Study Medicine or Dentistry Abroad from Brazil: Revalida, EU Passports and the Best Destinations
23.09.2026
Why So Many Brazilians Study Medicine Abroad
Admission to public medical schools in Brazil runs through ENEM and the national selection system, and the scores required for Medicine are the highest of any course. For students who miss these scores, private faculties are the main alternative at home, but the tuition over six years is a heavy burden for most families.
Studying abroad can be more affordable overall, and it offers international experience, new languages and in many cases a degree that is also recognised in other countries. For Brazilians with European citizenship, the European Union becomes a particularly attractive option.
Dentistry
Dentistry is also highly competitive at public universities and expensive at private ones. Studying Dentistry abroad follows a similar logic.
How a Foreign Medical Degree Is Recognised in Brazil
To practise Medicine in Brazil with a degree obtained abroad, the diploma must be revalidated. The main route is Revalida, the national exam for the revalidation of foreign medical diplomas.
Revalida: Two Stages
Revalida is organised by INEP, the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research. It consists of two stages: a theoretical exam and a practical clinical skills exam. It assesses whether physicians trained abroad have the knowledge, skills and competencies required to practise Medicine in Brazil in line with the principles of the Unified Health System (SUS). The exam is held twice a year. In the 2025/2 edition, 5,666 candidates were approved.
After Revalida
Approved candidates indicate a partner public university, which formally revalidates the diploma. With the revalidated diploma, you register with the Regional Council of Medicine (CRM) in your state and can begin practising.
Dentistry
For Dentistry, there is no national exam equivalent to Revalida. Dental diplomas obtained abroad are revalidated by Brazilian public universities, which assess the programme and may require additional exams or training.
Italian or Portuguese Passport? Study in the EU as an EU Citizen
Many Brazilians have Italian or Portuguese ancestry, and a significant number already hold an Italian or Portuguese passport. For Medicine and Dentistry, this makes a real difference.
What Changes With an EU Passport
As EU citizens, Brazilians with an Italian or Portuguese passport can study anywhere in the European Union under the same conditions as nationals of the host country. In many countries, this affects admission rules and tuition. Above all, their degree is recognised automatically across the EU under Directive 2005/36/EC, which means they can practise in any EU member state after graduation.
Two Careers in One
An EU degree gives these students two options: a career in Europe with automatic recognition, and a return to Brazil via Revalida. Many keep both doors open during their studies and decide later.
{{cta}}Which Destination Countries Suit Brazilian Students?
The right destination depends on your citizenship, your language skills and your career goals.
Portugal
For Brazilians with a Portuguese passport, Portugal is a natural choice: same language, familiar culture and an EU degree. Admission to Portuguese medical schools is competitive, so it pays to consider other EU countries as well.
Italy and Spain
Italy and Spain are attractive for Brazilians with an Italian passport or strong language skills. Both offer programmes in the local language and, in some cases, in English.
Central and Eastern Europe
Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria offer six-year English-language programmes in Medicine and Dentistry with EU standards. For Brazilians with an EU passport, they are an excellent alternative to highly competitive programmes in Southern Europe.
Latin America
Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia have long been popular with Brazilian students because of their proximity and Spanish-language programmes. Many graduates return to Brazil via Revalida.
{{callout}}Practical Tips for Brazilian Students
Check Your Citizenship Options
If you already hold an Italian or Portuguese passport, your options in the EU are much broader. Make sure your documents are in order before you apply.
Prepare for Revalida From the Start
If you plan to return to Brazil, keep Brazilian clinical protocols and the SUS in mind throughout your studies. Revalida tests both knowledge and practical skills.
Keep Your Portuguese Medical Vocabulary
If you study in English or another language, reading Brazilian medical literature alongside your studies makes your return much easier.
Use Holidays for Clinical Experience in Brazil
Voluntary placements in Brazilian hospitals help you stay connected to the Brazilian health system and prepare for the practical stage of Revalida.
Think Beyond One Country
An EU degree opens doors across Europe as well as in Brazil. Planning for both gives you flexibility for the rest of your career.
How We Help You Find the Right Programme
Whether you hold an EU passport or not, the right programme is the key to a successful career. We offer solutions for exactly this. Contact us and we check individually which of our 25+ partner universities fits you, your citizenship and your goals. Marcel or another experienced consultant on our team will review your situation and give you a clear recommendation.
The Author's View
Brazilian families often come to us with a very specific question: my child has an Italian or Portuguese passport, what does that mean for Medicine? The answer is usually very positive. An EU passport turns the whole of Europe into a study option, with automatic recognition of the degree and a clear route back to Brazil through Revalida.
For Brazilians without a European passport, studying abroad remains a strong option as well. What matters is choosing a programme that prepares you for Revalida and for the practical skills Brazilian medicine requires.
I also enjoy seeing how Brazilian students bring warmth and energy into their international cohorts. They adapt quickly, learn new languages with ease and often become the social heart of their year group. Many of them discover that a career spanning Europe and Brazil is not only possible but deeply rewarding, and that the years abroad give them a perspective they would not want to miss.
If you want to become a doctor or a dentist, your options are wider than you might think. Book a consultation and let us show you which path fits you best.
Conclusion
- Brazil offers more than 50,000 places in Medicine each year, but public places are extremely competitive and private tuition is high.
- Foreign medical diplomas are revalidated through Revalida, a two-stage exam organised by INEP twice a year; 5,666 candidates were approved in the 2025/2 edition.
- After Revalida, a public university revalidates the diploma and you register with the CRM.
- Brazilians with an Italian or Portuguese passport can study in the EU as EU citizens, with automatic recognition of their degree across the EU.
- Portugal, Italy, Spain, Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America are popular destinations for Brazilian students.
Your medical career does not have to depend on one ENEM result. With the right programme abroad, you can return to Brazil as a doctor or build a career in Europe. Book your free consultation and take the first step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I practise Medicine in Brazil with a degree from abroad?
Yes. You must pass Revalida, after which a public university revalidates your diploma and you register with the Regional Council of Medicine.
What is Revalida?
Revalida is the national exam for the revalidation of foreign medical diplomas, organised by INEP. It has a theoretical and a practical stage and is held twice a year.
What advantage does an Italian or Portuguese passport give me?
With an Italian or Portuguese passport, you can study in the EU as an EU citizen, under the same conditions as nationals of the host country, and your degree is recognised automatically across the EU.
How are dental degrees from abroad recognised in Brazil?
Dental diplomas are revalidated by Brazilian public universities, which assess the programme and may require additional exams or training.
Can I work in Europe and in Brazil with the same degree?
Yes. An EU degree is recognised across the EU, and you can also return to Brazil via Revalida.
How many candidates pass Revalida?
In the 2025/2 edition, 5,666 candidates were approved in the final list. Good preparation during your studies, especially for the practical clinical skills stage, makes a real difference.
Do I need an ENEM result to study Medicine in Europe?
No. European universities apply their own admission criteria, usually based on your school results in biology and chemistry and, depending on the programme, an entrance exam or interview.
Are there programmes in Portuguese in Europe?
Portugal offers Medicine in Portuguese, but admission is competitive. Most programmes for international students elsewhere in Europe are taught in English, and Spain and Italy offer programmes in their own languages.
How long does a medical degree in Europe take?
Most medical programmes in Europe last six years, the same as in Brazil. Dentistry programmes usually take five to six years. Both combine preclinical sciences with extensive clinical training.
What if I do not have an EU passport?
Brazilians without a European passport can still study Medicine or Dentistry in Europe as international students. English-language programmes in Central and Eastern Europe are a popular choice, and the return to Brazil works through Revalida.
Which university abroad is right for me?
That depends on your citizenship, languages, budget and goals. Contact us and we check individually which of our 25+ partner universities fits you.
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About the author
Marcel Kloos
Swiss-licensed dentist and founder of Medschool Experts
Marcel Kloos founded Medschool Experts while studying abroad; since then, over 500 study places have been secured. The Stuttgart-born dentist studied dentistry from 2015 to 2021 in Sofia and holds a Swiss dental licence.
Today he lives in Bern and runs Medschool Experts full-time as its owner.
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