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

To provide temporary and occasional services as a conflict mediator in Portugal for the first time, you may be required to submit a prior declaration to the Directorate-General for Justice Policy (DGPJ).

You do not have to submit a prior declaration if you want to work as:

  • a private conflict mediator, outside an institutional framework.

You must submit a prior declaration if you want to work as:

  • a private conflict mediator on the Portuguese Ministry of Justice’s list of private mediators;
  • a conflict mediator in the public mediation systems managed by the Ministry of Justice.

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 conflict mediator, you must apply to the DGPJ for recognition of your professional qualifications.

Service channels

  • Submit 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 a higher education qualification, with one of the following documents:

  • diploma or degree certificate
  • qualifications certificate.

You will need to provide proof of a higher-level professional qualification, with one of the following documents:

  • professional qualification certificate
  • statements regarding professional experience.

In addition, you must provide:

  • a criminal record certificate relating to criminal convictions in Member States
  • third party liability insurance for acts arising from professional activity.

Inclusion in the list of private mediators coordinated by the Ministry of Justice

Once you have had your professional qualifications recognised, you must apply to be included on the list. See the requirements and necessary documents here.

Working in the context of the public mediation systems managed by the Ministry of Justice

Once you have had your professional qualifications recognised, you must apply for the public mediator selection competition for the system in which you want to work.

See the requirements and necessary documents for each system:

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:

  1. Sending the form:

    • Click on the ‘Realizar serviço’ ["Submit 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.

Obligations

To work as a conflict 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.

Legislation, refusals, contests, claims

Legislation

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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.

Means of opposition/Complaint to the Ombudsman

  • Complaint to the Ombudsman
  • 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.

Competent Entity

Direção-Geral da Política de Justiça

Operation hours

  • Business days from 9 am to 5 pm.