EU-Canada Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Architects
The EU and Canada have concluded a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on the recognition of professional qualifications of architects. The MRA became binding on 18 December 2025 and is now in force. The MRA allows EU architects to obtain a Canadian architect’s license. It also allows Canadian architects to obtain a license in an EU Member State. To do so, they must meet certain qualification and experience-based criteria.
Conditions for recognition
To obtain recognition of their qualifications and work in Canada, EU architects must:
- Have a minimum of combined 12 years of education, training and professional experience as an architect, proven with evidence of:
- formal qualifications meeting the requirements of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications;
- a minimum of four years of professional experience in a Member State of the European Union obtained after registration, licensing or its equivalent.
- Have a valid professional registration or licence as an architect from a competent authority of a Member State of the European Union or its equivalent.
- Be of good character.
Language requirements in Canada may also apply. EU architects must register with the competent Canadian local authorities (Provinces or Territories) to get permission to work.
Competent authorities
To request recognition of their qualifications, EU architects must contact the competent authority in the Canadian Province or Territory in which they wish to practice:
-
Architects’ Association of New Brunswick / Association des architectes du Nouveau-Brunswick (AANB)
- inquiries@aanb.org
-
Architects Licensing Board of Newfoundland and Labrador (ALBNL)
Neither Nunavut nor the Yukon territory has its own architectural regulator. While architects can practice in these territories, they must be registered with one of the provincial or the Northwest Territories' regulatory bodies.
Procedure for recognition
When applying for recognition, architects may be asked to submit electronic copies of some or all of the following documents, which should be no more than 3 months old when submitted:
- Proof of citizenship or of permanent residency in the EU;
- Evidence of formal qualifications;
- Attestation of professional experience;
- A letter from a competent authority of the Member State where the architect is qualified sent directly by electronic means to the Canadian competent authority confirming the following:
- Date of registration or licensure, or its equivalent if there is no registration or licensing regime in the jurisdiction where the architect is qualified;
- Compliance with the relevant professional qualification requirements;
- Proof of good character or good standing; and
- If not covered by the proof of good character or good standing, proof that the architect is not subject to ongoing disciplinary action and has not been suspended or barred from the pursuit of architectural activities due to serious professional misconduct or because of a conviction for committing a criminal offence.
- Proof that the applicant is insured against the financial risks arising from professional liability in accordance with the laws of the Canadian jurisdiction;
- An extract of the criminal record from the European Member State where the architect is qualified;
- Payment of proof of payment of the required application fees.
After receiving an application, the competent authority has one month to acknowledge receipt of the application. They shall also let the applicant know whether the application is considered complete, and of any incomplete requirements, as applicable. Once the application is complete, the competent authority must take a decision within 3 months.
The applicant will then be invited to take the online pre-registration course. Once completed, and subject to the completion of any language requirements, the competent authority will provide the applicant with its decision within 3 months.
If an application is rejected, the competent authority shall inform the applicant in writing, including the reasons for the rejection of its application.
Domain specific course
EU architects wishing to practice in Canada must complete a 10-hour course to acquire domain specific knowledge required to practice in one of Canada’s Provinces or Territories. Once the relevant Canadian competent authority finds that the conditions for recognition are met, the applicant will be invited to take the domain specific course. The costs of the course are included in the cost of the application for recognition. The course can be taken online and covers the following areas:
- Searching and documentation of relevant building regulations;
- Understanding procedures to obtain relief or variance from particular requirements under these building regulations;
- Evaluating products and materials;
- Project compliance with applicable regulations;
- Preparing and negotiate construction contracts, including the conditions of contracts for construction in order to clarify the roles of the architect, contractor, owner, bonding company and insurer in the administration of the construction phase;
- Building permit applications;
- Supervising construction progress and performance review; and
- Codes of ethics.
Other conditions
A European architect who has obtained recognition of their professional qualifications in Canada must comply with the Province’s or Territory’s laws, regulations, rules of conduct and ethics applicable to architects, such as rules on mandatory professional indemnity insurance, language skills, continuous professional development, registration fees and the use of trade or firm names.
If a European architect who has obtained recognition of their qualifications in Canada wishes to register in another Province or Territory, that jurisdiction cannot impose any supplementary courses that would not be required of an architect of Canada as a condition of registration.
