Architect profession data by country
Where architect is a regulated profession, how foreign qualifications are recognised and which shortage lists name it, country by country, from official registers.
39 countries have an official record for architect: 36 regulate it and 2 name it on a shortage list. Comparable country-level profession salaries are not published here, so a best-paying destination cannot yet be named.
- Countries
- 39
- Regulated in
- 36
- On a shortage list in
- 2
Country by country
Open a country for its full record and sources. A dash means the register has no entry for that field.
| Country | Regulation | Recognition route | Shortage list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Regulated | Apply for AACA’s one-stage comprehensive Overseas Qualifications Assessment of tertiary qualifications and competency. A successful comparable assessment may lead to the Architectural Practice Examination subject to its criteria.AACA for Overseas Qualifications Assessment; the relevant State/Territory architect registration board for registration. | — |
| Austria | Regulated | For EEA/Swiss Ziviltechniker permission, submit diploma/evidence; equivalence check may require aptitude test or adaptation course. Not general employee process. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V.Federal Ministry for Economy, Energy and Tourism for EEA/Swiss Ziviltechniker authorization. | — |
| Belgium | Regulated | Covered EU qualifications use the directive recognition route followed by Order registration. Third-country applicants may need Community academic equivalence and additional recognition before registration through ArchiOnWeb. Architect listed in Annex V. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI.The Order of Architects provincial council handles registration; academic equivalence or qualification recognition is handled through the relevant Community where required. | — |
| Bulgaria | Regulated | Foreign architects apply to KAB for recognition of professional qualifications and practice registration; KAB also publishes a separate temporary-service route. Published 2026 charges below apply to EU-qualified applicants. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V.Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria (KAB), named in the national regulated-profession list. | — |
| Canada | Regulated | Foreign non-accredited degree route: CACB academic certification precedes OAA/IAP licensing where applicable.Ontario: CACB provides academic certification and OAA grants provincial licence through the appropriate route, commonly IAP. | — |
| Croatia | Regulated | For an EU/EEA qualification in the harmonised architect title, Croatia's government describes automatic recognition; permanent establishment still requires Croatian recognition. Other origins/title variants are not covered by this statement. Architect listed in Annex V. General system of recognition - primary application. | — |
| Cyprus | Regulated | Architect listed in Annex V. Apply to ETEK for the architecture field with a recognized architecture qualification, one year practical training and the required Greek-language proof; annual ETEK professional licensing follows registration. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI.Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK), architecture field. | — |
| Czechia | Regulated | Architect listed in Annex V. For EU/EFTA/Swiss qualifications, the chamber route requires a recognition application and supporting qualification/professional-standing documents; Czech application documents or translations are required. Other origins are not inferred. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI.Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA) handles the cited foreign-architect recognition/registration route. | — |
| Denmark | Not marked regulated | No mandatory occupational recognition route for the generic title. A voluntary assessment of a foreign educational qualification may be requested from UFSN; the employer decides whether the applicant fits the job.There is no general licensing authority for this generic non-regulated title. UFSN can provide a voluntary assessment of foreign educational level; it does not license professional practice. | — |
| Estonia | Regulated | For activities within Regulation 61, a foreign professional qualification must be recognized before acting as competent person; apply to TTJA with supporting documents. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI.TTJA for construction or electrical competent-person activities within its remit. | — |
| Finland | Not marked regulated | There is no generic architect-title recognition decision. For a regulated building-design task, apply to the authorised body for that task’s eligibility.The Ministry of the Environment or an authorised body for covered building-design tasks; EDUFI does not issue an architect-title decision. | — |
| France | Regulated | Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VIThe regional Ordre des architectes controls registration and the protected architect title. | — |
| Germany | Regulated | Apply to the selected Land authority or chamber for the relevant state-regulated profession. The authority compares the foreign qualification with the Land reference qualification and may require a compensation measure; for architects, entry on the Land chamber list and supervised experience may also be required. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V.The competent authority or professional chamber in the federal state where the applicant intends to practise. Use the federal Recognition Finder with the exact profession and intended city; the 16 Länder set their own authority arrangements. | — |
| Greece | Regulated | Apply through TEE; the published service requires the relevant degree, TEE registration, and examination/qualification steps. Third-country degrees require DOATAP academic equivalence; the EU Directive route is separate. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI.Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE/TCG), under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, is the authority for the Architect Engineer licence. | — |
| Hungary | Regulated | For regulated architectural practice, submit education and experience for a territorial-chamber preliminary review, pass the national professional authorisation exam, then apply to the chamber for practice authorisation. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V.OH-MEIK handles foreign higher-education diploma recognition; the Hungarian Chamber of Architects and territorially competent chamber administer the architectural practice-qualification route. | — |
| Iceland | Regulated | Apply to the Ministry for the architect-title permission under Act No. 8/1996; foreign professional qualifications are handled under Act No. 26/2010. HMS designer certification is a separate construction-control route. Architect listed in Annex V.Ministry of Industries for permission to use the architect title; Housing and Construction Authority (HMS) for certified designer status in building-control work. | — |
| Ireland | Regulated | Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V. Applicants with non-EU qualifications use RIAI’s published assessment/admission pathway; recognition and professional registration steps depend on qualification and experience.Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI). | — |
| Italy | Regulated | MUR provides different recognition procedures for EU/EEA and extra-EU architect qualifications. It assesses the qualification and documented experience and may require verification of knowledge before professional establishment. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V.The Ministry of University and Research (MUR) is the competent recognition authority for the listed architecture professions for establishment in Italy. | ListedEURES labour shortages and surpluses dashboard — National Coordination Office submission |
| Japan | Regulated | — | — |
| Latvia | Regulated | Independent architectural practice requires an architect practice certificate, the specified degree and practical experience. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V.The Latvian Architects' Union Certification Centre is listed for architectural-practice certification. | — |
| Lithuania | Regulated | EU-harmonized architect qualifications use the automatic-recognition principle; other regulated-qualification cases use the route of the competent authority and may require an aptitude test or adaptation period where substantial differences are found. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V.The Architects' Chamber of Lithuania is the listed competent contact for the architect profession. | — |
| Luxembourg | Regulated | A qualifying EU Annex V architect diploma plus proof of access to the profession in the issuing country is automatically recognised. Other foreign qualifications may use the Ministry recognition process; independent practice still requires a business permit and OAI registration. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V.Independent architect business permits are handled by the Ministry of the Economy; the Ministry for Research and Higher Education handles recognition where a diploma is not automatically recognised. | — |
| Malta | Regulated | Applicants submit a warrant application to the Periti Warranting Board; qualification and experience evidence are assessed, with routes depending on origin. Architect listed in Annex V.Periti Warranting Board is the competent authority for architect and civil-engineer/perit warrants. | — |
| Netherlands | Regulated | Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V. Listed EU/EEA/Swiss Annex V/VI architecture qualifications can receive automatic recognition; other EU qualifications use the general system, and third-country qualifications have a separate assessment/traineeship route.Architects Register is the competent register for protected architect-title admission and foreign-qualification routes. | — |
| New Zealand | Regulated | NZRAB Pathway 2 assesses specified overseas qualifications and practical experience in staged assessment; Pathway 3 is a separate route for applicants meeting its own criteria.New Zealand Registered Architects Board assesses and registers architects through qualification/experience pathways. | — |
| Norway | Not marked regulated | No profession-wide foreign professional-recognition application is identified for this broad title in the checked official list. Voluntary HK-dir education recognition assesses level/credits and is not a licence to practise.No profession-wide professional-recognition authority is identified for this broad title in the checked HK-dir regulated-professions list; HK-dir can voluntarily assess foreign education, which is not a practice licence. | — |
| Poland | Regulated | Use the IARP route matching the architect's qualification origin and legal status; the page describes the named EU/Swiss/EFTA recognition pathway and professional-register requirements. General system of recognition - primary application. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V.Chamber of Polish Architects (IARP) for the listed professional architect-recognition route. | — |
| Portugal | Regulated | An EU/EEA/Swiss architect providing temporary or occasional services files a prior declaration with OA. This is not the permanent-establishment process or a third-country route. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V.Ordem dos Arquitectos (OA) handles the cited architect temporary-services route; other establishment routes differ. | — |
| Romania | Regulated | For the regulated architect title, recognition is handled by the Order of Architects; EU/EEA/Swiss professional-recognition routes differ from third-country qualification routes. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V.Order of Architects in Romania for the architect profession. | ListedEURES labour shortages and surpluses dashboard — National Coordination Office submission |
| Saudi Arabia | Regulated | Use SCE engineering-category accreditation and the architecture professional category; architecture grade/seal requirements are separate from ordinary engineering registration.SCE for the architecture professional category and accreditation grade. | — |
| Slovakia | Regulated | Architect listed in Annex V. Authorized Architect route requires recognized architecture education, at least three years of professional practice and the Slovak Chamber authorization examination; eligible EU harmonized evidence has sectoral recognition rules. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI.Slovak Chamber of Architects for the Authorized Architect profile and recognition/authorization. | — |
| Slovenia | Regulated | Protected PA practice requires ZAPS register entry after the applicable professional examination or recognition decision; EU applications use automatic or general-system routes depending on qualification. Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V.The Chamber of Architecture and Spatial Planning of Slovenia (ZAPS) maintains the certified-architect register and registration route. | — |
| South Korea | Regulated | A foreign-licensed architect may file the specified foreign-architect report and undertake design/supervision only jointly with a Korean architect; contracts and deliverables require joint execution.KIRA administers the report for foreign-licensed architects; the report is tied to a Korean architect office for the joint work route. | — |
| Spain | Regulated | An eligible EU/EEA architect qualification follows the professional-recognition system in RD 581/2017; a third-country degree follows the separate Spanish academic homologation route. Verify the exact title, training evidence and any practice/collegiate obligations. General system of recognition - primary application. | — |
| Sweden | Regulated | — | — |
| Switzerland | Regulated | For an eligible EU/EFTA diploma listed in the directive annexes, request the SERI letter for automatic cantonal register listing; other fully qualified EU or third-country architects use an SERI qualification-comparison route where the canton regulates. In unregulated cantons, prior recognition is not required.The competent route varies: cantonal authority for regulated activities; SERI for defined EU/EFTA and comparison procedures; Swiss ENIC for non-regulated-canton labour-market recommendations; REG offers a separate register route. | — |
| United Arab Emirates | Regulated | Where covered, apply through the relevant Emirate system for engineer registration/classification; Abu Dhabi grades include qualification, examination and experience requirements, while Dubai standards govern specified offices, contractors and their staff.Emirate and activity dependent. Examples: Abu Dhabi DMT through TAMM for covered engineering registration/classification; Dubai Municipality for covered consultancy/contractor activity and accredited staff. | — |
| United Kingdom | Regulated | Architect (acquired rights) listed in Annex VI. Architect listed in Annex V. ARB assigns routes by qualification origin. Many overseas or unrecognised qualifications require the Prescribed Examination and UK Part 3 qualification; separate eligible international agreements have their own route.Architects Registration Board (ARB) for the protected architect title and UK register. | — |
| United States | Regulated | — | — |
How this list is built
The list holds the 39 countries with at least one official record for architect: a regulated-professions register entry, a recognition record or a shortage-list row. National occupation names are joined to this profession through a reviewed crosswalk, country by country; a name the crosswalk does not match is left out rather than guessed. Salaries are not shown until a profession-level salary is collected for the country.
Cite this page
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APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, October 25). Architect profession data by country [ImmigrationDB compilation; version 214d3ce9c7910889cb822e0cf4445242]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/move-as/architect/ Retrieved 2026-10-25. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_architect-profession-data-by-country_e0a6cf3e8a7e,
author = {ImmigrationDB},
title = {Architect profession data by country},
publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-10-25},
version = {214d3ce9c7910889cb822e0cf4445242},
url = {https://immigrationdb.com/move-as/architect/},
note = {Retrieved 2026-10-25. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}Markdown citation
[Architect profession data by country](https://immigrationdb.com/move-as/architect/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; version 214d3ce9c7910889cb822e0cf4445242; retrieved 2026-10-25; built 2026-10-25.This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.
Sources
- Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA)
- ILO
- Chamber of Civil Engineers for Styria and Carinthia
- European Commission Regulated Professions Database
- Austrian Federal Government, migration.gv.at
- Eurostat
- FPS Economy
- European Commission Regulated Professions Database
- Walloon Public Service, Employment and Vocational Training
- Council of Ministers / NAVET