Company recovery mediator – Provision of temporary and occasional services in Portugal (first time)

If you obtained you professional qualifications in another country and want to work as a company recovery mediator in Portugal, you must first apply for the recognition of your professional qualifications with the Directorate-General for Justice Policy (DGPJ), with a prior declaration. You may also be required to apply with the Agência para a Competitividade e Inovação, IP (IAPMEI).

Any person with citizenship of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) Member State or Switzerland who is professionally established in and has obtained their qualifications in one of these countries may apply.

If you want to work permanently in Portugal as a company recovery mediator, you must apply to the DGPJ for recognition of your professional qualifications.

Service channels

  • Apply Online

    Submit for the recognition of your professional qualifications.

Procedure and requirements

Documentos and requirements

To prove that you have citizenship of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland, you will need to provide:

  • Citizen Card or passport (or other type of proof of identity).

You will need to provide proof of professional experience, with:

  • statements regarding professional experience.

Additionally you must provide:

  • Criminal record certificate
  • Civil responsibility insurance.

Procedure

Applications are made online on the ePortugal portal.

The time it takes for authorisation to be granted varies from 1 to 4 months, depending on whether additional documents or clarifications are needed.

Before completing the form, please consult the regulated professions database to find the name of your profession(s) in the language of the Member State(s) in which you are established, or in English, Spanish, French or German. This information will be required to complete the form.

The procedure is set out below:

Sending the form:

  1. Click on the ‘Realizar serviço’ ["Apply now"] button on this page.

    • Sign in with a Digital Mobile Key, Citizen Card or a lawyer, solicitor or notary’s digital certificate.

    • Complete the online form and attach the documents.

    • Submit your application.

  2. The DGPJ will confirm receipt of the application within 1 month and, if necessary, will request additional documents or information.
  3. The DGPJ will send you a notification of the final decision within 4 months if no compensatory measures are required.

If compensatory measures are required:

  • In addition, the DGPJ may determine compensatory measures in order to assess the applicant’s technical skills. These measures may consist of a test or an adaptation period.
  • The final decision to authorise the applicant to practise the profession in Portugal will be issued after successful completion of the adaptation period or test.

Grounds for refusal

Applicants can check all the possible reasons for the refusal of a recognition application in the ‘Legislation’ section. Applicants can also check information about how they may complain about or challenge such decisions if they wish to take a matter further.

Inclusion in the list of IAPMEI’s list of company recovery mediators

Once you have had your professional qualifications recognised, you must apply to be included on the company recovery mediators list coordinated by the Agência para a Competitividade e Inovação, I.P (IAPMEI). See the requirements and necessary documents here.

How much

É gratuito

Legislation, refusals, contests, claims

Legislation

Law 29/2013 of 27 November laying down the general principles applicable to mediation carried out in Portugal, as well as the legal arrangements governing civil and commercial mediation, mediators and public mediation.

Ministerial Implementing Order No 345/2013 of 27 November governing the rules applicable to the certification of entities providing conflict mediation courses, provided for in Article 24(2) of Law No 29/2013 of 19 April.

Order 1/DGPJ/2015 defining the procedures for the recognition of mediators’ qualifications and admissible compensatory measures.

Law No 6/2009 of 22 february approving the company recovery mediator’s statutes.

Law No 9/2009 of 4 March, as amended, 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

  • Failure to comply with the technical requirements.
  • The applicant does not submit the requested document(s) and/or information, after a reminder to do so by the competent authority.
  • The applicant fails to turn up for the aptitude test or adaptation period after a reminder to do so by the competent authority.
  • The applicant submits false documents.
  • The applicant withdraws the application.
  • The applicant has been prohibited or suspended from exercising the profession provided for by law or due to having committed a criminal, administrative or disciplinary offence.
  • Complaint
  • Appeal to a higher authority or supervisory body
  • SOLVIT Centre in Portugal
  • Appealing under national law in accordance with Article 47 of Law No 9/2009, as amended, in the absence of a decision within the prescribed period.
  • Bringing a complaint to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied in the same way in all EU countries and that EU institutions and countries respect EU law.

To work as a company recovery mediator in Portugal, an adaptation period or aptitude test may be required. These compensatory measures follow the criteria laid down in Article 11 of Law No 9/2009, as amended.

Competent Entity

Direção-Geral da Política de Justiça

Address: Avenida D. João II, nº 1.08.01 E, Torre H, Pisos 2/3 1990-097 Lisboa

Phone number: 217 924 000

Fax: 217 924 090

Email address: correio@dgpj.mj.pt

Web url: http://www.dgpj.mj.pt

Operation hours

  • Business days from 9 am to 5 pm.