Up to 2019, the admission of non-EU/EEA architectst to the Portuguese Order of the Architects was subject to a reciprocity condition for recognising professional qualifications acquired abroad (or thourh bilateral agreements between Portugal and third countries), and only architects could be partners in architectural firms.  Foreigners falling outside the preferential system had, therefore, to redo their university degree in Portugal.
Since 2024, non-architects professionals are also allowed to be partners in architectural firms.
"Article 5. Effective members
1 - Holders of qualifications in the field of architecture who have successfully completed a professional internship under the terms of this Statute may register as full members.
2 - For the purposes of the provisions of the previous paragraph, the following are considered as qualifying training in the field of architecture:
a) Holding a degree in architecture or in the field of architecture that meets the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 of article 43 9/2009, of March 4th, amended by Laws no. 41/2012, of August 28th, and 25/2014, of May 2nd, conferred following a cycle of studies carried out within the framework of the study organization prior to the study organization regime introduced by Decree-Law no. 74/2006, of March 24th, amended by Decree-Laws no. , of September 14th, and 115/2013, of August 7th;
b) Holding a master's degree in architecture or in the field of architecture that meets the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 of article 43 of Law no. 9/2009, of March 4, as amended by Laws no. 41/2012, of August 28, and 25/2014, of May 2, awarded following an integrated master's degree study cycle carried out within the framework of the study organization introduced by Decree-Law No. 74/2006, of March 24th, amended by Decree-Laws no. 107/2008, of June 25th, 230/2009, of September 14th, and 115/2013, of August 7th;
c) Holding a foreign higher academic degree in the field of architecture that has been granted equivalence to the degrees referred to in paragraphs a) or b) or that have been recognized at their level.
3 - (Repealed.)
4 - In exceptional cases, and by order of the member of the Government responsible for supervision, the professional titles of architect may be granted on a transitional basis to architects whose training was obtained in a third State, provided that it is recognized by a Member State of the European Union, after hearing the Order.
Article 6. Right of establishment
1 - The recognition of professional qualifications of nationals of a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area obtained outside Portugal, for registration as a member of the Order, is regulated by Law no. 9/2009, of 4 March .
2 - The professional who wishes to register with the Order, under the terms of the previous number, and who provides services, in a subordinate or autonomous manner or as a partner or who acts as a manager or administrator in the Member State of origin, within the scope of associative organization of professionals, in compliance with the provisions of paragraph 4 of article 37 of Law no. 2/2013, of January 10, must identify the organization in question in the request submitted under the terms of article 47 of the Law No. 9/2009, of March 4th.
3 - If the fact to be communicated under the terms of the previous paragraph occurs after the submission of the request for recognition of qualifications, the associative organization in question must be identified before the Order within a maximum period of 60 days.
[...]
Article 47. Professional architectural societies
1 - Architects may establish or join as partners in professional architectural societies, under their own rules.
2 - (Revoked.)
3 - (Revoked.)
4 - (Revoked.)
5 - A professional member can only participate in professional architectural societies if he is not prevented from exercising the activity of architect by judicial or disciplinary decision, nor is he in a situation of incompatibility or impediment.
6 - (Revoked.)
7 - Members of the executive body of professional architectural societies must respect the ethical principles and rules, technical and scientific autonomy and the guarantees granted to architects by law and by this Statute.
8 - Without prejudice to the provisions of Law no. 53/2015, of 11 June, which establishes the legal regime for the constitution and operation of professional societies that are subject to public professional associations, they may be partners, managers or administrators of the companies architectural professionals are people who do not have the professional qualifications required to exercise the profession of architect, being bound by the ethical duties applicable to architects, namely the duties of secrecy, when applicable, and are also obliged to respect technical and scientific autonomy and the guarantees granted to architects by law and this Statute.
9 - Professional architectural societies may carry out, on a secondary basis, any activities that are not incompatible with the activity of architects, in relation to which there is no impediment under the terms of this Statute, and these activities are not subject to the control of the Order.
10 - Professional architectural societies incorporated in Portugal may be civil societies or assume any legal form permissible by law for the exercise of commercial activities.
11 - The constitution and operation of professional societies is set out in a separate statute.
Article 48.
Associations of professionals from other Member States
1 - Permanent representations in Portugal of professional societies equivalent by law to architects whose capital with voting rights belongs mainly to the professionals in question and or to other associative organizations whose capital and voting rights belong mainly to those professionals, incorporated in another Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, are treated as professional architectural societies for the purposes of this Statute.
2 - The legal regime for the registration of professional associations from other Member States in the Order is set out in the diploma that regulates the constitution and operation of professional societies. [...]" (Decree-Law N. 113/2015 of 28 August 2015, amending the Statute of the Association of Portuguese Architects, approved by Decree-Law no. 465/88 of 15 December 1988 [google translation])
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"CHAPTER I - Scope and effects
ARTICLE 1 (Scope)
1 - This diploma regulates the equivalence of higher-level foreign qualifications to the corresponding Portuguese qualifications.
2 - The following may request equivalence under the terms of this diploma:
a) Portuguese citizens;
b) Foreign citizens who are nationals of countries:
I) With which specific agreements on equivalence have been signed that produce the effects set out in this diploma:
II) Or, in the absence of these, whose legislation grants Portuguese citizens, within the framework of the principle of reciprocity, the rights provided for in this diploma.
[...]
ARTICLE 26 (Reciprocity)
1 - It is up to the applicant to prove the existence of reciprocal treatment referred to in paragraph b) of paragraph 2 of article 1.
2 - When requested by the university or higher education establishment, it is the responsibility of the director-general of Higher Education to pronounce on the existence of reciprocal treatment referred to in paragraph b) of paragraph 2 of article 1 [...]" (Decree-Law No. 283/83 of June 21, 1983, revoked by Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of August 16, 2018 (effective January 1, 2019 [google translation])
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"Article 1. Forms of exercising the profession of architecture in common
1 — Portuguese or foreign architects registered with the Order of Architects as full members have the right to form or join regularly registered professional societies of architects. 2 — Professional architectural societies may be constituted as civil or commercial societies, as long as the shareholdings are nominative. 3 — European limited liability companies of architects cannot be set up. 4 — Nothing prevents the establishment of professional societies of single-member architects on a quota basis. 5 — Without prejudice to the constitution and acquisition of legal personality under civil or commercial law, professional architectural societies may only begin the activity specific to their corporate purpose after obtaining registration with the Order of Architects. 6 — Associative organizations of architects from another Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area that intend to carry out continued activity in Portuguese territory must request their registration with the Order of Architects or request the registration of permanent representations that for this purpose they establish in the territory Portuguese. 7 — All other companies that, through their partners, administrators, managers, employees or subcontractors, provide services in the field of architecture from an establishment in Portuguese territory are required to register with the Order of Architects.
[...]
Article 4. Registration of professional architect societies 
1 — Professional architect societies only acquire the status of effective member of the Order of Architects through registration approved or not refused by the Board of Directors.
2 — Only professional architectural societies may be registered: a) whose corporate purpose consists of the common exercise of acts specific to the architectural profession, whether reserved or not; b) Whose professional partners, individually or collectively: i) Are registered with the Order of Architects in full exercise of their civil and professional rights, and ii) Are not prevented from practicing architecture by court decision or disciplinary sanction, iii) Nor are they in a situation of incompatibility or impediment; c) With at least one of the managers or administrators holding executive functions established in Portuguese territory. 3 — In professional architectural societies, the majority of the share capital or the majority of votes calculated in another way must be and remain held by professional partners. 4 — Joint ownership of shares held by professional partners is prohibited.
[...]
Article 5. Associative organizations of architects from another Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area 
1 — As a prerequisite for establishment in Portuguese territory or participation in professional societies of architects registered or to be registered with the Order of Architects, associative organizations of architects or similar professionals from another Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area register with the Order of Architects as full members. 2 — They may, alternatively, establish permanent representations as a condition for establishing themselves in Portuguese territory or for participating in professional societies of architects registered or to be registered with the Order of Architects. 3 — Only permanent representations or associative organizations of architects or similar professionals from another Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area established for the practice of architecture may be registered: a) Whose manager or administrator established or to be established in Portuguese territory is an architect individually registered with the Order of Architects, after recognition under the terms of articles 43 and 47 of Law no. 9/2009, of March 4, as amended by Law no. 41/2012, of August 28th, and Law No. 25/2014, of May 2nd, or after recognition as an equivalent professional under the terms of articles 44, 45, 46 and 47 of the same legal diploma or also according to the reciprocity regime established by international convention in force in Portugal for nationals of countries third to the European Union and the European Economic Area and whose professional qualifications were obtained outside Portugal; b) The majority of whose share capital or voting power belongs: i) To architects or equivalent professionals under the terms of the previous paragraph and in full exercise of their rights or ii) To one or more associative organizations of architects or equivalent professionals, provided that the majority of voting rights are held and retained by architects or similar professionals under the terms of the previous paragraph and in the full exercise of their rights.
[...]
Article 11. Architects with qualifications obtained outside the European Union or the European Economic Area
 1 — Citizens of Member States of the European Union or the European Economic Area whose qualifications in architecture were obtained in the territory of a State third to the European Union or the European Economic Area European Economic Council may only exercise the rights of their fellow architects or similar citizens provided for in this regulation, after obtaining recognition by equivalence. 2 — Citizens of third countries are recognized with similar rights, according to the special conditions of reciprocity resulting from international convention. [...]" (Regulation No. 322/2016 of 29 March on the Constitution and Operation of Societies of Architectural Professionals [google translation])
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Previously up to 2024
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"Article 5. Effective members
1 - Holders of qualifications in the field of architecture who have successfully completed a professional internship under the terms of this Statute may register as full members.
2 - For the purposes of the provisions of the previous paragraph, the following are considered as qualifying training in the field of architecture:
a) Holding a degree in architecture or in the field of architecture that meets the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 of article 43 9/2009, of March 4th, amended by Laws no. 41/2012, of August 28th, and 25/2014, of May 2nd, conferred following a cycle of studies carried out within the framework of the study organization prior to the study organization regime introduced by Decree-Law no. 74/2006, of March 24th, amended by Decree-Laws no. , of September 14th, and 115/2013, of August 7th;
b) Holding a master's degree in architecture or in the field of architecture that meets the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 of article 43 of Law no. 9/2009, of March 4, as amended by Laws no. 41/2012, of August 28, and 25/2014, of May 2, awarded following an integrated master's degree study cycle carried out within the framework of the study organization introduced by Decree-Law No. 74/2006, of March 24th, amended by Decree-Laws no. 107/2008, of June 25th, 230/2009, of September 14th, and 115/2013, of August 7th;
c) Holding a foreign higher academic degree in the field of architecture that has been granted equivalence to the degrees referred to in paragraphs a) or b) or that have been recognized at their level.
3 - Societies of architectural professionals and professional associations from other member states may also register as full members.
Article 6. Right of establishment
1 - The recognition of professional qualifications of nationals of a member state of the European Union or the European Economic Area obtained outside Portugal for registration as a member of the Order is regulated by Law No. 9/2009, of March 4, as amended by Laws 41/2012, of 28 August, and 25/2014, of 2 May, without prejudice to special conditions of reciprocity if the qualifications in question were obtained outside the European Union or the European Economic Area.
2 - The professional who wishes to register with the Order under the terms of the previous number and who provides services, in a subordinate or autonomous manner or as a member or who acts as a manager or administrator in the Member State of origin, within the scope of an associative organization of professionals, observing the provisions of no. 4 of article 37 of Law no. 2/2013, of 10 January, must identify the organization in question in the request submitted under the terms of article 47 of Law no. 9/2009, of March 4th, amended by Laws no. 41/2012, of August 28th, and 25/2014, of May 2nd.
3 - If the fact to be communicated under the terms of the previous paragraph occurs after the submission of the request for recognition of qualifications, the associative organization in question must be identified before the Order within a maximum period of 60 days.
[...]
Article 47. Professional architectural societies
1 - Architects established in the national territory may practice the profession as a group, as long as they constitute or join as partners in professional architectural societies.
2 - The following may also be members of architectural professional societies:
a) Professional architectural societies, previously constituted and registered as members of the Order;
b) Associations of professionals equivalent to architects, established in another member state of the European Union or the European Economic Area, whose capital and voting rights fall mainly to the professionals in question.
3 - The capital requirement referred to in paragraph b) of the previous paragraph is not applicable if the associative organization does not have share capital.
4 - The judgment of equivalence referred to in paragraph b) of paragraph 2 is governed:
a) In relation to nationals of a member state of the European Union or the European Economic Area, by paragraph 4 of article 1 of Law no. 9/2009, of March 4th, amended by Laws no. 41/2012, of August 28th, and 25/2014, of May 2nd;
b) Regarding nationals of third countries whose qualifications were obtained outside Portugal, under the internationally valid reciprocity regime.
5 - Architectural societies enjoy the rights and are subject to the duties applicable to professional members of the Order that are compatible with their nature, and are in particular subject to the ethical principles and rules contained in this Statute.
6 - Professional societies are not recognized as having electoral capacity.
7 - Members of the executive body of professional architectural societies, regardless of their status as members of the Order, must respect the ethical principles and rules, technical and scientific autonomy and the guarantees conferred on architects by law and by this Statute.
8 - Professional architectural societies may carry out, on a secondary basis, any activities that are not incompatible with the activity of architects, in relation to which there is no impediment under the terms of this Statute, and these activities are not subject to the control of the Order.
9 - The constitution and operation of professional societies is set out in a separate statute.
Article 48. Associative organizations of professionals from other member states
The legal regime for the registration of professional associations from other member states in the Order is set out in the diploma that regulates the constitution and functioning of professional societies. [...]" (Decree-Law N. 113/2015 of 28 August 2015, amending the Statute of the Association of Portuguese Architects, approved by Decree-Law no. 465/88 of 15 December 1988 [google translation])
Decree-Law N. 176/98 of 3 July 1998 on the Statute of the Association of Portuguese Architects, as amended Decree-Law N. 113/2015 of 28 August 2015 [google translation]
Decree-Law No. 283/83 of June 21, 1983, revoked by Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of August 16, 2018 (effective January 1, 2019 [google translation]
Regulation No. 322/2016 of 29 March on the Constitution and Operation of Societies of Architectural Professionals [google translation]
Decree-Law N. 176/98 of 3 July 1998 on the Statute of the Association of Portuguese Architects, as amended Decree-Law N. 12/2024 of 19 January 2024 [google translation]
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