Physiotherapists with academic qualifications obtained outside Portugal

If you have acquired your professional qualifications in another country and want to work as a physiotherapist in Portugal on a permanent basis, you must apply for a European professional licence (in the case of citizens with professional and academic qualifications completed in the European Union) 

After obtaining these documents, you should go to the Order's website to consultation of the requirements for enrolment.

Registration takes place entirely online at the Order's website.

If the professional already has their professional qualifications recognised in the respective Member State and holds a Physiotherapist's professional card issued by the competent authority and has been practising the profession for three consecutive years in the territory where they obtained their card, they can apply for the CPE.

Procedure

European professional licence

The order is placed online via the website YOUR EUROPE.

The deadline for obtaining the European Professional Card varies between 1 and 3 months, depending on whether you need to send additional documents or take a test or internship (compensation measures are not covered by this deadline).

Before filling in the form, check the database of European Commission Regulated Professions to find the official title of your profession in the language of the Member State(s) in which you are established in English, Spanish, French or German. This information will be needed to fill in the form.

Documentation required for the European Professional Card

1_Certificate Directive 2005/36/EC - Certificate issued by the regulatory body recognising academic qualifications
2_Plan of Studies and Diploma Supplement - Description of academic career.
3_ID card
4_Certificate of Good Standing - Certificate proving professional registration and good professional conduct
5_Diploma of Training for Access to Professional Practice
6_Portuguese Language Proficiency Certificate - Minimum B2 level;
7_Clinical Education/Practice in the Context of Your Entry Level Diploma - Compulsory;
8_Core Areas of Competences - Compulsory;
9_Clinical Education/Practice in the Context of Post-Graduate Education - Optional;
10_Clinical Education/Practice in the Context of Professional Experience - Optional;
11_Core Areas of Competences in the Context of Post-Graduate Education - Optional.

Registration in Order of Physiotherapists

Once you have obtained your European Professional Licence, you must

• Access the Order's website
• Consult the necessary documents for Registration
• Access Online form to start registration

Once you have passed the registration process, you will receive your licence and can start legally practising your profession in Portugal.

This process takes an average of 30 days if no corrections are required by the applicant.

Reasons for refusal

• Lack of higher education under the terms of points a) a c) of paragraph 1;
• When the person concerned has been banned or suspended from exercising the profession, as provided for by law, or for a criminal, administrative or disciplinary offence.

WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST?

1. The cost of the European Professional Card process is 60 euros.
2. The cost of joining the Order is:

• 50 euros application submission
• 100 euros approval of the application.

LEGAL, REFUSALS, CHALLENGES, COMPLAINTS

Legislation

Law no. 122/2019, of 30th September: Creates the Order of Physiotherapists and approves the respective Statute

Regulation 19/2023 -the Registration Regulations of the Order of Physiotherapists, and Declaration of Rectification to the Registration Regulations - no. 580/2021

Regulation no. 16/2023 - Dues and Fees Regulations: Establishes the Fees Regulations of the Order of Physiotherapists

Law no. 9/2009 of 4 March in its current wording: Transposing into national law Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications

Reasons for refusal

• Non-payment of application/notification fee
• Non-compliance with technical requirements
• The applicant fails to produce the requested document(s) and/or information, after insistence from the competent authority
• The applicant fails to attend the training or aptitude test, after insistence from the competent authority
• The applicant presents false documents
• The applicant withdraws their application.

Means of contestation/complaint to the Ombudsman

• Complaint to the Ombudsman
• Complaints
• SOLVIT Centre in Portugal
• Request judicial remedy under domestic law in accordance with the Article 46 of Law 9/2009in its current wording, in the event of a decision not being taken within the time limit laid down
• Make a complaint to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which ensures that European law is interpreted and applied in the same way in all EU countries and that EU institutions and countries respect European law.