and try to get established with the practice before a crisis happens.
• Keep referrals, test results, and letters from doctors.
• For a Facharzt, check in advance whether you need an Überweisung.
• For an urgent but not life-threatening situation, use 116117.
• If there is a threat to life, call 112.
• Do not pay for medical services yourself until you understand whether your insurance covers them.

FAQ

Can I book a specialist without a Hausarzt?

Sometimes yes. Many Facharzt practices accept patients directly, but for some examinations and treatment paths a referral is still needed or makes booking much easier. If you are unsure, call the specialist’s practice first.

What should I do if no practice accepts me as a new patient?

Keep calling, expand the area where you search, and use 116117 or the service of your Kassenärztliche Vereinigung. If your condition is getting worse, ask for an Akuttermin or contact the on-call service.

Can I just walk into a practice without an appointment?

Sometimes this is possible during an Akutsprechstunde, but it is better to call first. Without prior contact, the practice may ask you to come later, see another doctor, or use 116117.