The Philippine Embassy in Berlin

  • Home
  • The Embassy
    • About the Secretary of Foreign Affairs
    • The Embassy Team
    • Philippine-German Relations
    • Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt
    • Philippine Consulates in Germany
    • Holidays
    • Job Opening
    • Invitation to Bid
      • Invitation to Bid – Security Service for CY 2025
      • Invitation to Bid – Cleaning and Maintenance Services for CY 2025
      • Invitation to Bid for Various Unserviceable Equipment and Materials
      • Rehabilitate-Operate-Expand-Transfer arrangement (NAIA PPP Project)
  • Consular Services
    • Online Appointments
      • Passport Applications
      • Other Consular Services
      • Walk-in Policy
    • Passports
      • New/Renewal (Adults)
      • New/Renewal (Minors)
      • Travel Documents
      • FAQs on Passports
    • Visas
      • Applying for a Visa
      • Visa Categories
      • Visa-Free Entry
      • Balikbayan Privilege
      • General Information on Entry of Foreigners
      • Foreign Surgical and Medical Mission (FSMM) to the Philippines
    • Civil Registry
      • Report of Birth
      • Report of Marriage
      • Report of Death
      • Shipment of Remains/Urns to the Philippines
      • Downloadable Forms
    • Authentication & Notarization
      • Affidavit of Support and Guarantee
      • Solemnization of Marriage
      • Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage (LCCM)
      • NBI Clearance
      • Unaccompanied Travel of Minor Children
        • Unaccompanied Travel of Foreign Children and Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG)
        • Unaccompanied Travel of Filipino Minor Children and DSWD Travel Clearance
      • Downloadable Forms
    • Citizenship (Renunciation, Reacquisition, Retention)
      • Reacquisition/Retention of Philippine Citizenship
      • Dual Citizenship
      • Renunciation of Philippine Citizenship
      • FAQs on Citizenship
    • Consular Fees
  • Overseas Voting
    • NROV and CLOV for 2025 National Elections – COMELEC Website
    • Pre-Enrollment for Overseas Voting and Counting System (OVCS)
    • Information Materials on OVCS for Overseas Voter
    • Digital Voter’s ID
    • Notices to the Public
  • Other Services
    • Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN)
    • Labour
      • Employment Contracts
      • Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)
    • Cultural
      • Filipino Community
        • Filipinos in Deutschland Registry (FinDEr)
        • Directory of Filipino Community Organizations in Germany
    • Trade and Importation
      • Bringing Currency into the Philippines
      • Importation of Regulated Products for Personal Use
      • Transport of Live Pets/Animals to the Philippines
      • Importation of Plants, Planting Materials, and Plant Products
      • Foreign Investment Act of 1991 (RA 7042, as amended by RA 11647)
  • Press Releases
  • Advisories
    • Embassy Advisories
    • POLO-OWWA Advisories
  • Mobile Consular Outreach – Hamburg

Foreign Surgical and Medical Mission (FSMM) to the Philippines

Foreign Surgical and Medical Mission (FSMM) to the Philippines

Foreign medical professionals must apply for Special Temporary Permits to practice their professions while conducting the medical mission in the Philippines. Any foreign organization intending to bring medicines and/or medical equipment to be donated or used during the conduct of medical missions must also comply with the requirements of the Philippines’ Department of Health – Bureau of International Health Cooperation (DOH-BIHC).

All applications for FSMM shall be submitted to the Philippine Medical Association who shall forward it to appropriate professional groups and the Department of Health (DOH).

Read the full guidelines on FSMM: Joint A.O. No. 2009-0030 – Revised Policies and Guidelines in the Conduct of Foreign Surgical and Medical Missions (FSMM in the country) | A.O. No. 2012-0030 – Guidelines on Foreign Surgical and Medical Mission Program in Support of Universal Health Care/ Kalusugan Pangkalahatan

View the Checklist of Requirements: 2023-01-18 Checklist for Foreign Surgical and Medical Missions

Download the Application Form: 2021-09-22 Application Form Authority to Practice by a Foreigner

For Donations of Health- and Health-Related Products: 2023-01-18 Checklist for Foreign Donations


APPLICATION PROCEDURE

STEP 1: Each member of the foreign medical team must submit the following documents in applying for temporary license to practice during the duration of the mission. All documents must be in English or with English translation:

  1. Valid/current license from country of origin, authenticated by the Embassy/Consulate (please refer to Authentication procedures and requirements in the list of Consular Services)
  2. Board certification (specialty), authenticated by the Embassy/Consulate (please refer to Authentication procedures and requirements in the list of Consular Services)
  3. Curriculum vitae, acknowledged by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate (please refer to Authentication procedures and requirements in the list of Consular Services)
  4. Passport sized picture in four copies (taken within one year)
  5. Application letter addressed to
ANNA CELINA MARIE G. GARFIN, MD, MM
Director IV
Bureau of International Health Cooperation
Building 3, San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz
Manila, Philippines
Telephone No. (63 2) 8651 7800 local 1315-1316
Email address: bihc@doh.gov.ph, cc: fdfsmm@doh.gov.ph

The Letter must contain the following information:

  • Type of mission (medical, surgical or both)
  • Duration of the mission and inclusive dates
  • Activities and list of areas where the activities will be conducted
  • The following are additional requirements if the foreign mission team members intend to bring drugs, and/or medicines, medical supplies and medical equipment to be donated or used during the mission:
      • Itemized list of the items together with the quantity and the expiration dates for drugs and medicines
      • Written consent from the host local government executive (governor/mayor) and/or of the health facility where the mission will be conducted
      • Names and specialties of the mission team members
      • Flight details
      • Deed of donation authenticated at the country of origin (please refer to Authentication procedures and requirements in the list of Consular Services)
      • Deed of acceptance from the host hospital/Local Government Unit (LGU)
      • Drugs and medicines to be donated should have a shelf life of at least 12 months upon arrival in the country and the said medicine shall be used solely for the scheduled mission.
      • Application must be submitted 60 days before the date of mission to facilitate clearance/s from DOH and other agencies.
  • Letter of certification from the sponsoring host organization (LGU or Non-Government Organization (NGO)) certifying the need and type of mission to be conducted. Cost of post-care mission of morbidities/mortalities arising from the mission will be shouldered as well by the host organization.
  • Proof of juridical entity (certified true copy of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration must be submitted.
  • Notarized letter of guarantee from both the medical mission group and the host organization assuming full responsibility for the outcome of the missions.

STEP 2: The PMA, upon receipt of all requirements, will forward the application to the concerned specialty societies for evaluation of credentials. The DOH will be informed immediately of the presence of drugs, medical supplies and medical equipment.

STEP 3: The DOH shall facilitate issuance of clearance by its Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Bureau of Health Devices and Technology (BHDT) for the above mentioned goods.

STEP 4: After the evaluation of the missioner’s credentials by the concerned Specialty Society, the PMA shall send a letter of endorsement to DOH.

STEP 5: The DOH shall then endorse the documents to Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

STEP 6: The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), after final review, shall issue the Special Temporary Permit to Practice to concerned foreign missioners. The lead time for the processing of the application are as follows:

PMA – 2 weeks before the mission date
DOH – 1 week before the mission date
PRC – 3 weeks before the mission date


POST-MISSION REQUIREMENTS

A Post-mission report shall be submitted by the head of the foreign surgical and/or medical missions, concurred/noted by the President of the local component society of PMA, and/or specialty society and the LGU concerned, to the oversight agencies (DOH, PMA, PRC) 15 days after the completion of the mission. All records and audio-visual documents must also be submitted in triplicate form. The post-mission report should contain the following minimum basic information:

  1. Number and age of cases seen
  2. Diagnosis of patients
  3. List of medicines distributed and surgical interventions done
  4. Endorsements to the necessary health facilities (follow-up, further evaluation and management)
  5. Morbidities and mortalities, if any

All materials submitted to the oversight agencies shall be the property of the Philippine counterpart and may not be used for advertisement, solicitation or medical publication without the written and expressed approval of the local medical society and/or specialty society of the PMA and the local counterpart. Any intellectual output as journal or publication must include the local physicians as senior authors.


OTHER INFORMATION

  • Former Filipino Registered Health Professionals who are part of a Medical/Surgical Mission Team may practice their profession in the Philippines upon presentation of proof of valid and current PRC licenses. Otherwise, they have to renew their licenses upon submission of the following requirements (Presidential Decree No. 541):
    1. Photocopy of current/valid passport (page 1 and the page showing the date of arrival in the Philippines)
    2. Photocopy of PRC license and valid certificate of registration
    3. License/Certificate of Registration in the adopted country or Certification of employment with letterhead indicating the job description within the definition of the applicant’s profession
    4. Four pieces of recent passport size pictures (taken within one year)
    5. Payment of prescribed fees at PRC
    6. Certificated of training and board certification (for specialists)
    7. Application for Temporary Special Permit (PRC form 103-A)
  • Foreign Religious groups/missionaries practicing medicine in the country shall abide by the same requirements and adhere to the guidelines. These missioners who serve for longer period of time shall signify their intention to continue living in the Philippines to pursue missionary works. They shall secure Special Temporary Permit, which is to be renewed annually. The following must be submitted:
    1. Certification for their congregation that the medical works are purely for charity purposes and with no remuneration involved whatsoever.
    2. A certification from the congregation assuming the responsibility for any action of the said physician
    3. The missionary should submit to PMA an annual mission report including a list of patients treated
    4. The missionary is required to attend PMA or component societies’ Continuing Medical Education (CME) related activities once a year to update their medical knowledge.
    5. The missionary who conducted his missionary works in the province must coordinate with the PMA component society for proper identification and monitoring.

CONNECT WITH US

  • 
  • 
  • 

CONTACT US

Luisenstrasse 16, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 (0) 30 864 95 00
info@philippine-embassy.de

Assistance to Nationals (ATN) / Emergency Hotline: +49 (0) 173 421 7750
(Please help us keep the line free for those with real emergencies. Do not call this number for regular inquiries.)

Consular Hotline: +49 (0) 173 521 5703 (For queries on Consular Services)

Opening Hours
Consular Section
Mon – Fri – Fri 09:00H – 16:00H
(Except on Philippine and German holidays)

 

Philippine Migrant Workers Office (MWO)

For OEC and Verification of Employment Contracts of Balik-Manggagawa in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Russia:

Mobile/Viber No.: +49 1766 151 2953

Email: mwo.germanyoec@gmail.com

 

For accreditation of Agency and Direct Hires in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Russia:

email: germany@mwoberlin.com

 

For OWWA membership, welfare, and labor case assistance:

WhatsApp No. +49 1523 765 7614

Email: owwamemb@gmail.com

Recent Stories

  • ADVISORY NO. MWOB-NL-2025-02 – TRANSFER OF EMPLOYMENT OFFERS TARGETING FILIPINO NURSES IN GERMANY
  • ISBN-PR-008-2025 – PHILIPPINE EMBASSY JOINS BERLIN’S FIRST GLOBAL CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR
  • ISBN-PR-007-2025 – PHILIPPINE HIGHLIGHTS URGENCY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLIMATE AGENDA IN THE PETERSBERG CLIMATE DIALOGUE 2025
  • ISBN-PR-006-2025 – PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN BERLIN ENGAGES FILIPINO ACADEMICS AND PROFESSIONALS IN GERMANY
  • ISBN-PR-005-2025 – PHILIPPINE ENERGY TRANSITION CONTEXT HIGHLIGHTED IN BERLIN ENERGY TRANSITION DIALOGUE 2025
Copyright © 2025