Mutual Recognition Agreement - Portugal

In November 2018, the Engineering Council signed a cooperation agreement with the Ordem dos Engenheiros (OE, the Order of Engineers) to facilitate the mobility of engineering professionals between the UK and Portugal.

This agreement recognises substantial equivalence between the standard and assessment processes for the OE title of Senior Engineer (level 2) and the Engineering Council title of Chartered Engineer (CEng). It therefore seeks to minimise duplication in granting access to the respective membership institutions and national registers.

In October 2026, representatives of the Engineering Council and Portugal's Ordem dos Engenheiros met in Porto to reaffirm their longstanding partnership and shared commitment to maintaining high professional engineering standards and supporting international mobility. 

Both organisations welcomed the continued development of their relationship, building on the professional recognition agreement that was first signed in 2018 and then updated in 2024.

They highlighted the importance of effective and transparent professional recognition processes and welcomed opportunities for further cooperation in areas including continuing professional development, professional ethics and sustainability.

A Joint Statement issued following the meeting reflects their shared ambition to strengthen international collaboration while maintaining the integrity of professional engineering standards and registration requirements in both countries.

UK engineering professionals seeking registration with Ordem dos Engenheiros should download the application form found at the bottom of this page and send it to international@engc.org.uk together with the relevant documentation and written confirmation that we have their permission to contact their Licensed Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) to check their current standing with them.

Following this, we will send the validated form to the Ordem dos Engenheiros who will work directly with the applicant from that point.