Medical Residency Admission Exam in Portugal: How to Apply

The Notice No. 21633/2025 was published in the Diário da República on August 29, 2025, announcing the opening of the competition for the 2026 Medical Internship — also known as medical residency in Portugal. Every year, candidates can register to take the National Access Exam (PNA), a mandatory test for admission to specialized medical training in Portugal.

The medical residency exam takes place at the end of November.

Read the article to learn in detail what the exam is, how to register, the requirements to apply, the registration fee, and the main updates for 2026.

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Opening of the Medical Residency Competition in Portugal: What is the National Access Exam (PNA)?

It is a national exam composed of 150 multiple-choice questions covering several areas of medicine, similar to medical residency exams in Brazil.

The duration is 240 minutes (4 hours) and the content distribution remains as follows:

• Psychiatry: 10%
• Medicine: 50%
• Surgery: 15%
• Pediatrics: 15%
• Gynecology/Obstetrics: 10%

Registration Dates – 2026 Medical Internship / Medical Residency

The application period for the 2026 medical residency competition runs from September 1 to 19, 2025, as defined by the Central Administration of the Health System (ACSS, I.P.).

The National Access Exam (PNA) will be held on November 25, 2025, at 2:00 PM (Lisbon time) and 1:00 PM in the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

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Requirements for admission to the competition

Candidates must:

• Hold a degree in medicine, an integrated master’s in medicine, or possess the equivalence or recognition of the same degree in Portugal;
• Be registered with the Portuguese Medical Association;
• Be medical interns attending General Training or already holders of General Training, the Common Year/equivalent, or those who have successfully completed general training in another country, with equivalence recognized and validated by the Medical Association;
• Be medical interns attending the first half of the Specialized Training program or holders of the Specialist Degree/Title (this group competes for only 5% of the vacancies).

How to register for the medical residency competition in Portugal

Applications must be submitted online on the Medical Internship page from the specified date. An online form (“admission application”) must be completed, available in a reserved area on the ACSS, I.P. website. A support manual is provided to assist in completing the form.

Once completed, the form must be printed and signed. It must then be sent exclusively by postal mail, via registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt, before the deadline (postmark date), to:

“Central Administration of the Health System, I.P., Medical Internship/2020”, Lisbon Health Park/Building 16/Av. do Brasil, 53 — 1700-063 Lisbon.

Along with the form, simple copies of the documents required in the Notice of opening of the medical residency competition in Portugal must be sent.

The registration receipt must be kept, as it contains the personal access code needed to check results and other stages of the process.

Required documents

• Portuguese Tax Identification Number (NIF);
• Identification document;
• For non-European foreign citizens: residence permit with work authorization;
• Diploma or Certificate of course completion for Portuguese citizens;
• Equivalence Certificate showing a final equivalence grade from 0 to 20;
• Valid certificate of registration with the Portuguese Medical Association or valid professional license;
• Criminal record certificate issued by the Portuguese state;
• Certificate of payment of the registration fee.

For candidates who have already completed the Common Year/Medical Internship, are attending a specialty, or hold a specialist title:

• Proof of completion of General Training/Common Year or equivalent training completed in another country, with equivalence recognized and validated by the Medical Association;
• Declaration proving the duration of Specialized Training (Medical Residency) (years and months) already completed at the opening date of the competition, which must identify the specialization area and the placement hospital/service;
• Certificate of Portuguese Specialist Degree or Title.

Not European — what now?

Foreign doctors without Portuguese or European nationality can also apply, provided they have recognition of their medical degree in Portugal and a residence permit allowing professional practice.

There are different types of visas and authorizations that allow doctors to work in the country — including cases of spouses of European citizens, who have automatic work rights once registered with SEF/AIMA.

Registration fee

The registration fee for the 2026 Medical Residency / Medical Internship competition is €90, to be paid via bank transfer to the account indicated in the Notice of Opening by September 19, 2025.

The payment receipt must be attached at the time of online application.

When will the exam take place?

The National Access Exam (PNA) will be applied on November 25, 2025, at 2:00 PM in Lisbon (1:00 PM in the Azores).

Exam locations will be announced later by the ACSS, according to the city chosen by the candidate at the time of registration.

FAQ: Medical Residency / Internship Competition in Portugal

What is the difference between Medical Internship, Medical Residency, and PNA?

• Medical Internship is the initial phase (Common Year / General Training) of the Medical Internship program in Portugal.
• Medical Residency refers to Specialized Training that follows the Common Year. It is the term most recognized by foreign doctors.
• PNA (National Access Exam) is the mandatory test to enter the Medical Internship, either for the Common Year or Specialized Training, depending on the candidate’s profile.

When does a foreign doctor start the internship in Portugal?

• If a foreign doctor does not yet have a specialty recognized in Portugal and intends to do the Common Year, they start the Medical Internship (Common Year) the year following the competition.
• Foreign doctors with a specialty recognized by the Portuguese Medical Association do not need to complete the Common Year, but in practice, Brazilian doctors, even specialists, rarely have immediate recognition and often choose to enroll again in the Medical Internship / Medical Residency.

Do all foreign doctors need to do the Common Year?

• Not necessarily. Newly graduated doctors or those without recognized specialty in Portugal need to complete the Medical Internship (Common Year).
• Doctors who already have a specialty recognized in Portugal can enter directly into Medical Residency, without taking the PNA.

Is the PNA the same exam for everyone?

• Yes. All candidates who need to compete for Medical Internship / Medical Residency vacancies take the same PNA, but the use of the score depends on the profile: entry into the Common Year or Specialized Training.

Can I apply if my diploma is not yet recognized in Portugal?

• No. Recognition of the diploma and registration with the Portuguese Medical Association is required before applying.

How does it work for doctors with experience or specialty abroad?

• Depending on the specialty and the equivalence granted by the Medical Association, some doctors may compete directly for Specialized Training. If not fully recognized, they may need to complete part of the Common Year or adapt the program.

Can non-European foreigners participate?

• Yes, provided they have a recognized diploma and a residence permit allowing professional practice in Portugal.

When can I start training after passing the PNA?

• The Common Year or specialty training normally starts the year following the exam. For example, those who take the PNA in November 2025 start training in January 2026.

Count on the support of Atlantic Bridge specialists!

Interested? Learn more about being a doctor in Portugal and how Medical Residency works by following our articles. If you want to practice medicine in Portugal, contact Atlantic Bridge. Our team of specialists can help you map your professional path in Europe!

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