Cédula profissional (Portuguese professional licence card)

In Portugal you cannot use a protected health title or practise until the body that regulates your profession has registered you. The cédula is the proof. Article 113 of the Ordem dos Médicos statute says every doctor is given a cédula that serves as proof of inscription, and that doctors at work must prove their inscription with a valid cédula. The nurses' regulation (Regulamento 371/2025) says the cédula proves inscription, the titles awarded and any additional competences.

A nurse's cédula shows the full name, date of inscription, cédula number, title and specialty, an expiry date where applicable, a photo and signatures.

• Doctors: the Ordem dos Médicos, through its regional councils.
• Nurses and midwives: the Ordem dos Enfermeiros.
• Diagnostic and therapeutic professions such as radiographers, speech and occupational therapists, clinical laboratory, pharmacy and cardiopneumology technicians, orthoptists and podiatrists: ACSS (Administração Central do Sistema de Saúde), which recognises foreign qualifications first and then issues the cédula. Physiotherapists go to the Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas.

1. Recognise your degree. The Ordem dos Médicos asks third-country nationals for a certificate of equivalence or specific recognition from a competent Portuguese institution; nurses need specific recognition from a Portuguese public higher education institution.
2. Prove Portuguese. Doctors pass the medical communication test or show B2 Portuguese. Nurses show C1 Portuguese or pass a language test based on the CAPLE system. People trained in Portuguese are exempt.
3. Apply for inscription with identity documents, your diploma, a criminal record certificate and proof of good professional standing, both issued less than three months earlier (nurses also need a Portuguese criminal record certificate issued for this purpose), your Portuguese tax number (NIF), a photo and a CV showing lawful practice.
4. Legalise and translate. Foreign documents need consular legalisation or an apostille; the Ordem dos Médicos accepts English, French and Spanish without translation.
5. Pay the fees and receive your cédula once inscription is approved.

For nurses, the Ordem decides within 30 working days of receiving all documents, and you have 30 working days after payment to deliver originals. A nurse's cédula is revalidated every year, automatically and without charge if membership dues are paid up by the end of the eleventh month. A lost card must be reported within five working days. Fees are set by each body and change, so check the current table when you apply.

Nurses also need professional liability insurance and up-to-date dues; if any condition lapses, the regulation gives 30 working days to put it right.

• Old certificates. Both Ordens want criminal record and good standing documents issued less than three months before you apply.
• Wrong language level. Nurses need C1, higher than the B2 asked of doctors.
• Confusing the cédula with a residence permit. You also need an AIMA residence permit to live and work in Portugal.