EU-UK: professional qualifications

European Professional Card (EPC)

If you are an EU citizen in the UK or a UK citizen in the EU, the rules and conditions regarding the European Professional Card (EPC) continue to apply if you were protected by the UK Withdrawal Agreement.

This means that if your application for an EPC for the purposes of establishment was submitted before 31 December 2020 and eventually granted, it remains valid in both the UK and the EU.

Any EPCs issued for temporary and occasional service provision are no longer valid.

Applying for temporary provision of services

Any declarations to provide your services temporarily in the UK (if you are an EU national) or in an EU country (if you are a UK national) submitted before 31 December 2020 are no longer valid.

Applying for permanent provision of services

If you are an EU citizen in the UK or a UK citizen in the EU, the rules and conditions for permanent provision of services continue to apply if you were protected by the UK Withdrawal Agreement.

This means that if your application for an EPC for the purposes of establishment was submitted before 31 December 2020 and eventually granted, it remains valid in both the UK and the EU.

If you want to start working in the UK as an EU citizen, read the UK guidance about getting an EEA or Swiss qualification recognised. To get a UK professional qualification recognised and start working in the EU, special arrangements apply.

Additional information and advice

You can contact:

What to do if you think your application was wrongly treated

If you are an EU national in the UK and want to complain about the treatment of your application, you should seek redress with the relevant UK authorities. If the problem persists, you can report a breach of your rights to the UK Independent Monitoring Authority Open as an external link .

If you are a UK national in an EU country and want to complain about the treatment of your application, you should seek redress with the relevant national authorities. If the problem persists, you can report a breach of your rights to the European Commission.

Need more information on rules in a specific country?

Ask national administrations

Need support from assistance services?

Get in touch with specialised assistance services

You can also use the assistance service finder to find the right help for you.

Last checked: 27/11/2023
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