The Medscape Professional Network recently conducted a global survey to better understand the factors that drive physicians to practice outside their home countries. Responses from 1251 doctors who currently work abroad or plan to do so highlighted the main motivations for expatriation, as well as the obstacles encountered along the way.

Among physicians already practicing abroad, the most frequently cited motivations were a better quality of life and improved work-life balance (53%), higher salary (42%), better educational or lifestyle opportunities for their families (37%), more opportunities for professional growth (34%), and the possibility of long-term immigration or settlement (31%).

The key barriers reported were licensing and credentialing requirements (48%), differences in health system structures and clinical workflows (45%), language and communication challenges (34%), cultural barriers (33%), and personal or family-related adjustment difficulties (32%).

Respondents who already practice medicine outside their home countries form a notably diverse group. The largest national contingents came from Germany (7%), Colombia (7%), Venezuela (6%), Cuba (6%), and Spain (5%).

The most commonly cited destination countries for expatriate physicians were Spain (22%), Germany (12%), France (9%), the US (7%), and Australia (6%).

Regarding compensation, most physicians working abroad (66%) reported earning more than they would in their home country, although the magnitude of the difference varied by destination.

Latin America

When the data were examined by region, physicians from Latin America cited the same primary motivations for leaving their home countries: higher salaries, better work-life balance, and greater opportunities for professional advancement. The relative importance of these factors, however, appears to shift depending on local conditions and available opportunities in each country.

Portugal, Spain, and France emerged as particularly attractive destinations for Latin American doctors, largely due to linguistic or cultural affinities and the availability of professional opportunities within high-demand health systems. Spain, in particular, was the destination chosen by nearly two thirds of Latin American physicians who responded.

Despite these affinities, degree recognition and compliance with local practice regulations remain major challenges. Compensation also varies widely by country, and several respondents emphasized nonfinancial advantages such as quality of life and career development.

Brazil represented a small proportion of the overall sample, but its physicians reported motivations and challenges that closely mirror those seen across the broader respondent group.

Finally, factors such as regulatory timelines, visa processes, and opportunities within Portuguese-speaking countries strongly influence the flow of physicians between Brazil and Portugal — a dynamic explored in the articles Inside Brazil’s Two-Way Migration of Medical Talent and Portugal’s Doctor Shortage Fuels a Two-Way Migration Wave.

This story was translated from Medscape’s Portuguese edition.