Internationalisation of the Architectural profession
With the globalisation of the economy and technological progress, architectural firms now have greater opportunities to collaborate and work on projects across borders, within the European Union and globally. According to the 2022 ACE Sector Study, 5% of European architects worked in another EU Member State and two per cent outside the EU. The study also reveals that over the past year, 16% of respondents had seriously considered working in another EU Member State and 6% outside Europe, without however taking action. Moreover, an increasing number of architects are trained in countries other than their own, showing a genuine interest and growing capacity of the profession to move across borders. Therefore, there is every reason to believe that the potential for further internationalisation of the profession is strong, provided that professionals can find adequate support.
At ACE, we are committed to advancing the internationalisation of the architectural profession. As the world becomes more interconnected, the role of architects in shaping the built environment across borders has never been more crucial. Our goal is to support architectural practices in expanding their professional reach across borders, ensuring they are well-informed about market opportunities, regulations, and best practices.
On this page, discover a range of resources and tools to help architects access and navigate both EU and international markets.
Archi’Voices – European Reflections on Exporting Services, a podcast series captures the journey of European architects as they expand their services internationally.
Data
Insurance Obligations for Architects Across Europe
Explore our overview of insurance obligations for architects in Europe.
- Is there a legal obligation to be insured for liability?
- Are there liabilities after the construction works have finished?
- Does the insurer respond on a “claims made” or “claims arising” basis?
- What is the duration of professional liability?
Click on each country for factsheets regarding national insurance frameworks
- Yes
- No
- N/A
EU ACCESS
How to register in another EU Member State
For architects seeking to practice in another EU country, the process is streamlined thanks to EU regulations promoting the free movement of professionals within the European Single Market.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to registering and practicing as an architect in another EU country:
1. Verify Recognition of Qualifications
• Automatic Recognition
• Check National Requirements
In the Spotlight
ACE EU–Canada Mutual Recognition Agreement for Architects Enters into Force
On 18 December 2025, the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on professional qualifications for architects between the European Union and Canada became legally binding and entered into force.
The MRA follows a Joint Recommendation by the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) and the Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA, now ROAC) to the MRA Committee established under the EU–Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). It enables EU architects to obtain a licence to practise in Canada, and Canadian architects to obtain recognition in the EU, subject to the applicable conditions.
Trends of the architectural profession
Explore the ACE Sector Study
The study has been enriched with new research areas, making it, without doubt, the most comprehensive study on the architectural profession in Europe and an essential reference tool for all those interested in the architectural profession and the built environment. The ACE 2022 Sector Study is also available on the ACE Observatory a new web platform dedicated to the architectural profession. The ACE Observatory is designed to complement the report, providing extra depth. It has been designed for use by Member Organisations, individual architects and anyone wanting to research the profession.
In the Spotlight
Featured Publication
ACE Guide to Working Internationally
This guide aims to assist architects to develop international business opportunities.
18 Tetor, 2024
Support for SME Internationalisation
Your Europe – an online guide to do business in Europe:
- A single entry point to all EU countries.
- Practical information on the vital steps for setting a company in each country.
- A multilingual website, with information in all EU languages and Norwegian.
- Easy access to online forms to handle administrative procedures from home.
- Links to local business support organisations for personalised help and advice.
To help European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) export and invest beyond the EU, the European Commission provides information on access to markets and matchmaking opportunities. Through the Enterprise Europe Network, they help ambitious SMEs innovate and grow internationally as well as protect their intellectual property rights.
Access2Markets allows you to obtain information you need when you trade with third countries, such as on tariffs, taxes, procedures, formalities and requirements, rules of origin, export measures, statistics, trade barriers and much more. It also allows you to access key information needed for trade in services as well as for investment and procurement in 3rd countries. You may also learn about EU trade agreements, how to benefit from them and read stories on successful companies using them.
My Trade Assistant for Services and Investment is the most recent expansion of Access2Markets. It offers free information to EU companies on the conditions they need to meet when exporting services to markets outside the EU.
In conjunction with the entry into force of the EU–Canada Mutual Recognition Agreement for Architects, DG Trade has launched a dedicated webpage on its Access2Markets portal, providing EU architects with streamlined access to information and procedural guidance on registration and recognition.
Publications
- Category
- ACE Eu-funded project publication
- ACE Publications
- Davos Baukultur
- EU publications
- Topic
- A.I- Artificial Intelligence
- Annual report
- ARCH-E
- Architectural policy
- Architecture Design Competition -ADC
- Awards
- BIM
- Design governance processes
- Digitalisation
- Equality, diversity and inclusion – EDI
- Eu funded projects
- EU policies
- Export
- Good practices
- Gouvernance
- High quality architecture
- International collaboration
- Legal framework
- New business models
- New European Bauhaus
- public procurement
- Retrospective
- Sector study
- Sustainability
- Value
- Thematic Scope
- Access to the Profession
- Achieving quality in Architecture / Baukultur
- Practice of the Profession
- Research & Development
- Date
- 2026
- 2025
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
ACE Publications
Building knowledge: 20 Years of ACE in EU-funded Projects
ACE helps turn research into real-world impact.
ACE Eu-funded project publication
The ARCH-E White Paper
Recommendations for Quality-based Procurement Processes by Using Architectural Design Competitions.
ACE Eu-funded project publication
The ARCH-E Map on ADCs
The ARCH-E Map on ADCs gives an extensive overview of ADC systems in Europe.
ACE Eu-funded project publication
The ARCH-E Architects’ Needs Report
The Architects’ Needs Report aims to assess experiences, challenges, and opportunities related to Architectural Design Competitions.