San Marino does not use one unified national register for every profession. Occupational classification mainly follows RP-2017, the national system of professional tasks and profiles based on the ISTAT-CP2011 classification. Since 17 July 2017, employers and employment communications have used RP-2017 tasks and profiles rather than only a general job title. The Labor Office, known as ULPA, profiles applicants according to education and experience and manages registration, employment placement, labor inspection, conciliation and professional training services. The economy has a diversified occupational structure. On 31 December 2025, manufacturing employed 7,189 people, commerce and vehicle activities 3,256, information and communication 1,191, professional, scientific and technical activities 1,132, accommodation and food services 1,101, construction 1,010, finance and insurance 666, transport and storage 612, and health and social assistance 309. Employees included 18,995 private-sector workers and 3,949 workers in the Settore Pubblico Allargato, the extended public sector. Cross-border workers numbered 8,699, or 37.9% of employees. Companies numbered 5,318, including 788 businesses operating as libera professione, or 14.8% of all companies. Entry routes differ between subordinate employment, public employment, self-employment and regulated professions. A person seeking subordinate employment generally registers with ULPA, enters the relevant Liste di Avviamento al Lavoro, supplies study or qualification documents and completes a profiling interview. The employer then submits a labor request linked to the applicable professional profile. Separate evidence may apply to cross-border and seasonal workers. Foreign qualifications can be presented directly to a private employer, while CINERTA can assess comparability. Access to formal lists and procedures is reserved according to the applicable citizenship, residence or stay conditions. The Centro di Formazione Professionale, or CFP, and ULPA provide further training for updating, qualification, specialization, retraining and occupational change. Some courses lead to an enabling certificate. Current examples include technical capability certification for an armorer and training for a green-space worker. Public-sector recruitment is managed through competitions administered by DGFP, with an application process, a competition notice and requirements that may include a specific degree, professional authorization, citizenship or residence. Career progression can also result from experience, qualifications, public competitions and continuing training. When a retiring worker is replaced, the handover training period may last up to six months. Professional self-employment has two main legal routes. Libera profession under Law 28/1991 requires a Certificate of Economic Activity, known as a COE, and authorization from the Economic Activities Office, with an OPEC authorization procedure where applicable. Many such activities also require registration with a professional Albo, such as the registers for lawyers, notaries or accountants. The authorization can be released after confirmation, subject to controls that may last up to 180 days; the secretariat fee is EUR 30, with a possible additional EUR 15 incentive-application fee. Lavoro autonomo under Law 40/2014 and Delegated Decree 11/2022 requires evidence of special preparation or experience under Annex A and may require activity-specific permits. Regulated professions add requirements beyond general employment access. Tourism guides need professional habilitation and registration in the Albo Operatori Professionali nel Turismo. The requirements include adulthood, legal capacity, civil and political rights, no final custodial sentence exceeding two years, and Sammarinese citizenship or residence or a relevant qualification. The Tourism Office conducts the habilitation process and collects an annual register fee. Building-related work can require registration with the Order of Engineers and Architects, the College of Surveyors and First-Level Graduate Technicians, the College of Industrial Experts or the Order of Geologists. Building submissions and professional signatures must remain within the legal scope of a registered professional. Health professions require occupation-specific education, authorization and, where applicable, specialization or register membership. Doctors and dentists need a medical degree, habilitation and specialization; other health professions follow their own qualification and habilitation rules. Psychologists require the relevant qualification and registration in the Sammarinese register. Continuing education through ECM is a professional duty for health workers. Health facilities require authorization or accreditation from the Health Authority, while the ISS provides health services. Financial, insurance and other licensed activities are subject to sector rules of the Central Bank of San Marino, BCSM, or another responsible authority. Working conditions depend on the contract, collective agreement, sector and professional status. San Marino recognizes subordinate employment, part-time work, agile work, fixed-term contracts, project collaboration, occasional or accessory work and internships. ULPA checks whether the qualification, professional level and assigned tasks are consistent and whether labor-law requirements are met. Changes to tasks, qualifications or levels require agreement and may not worsen the worker's position. Employers must apply the occupational safety framework under Law 31/1998, including risk assessment, training, medical surveillance and worker-safety representation where required. Regulated professionals must also maintain qualifications, registrations, authorizations and sectoral ethical duties.
Professions in San Marino
Professions in San Marino cover regulated and non-regulated work across manufacturing, trade, services, tourism, construction, health, finance, professional services and public administration. At 31 December 2025, the workforce included 25,311 people, with 22,944 employees, 1,523 self-employed workers and 844 unemployed people. Access may depend on the occupation, employment status, qualification, residence or citizenship, and sector-specific authorization.
Tip
Start by identifying whether you want subordinate employment, a public-sector position, self-employment or a regulated profession. Your occupation title alone is not enough: match your education and experience to the applicable RP-2017 profile and check every required register, authorization and work-status condition before accepting work or starting an activity. Keep written evidence of the route, documents, duties and approvals so that your actual work matches the permitted professional scope.

