Portugal needs more doctors and recruits international medical graduates (IMGs), but medicine is a regulated profession there, so before you can work, you must have your medical degree recognised and hold a licence from the Order of Physicians (Ordem dos Médicos). How you get there depends on where you trained.

In short: if you trained in the EU or EEA, your medical degree is recognised largely automatically; if you trained elsewhere, you need recognition (often with an examination), skills in Portuguese, registration with the Order of Physicians (Ordem dos Médicos), a job offer, and a residence visa for work, with residence handled by AIMA.

Is Your Medical Degree Recognised in Portugal?

Doctors who trained in the EU, the EEA, or Switzerland benefit from automatic recognition of the basic medical qualification under Directive 2005/36/EC, because medicine is a sectoral profession. If you trained outside those countries, your degree is assessed individually,y and you usually must pass an examination or complete supervised practice before you can register. Non-EU doctors face a fuller process: diploma recognition, a theoretical exam, a practical assessment, and a final written work, with autonomy after a supervised year (Formação ao Geral).

Step by Step

• Recognition: apply to have your degree recognised, with your diploma, transcripts, and proof of training and experience in certified translation.
• Language: reach the required level of Portuguese, since safe practice and registration depend on it.
• Registration: register with the Order of Physicians (Ordem dos Médicos) to obtain the licence to practise.
• Job and visa: with a job offer, obtain a residence visa for work, with residence handled by AIMA.

The Work Route

Once you are recognised and registered, with a job offer, the usual immigration route is a residence visa for work, with residence handled by AIMA. The professional steps and the immigration steps run in parallel, so plan both early.

Salary, Specialisation, and Demand: Doctors’ pay in Portugal follows national or collective agreements and varies by grade, region, and experience, and specialists earn more than junior doctors. You specialise through structured postgraduate training after full registration. Demand for doctors is strong across much of Europe, so confirm the salary, hours, and contract in writing before accepting a post.

Avoiding Scams

Use official regulators and ethical recruiters only. Legitimate employers and agencies never charge a doctor upfront placement fees; if anyone asks you to pay to be placed, treat it as a likely scam and verify the employer and the Order of Physicians (Ordem dos Médicos) through official channels.

Official Sources

Confirm current rules with the Order of Physicians (Ordem dos Médicos) and the Portuguese immigration authority, as procedures, exams, language levels, and fees can change.