12 de May, 2025
Foreign Medical Degree Recognition in Portugal is an increasingly sought-after process among international professionals, as the number of foreign doctors aiming to practice medicine in the country continues to grow each year. The good news is that this goal is fully achievable: Portugal offers a formal and well-defined pathway to revalidate a foreign medical degree or diploma in Portugal, specifically designed for those who completed their education outside the European Union.
In this guide, we explain how the recognition process works — the essential first step to become a doctor in Portugal. You will find clear information on eligibility, documentation, deadlines, fees, and the steps involved in the procedure, based on the latest regulations in force.
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Once your diploma is officially recognized, you’ll be able to proceed with the next steps, such as Register with the Portuguese Medical Association, allowing you to legally work as a physician in the country.
Having a foreign medical degree recognized in Portugal means applying for the official recognition of your medical diploma obtained abroad (bachelor’s or master’s degree), so that it is accepted as equivalent to the Integrated Master’s Degree in Medicine offered by Portuguese universities (as a result of the Bologna Process, bachelor’s and master’s cycles were integrated in the country’s medical schools).
This process is known as medical degree recognition — it is mandatory for foreign doctors who wish to practice medicine legally in Portugal. It ensures that the education received outside the European Union meets the standards required by Portuguese institutions.
Since January 2019, the process for having a foreign medical degree recognized in Portugal has undergone significant changes. The current rules are established by Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of August 16 and regulated by Ordinance No. 43/2020 of February 14, 2020, which amended Ordinance No. 33/2019 of January 25.
Thus, the process of recognizing foreign degrees in Portugal began to follow a more standardized model. Currently, all applications must be submitted through the DGES system (Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior – Directorate-General for Higher Education), which is the body responsible for the evaluation.
There are three types of degree recognition, as outlined below:
This generally recognizes a foreign higher education degree, provided that the level, objectives, and nature of the course are identical to those of Portuguese degrees. It is the simplest and fastest option.
This recognizes a foreign degree in Portugal by comparing it with Portuguese degrees on a case-by-case basis. It acknowledges that the foreign diploma corresponds academically to a Portuguese degree, even if the course content and structure are not identical. The academic transcript and course syllabi are analyzed.
This is the most detailed process and, in the case of Medicine, the most common. It assesses whether the foreign diploma is equivalent to a specific Portuguese degree in terms of level, field, and curriculum structure. It involves a thorough review and often includes theoretical and practical exams. This is the required type of recognition for regulated professions such as Medicine.
For more detailed information, visit the official DGES – Directorate-General for Higher Education website.
For medical professionals, the type of recognition required in Portugal is specific recognition. In this case, the Portuguese medical school chosen by the applicant is responsible for conducting the entire process and defining the necessary steps to recognize the foreign medical degree.
Until February 2024, doctors who graduated from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) were exempt from taking exams to have their medical degrees recognized by the University of Lisbon, thanks to a bilateral agreement between the institutions. This process was automatic.
However, in 2024, the University of Lisbon decided to terminate the agreement, and since then, these doctors must follow the same procedures required of all other applicants.
Although universities have some autonomy in setting the rules for their own recognition process, in recent years a standard pattern has emerged, consisting of the following successive and eliminatory stages:
As mentioned earlier, the responsibility for recognition lies with the faculties of Medicine. The evaluation criteria, as well as the scheduling of exams, are also the responsibility of the universities. The stages are as follows:
Once the official notice is published, the applicant must collect and submit all required documents listed in the announcement to the Academic Services of the selected university, along with proof of payment of the application fee.
Generally, the following documents are required from foreign applicants:
All documents must be notarized and duly apostilled. Each one will be reviewed for workload and academic content by a committee of professors designated by the university. If approved, the applicant may proceed to the next stage.
Once the documentation is approved, the applicant will proceed to the Theoretical Exam. This is typically a multiple-choice exam consisting of 120 questions covering the major areas of medicine (Gynecology and Obstetrics, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, General and Family Medicine, Public Health, and Mental Health). The candidate must score at least 50%.
Subject breakdown:
The exam duration is only 3 hours, and candidates cannot take the question booklet home. The results are usually released a few days later and sent to candidates via email.
The content of this exam is similar to the entrance exam for medical residency programs in some countries, so many candidates prepare using their old residency preparation materials. Some Portuguese universities also provide access to past exams, which can help guide candidates’ study plans. Those who pass the theoretical exam move on to the next stage: the practical exam.
After passing the theoretical exam, the applicant proceeds to the practical exam, which typically involves attending real clinical cases and discussing them with a group of faculty members.
Generally, the candidate will be assigned one or two patients for clinical interview, physical examination, and the drafting of a full report including: anamnesis, physical examination findings, preliminary diagnosis, request for complementary exams, differential diagnosis discussion, final diagnosis, treatment plan, and prognosis.
The candidate will also have to present and discuss the reports in front of a faculty panel. A minimum score of 50% is required to pass this stage.
Finally, since the process of medical degree recognition in Portugal confers a Master’s degree in Medicine, the final stage consists of a public presentation of a scientific dissertation before an academic jury.
However, since many foreign candidates only hold a bachelor’s degree in Medicine, many faculties have accepted alternative documents in place of a formal dissertation.
The applicant must present their work before a panel of professors, who may intervene and ask questions during the presentation. If the panel considers the performance satisfactory, the applicant is awarded a score between 10 and 20.
The final score of the medical degree recognition process is the arithmetic average (on a 0–20 scale) of the grades obtained in the aforementioned stages.
A single registration allows for one retake of the exam. In fact, starting in 2025, candidates will have four opportunities to sit for the exam: two actual attempts and two deferrals, provided that a valid justification is presented (such as a medical issue, for example).
If the candidate fails both attempts, they may reapply the following year, but must submit a new application and pay all fees again.
On average, the process takes around 18 months to complete. However, the timeline may vary depending on each university’s announcement and how spaced out the exams are.
The application and exam fees vary by university, but the total cost currently averages around €1,500.
Most are well-trained and experienced professionals looking for better personal and professional quality of life in Portugal — even though they are aware that average salaries here are often lower than those offered abroad for the same medical specialties.
The application can be submitted by the doctor or their legal representative via the DGES online platform, by filling out a digital form. At this stage, the applicant must select the Portuguese medical school that will be responsible for conducting the recognition process.
Applications can be submitted at any time. However, to be eligible for the following year’s medical equivalency exam (held in January), the application must be submitted by September 1.
If the applicant is unable to upload all required documents through the online platform, they must go in person to the university’s rectorate to submit the missing documentation and pay the application fee.
Register with the Portuguese Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos) – This is a mandatory step to practice medicine. It involves submitting additional documentation.
Professional License (Cédula Profissional) – Issued upon approval by the Ordem dos Médicos, this license authorizes the holder to legally practice medicine in Portugal.
Proof of Portuguese Language Proficiency – Required for candidates whose native language is not Portuguese or who did not graduate from a Portuguese-speaking institution. The minimum required level is B2 or C1, depending on the hiring institution.
Recognition of Medical Specialty (optional) – To work as a specialist in Portugal, a new request must be submitted to the Ordem dos Médicos. The process involves curriculum review and possibly a technical evaluation.
Residence Permit – Required for foreign doctors who do not hold European citizenship.
Entering the Job Market – Once all requirements are fulfilled, you may work in hospitals, clinics, or within the Portuguese National Health System (SNS).
🔗 Check out our full article on how to become a doctor in Portugal!
If your dream is to live in Portugal and practice medicine here, the medical degree recognition process may be challenging — but it is absolutely achievable with proper planning. More and more experienced foreign doctors are choosing this path in search of quality of life and security for their families.
Atlantic Bridge offers full support throughout all stages of the medical degree recognition process — from document analysis to university selection. We also have strategic partnerships with institutions that specialize in preparing candidates for Portugal’s medical recognition exams, ensuring qualified and personalized guidance.
Get in touch with us and start building your future in Portugal today.
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Author:
Atlantic Bridge
