Immigration to Portugal

As of 2021, Portugal had 1,181,027 immigrants out of 10,300,000 inhabitants, accounting for 11.5% of its total population.[1]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1864 4,188,419—    
1878 4,550,699+8.6%
1890 5,049,729+11.0%
1911 5,969,056+18.2%
1920 6,032,991+1.1%
1930 6,825,883+13.1%
1940 7,722,152+13.1%
1950 8,510,240+10.2%
1960 8,851,240+4.0%
1970 8,648,369−2.3%
1981 9,833,041+13.7%
1991 9,862,540+0.3%
2001 10,356,117+5.0%
2011 10,561,614+2.0%
202110,344,802−2.1%
Source: INE

Dealing with foreigners, in 2019 there were some 590,000 people holding foreign citizenship in Portugal. With the COVID-19 pandemic, that number went up to 661,000 at the end of 2020.[2]

In 2007 Portugal had 10,617,575 inhabitants of whom 332,137, or 3.13%, were legal immigrants (51,7% female, 48,3% male).[3] In 2020, Portugal had 662,095 legal residents of foreign origin, of which 336,123 identified as male, and 325,972 as female.[4]

Immigrants in Portugal largely come from Eastern Europe, Latin America, Lusophone nations in Africa, and South Asia. Major groups of immigrants to Portugal include Brazilians, Ukrainians, Moldovans, Romanians, Russians, Chinese, Venezuelans, Angolans, Bissau-Guineans, Nepalis, Indians, Cape Verdeans, and São Toméans.

Immigration

Portugal, for long a country of emigration, has become a meeting country of net immigration, and not just from the last Portuguese overseas territories in India (until 1961), Africa (until 1975), and Far East Asia (until 1999). Over a million of Portuguese citizens from Portugal's African territories (mostly from Angola and Mozambique) migrated in Portugal during the 1970s.[5] Since the 1990s, along with a boom in construction, several new waves of Ukrainian, Brazilian, people from the former Portuguese colonies in Africa and other Africans have settled in the country. Those communities currently make up the largest groups of immigrants in Portugal. Romanians, Moldovans, Chinese and Indians also have chosen Portugal as a destination. A number of EU citizens have also chosen Portugal as a destination, with a major part of the British, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, German, Swedish communities, among others, being mostly composed of persons looking for quality of life, including an increasing number of pensioners.

Foreign citizens 2020
 Brazil 183,993[6]
 United Kingdom 46,246[7]
 Cape Verde 36,609[8]
 Romania 30,052[9]
 Ukraine 28,629[10]
 Italy 28,159[11]
 China 26,074[12]
 France 24,935[13]
 India 24,550[14]
 Angola 24,449[15]
   Nepal 21,015
 Guinea-Bissau 19,680[16]
 Spain 16,981[17]
 Germany 16,041[18]
 São Tomé and Príncipe 10,706[19]
 Netherlands 10,392[20]
 Bangladesh 9,916
 Venezuela 7,741[21]
 Bulgaria 6,745
 Pakistan 6,381[22]
 Moldova 5,183[23]
 Belgium 5,183
 Sweden 5,181[24]
 Russia 5,103[25]
 United States 4,768
 Mozambique 3,678[26]
 Poland 3,061
Legal foreign residents in Portugal
Country of origin 2001 census[27][28] 2002 [29][30] 2004 [31][32] 2006 [33] 2011 census[27] % (2011)[27] change from 2001[27] 2020[34]
Brazil 31 869 58,370 66,907 73,384 109 787 27,8% +244,5% 183,993
Cape Verde 33 145 59,678 64,164 68,145 38,895 9,9% +17,3% 36,609
Angola 37 014 31,332 35,264 33,215 26 954 6,8% -27,2% 24,449
Guinea Bissau 15 824 22,855 25,148 24,513 16 360 4,1% +3,4% 19,680
São Tomé and Príncipe 8 517 8,951 10,483 10,761 10 408 2,6% +22,2% 10,706
Mozambique 4,749 5,312 5,471 5,854 3,028 3,678
Ukraine 10 793 60,571 66,227 41,870 33 790 8,6% +213,1% 28,629
Romania 2 661 10,673 12,155 10,299 24 356 6,2% +815,3% 30,052
Spain 9 047 14,587 15,916 16,597 10 486 2,7% +15,9% 16,981
United Kingdom 8 227 15,899 18,005 19,592 15 774 4,0% +91,7% 46,246
Moldova 2 984 11,817 13,689 12,673 10 475 2,7% +251,0% 5,183
Russia 597 8,211 1,158 4,945 4,878 5,103
France 15 359 8,364 9,312 9,733 14 360 3,6% -6,5% 24,935
Macau 2 176 4,468 9,518 9,695 11 458 2,9% +426,6%
India 1,361 1,503 5,088 3,614 5,384 24,550
Pakistan 1,031 1,180 4,212 2,125 2,474 6,381
Total non-EU 340,187 374,652 355,113 503,592
European Union 65,393 74,542 79,774 158,503
Total 405,580 449,194 434,887 662,095

Immigration to Portugal has grown since the 1990s. Some immigrant communities, like those arrived from Africa and South America, grew as a result of economic emigration - foreigners looking for better economic conditions abroad. Other immigrant communities, like most of those arrived from other EU member states, are a result of the attractiveness of the country for high income foreign citizens looking for a better quality of life, a warmer sunny weather, security and exquisite cuisine.

However, despite Portugal's reputation as an economic success story since the financial crisis, many young, educated workers are still more attracted by significantly higher wages in European countries such as Germany, Britain or Switzerland.[35] Nearly 600,000 people emigrated during years of austerity between 2011 and 2015.[35] As a measure to revert skill-drain, population decrease and ageing, the government has since created new measures to attract Portuguese emigrants to return home.[36]

The 20 largest legal immigrant communities in 2007 compared with their numbers in 1999
* : European Union citizenship
P : Portuguese speaking
Legal foreign residents Number in 1999 Number in 2007 Growth in percentage Number in 2011[27]
BraziliansP 20,851 66,354 + 218% 109,787
CapeverdeansP 43,951 63,925 + 45% 38,895
Ukrainians 123 39,480 + 31998% 33,790
AngolansP 17,721 32,728 + 85% 26,954
GuineansP 14,217 23,733 + 67% 16,360
British* 13,335 23,608 + 77% 15,774
Romanians* 224 19,155 + 8451% 24,356
Spanish* 11,122 18,030 + 62% 10,486
Germans* 9,605 15,498 + 61% 9,054
Moldovans 3 14,053 + 468333% 10,475
SantomeansP 4,809 10,627 + 121% 10,408
French* 6,499 10,556 + 62% 14,360
MacaneseP 2,762 10,448 + 278% 11,458
US-Americans 7,975 8,264 + 4% 2,331
Dutch* 3,675 6,589 + 79% 4,862
Italians* 2,700 5,985 + 122% 5,338
MozambicansP 4,502 5,681 + 26% 3,028
Russians 448 5,114 + 1042% 4,878
Bulgarians* 347 5,028 + 1349% 8,606
Indians 1,211 4,104 + 239% 5,384

Resident foreigners
Foreign-born residents of Portugal by 2020.
Portuguese and foreign born population pyramid in 2021

Many earlier immigrants have now become naturalized citizens: 264,951 people from 2008 to 2019,[37] corresponding roughly to 2.6% of total population. However, there are still some 662,095 foreign citizens resident in Portugal as of 2020,[38] accounting for 6.4% of Portugal population.

Brazilians are the most prevalent foreign nationality. The 183,993 resident Brazilians are 1.78% of the total population. Other significant foreign communities (excluding naturalized citizens) are the ones from other countries of the Lusosphere. In 2020 there were 95,459 from PALOP countries (Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Principe, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde) as well as from Timor-Leste and Macau, corresponding to 0.92% of the whole population.

The number of foreigners from Ukraine (28,629), Romania (30,052), Moldova (5,183) and Bulgaria (6,745) has been dropping steadily since 2011; there have been many naturalized Portuguese citizens with these backgrounds; respectively: 27,211 Ukrainians, 5,680 Romanians, 18,335 Moldovans and 936 Bulgarians have become Portuguese citizens from 2008 to 2019.

In addition, there is a thriving community of people from the Indian subcontinent (chiefly Indians and Nepalis) adding up to 61,978 people or 0.6% of total population.

In recent years, many Britons, Italians, French, Germans, Spanish and Dutch have established themselves in Portugal.

Illegal immigration
A Portuguese residence permit issued to non-EU citizens.

In 2006 the Portuguese government made it easier for second generation immigrants to gain citizenship in order to prevent illegal immigration.[39][40] There are now estimated to be 260,000 immigrants from Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova in Portugal, half of these illegal. Many work in agriculture and services.[41][42][43]

Illegal immigration rose by 55% in 2009, with most of the illegals being Brazilian nationals.[44] Employers of illegal immigrants in Portugal face jail terms.[45]

Jewish immigration
Main article: Portuguese nationality law § Jewish Law of Return

In recent years, several hundred Turkish Jews, who have been able to prove that they are descended from Jews expelled from Portugal in 1497, have acquired Portuguese citizenship.[46][47][48]

Immigration by Investment

Another group of immigrants, especially among Non-European citizens, can avail the chance of residing in Portugal by making a financial investment. RBI (Residency by Investment) schemes, also called “golden visa” or “golden passport”, offer Non-European citizens a residency and work permit inside Europe. According to RBI programs operated by a handful of Member States of EU, Non-European citizens can have access to residency or citizenship in exchange for specified investments in the country.

Under Portugal's Golden Visa program, which has been in service since 8 October 2012, the Portuguese government grants a residence permit to those who invest an amount of at least €350,000 which is maintained for at least (a continuous) five years.

See also

References
  1. "Eurostat: population by country of birth" (in Portuguese). Público. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  2. "661 mil imigrantes, mais 71 mil do que antes da pandemia" (in Portuguese). Diário de Notícias. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  3. "Statistics Portugal". Ine.pt. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  4. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). publico.pt.
  5. Dismantling the Portuguese Empire, Time Magazine (July 7, 1975)
  6. "População Estrangeira Residente em Portugal - Brasil". GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  7. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  8. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  9. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  10. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  11. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
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  13. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  14. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  15. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  16. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  17. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  18. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  19. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  20. "SEFSTAT" (PDF).
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  22. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  23. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  24. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  25. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  26. "SEFSTAT" (PDF). GEE. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  27. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2015-12-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. "SEFSTAT" (PDF).
  29. Estatísticas da Imigração (PDF) (in Portuguese), Alto Comissariado para a Imigração e Minorias Étnicas, 2003, archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-03-14, retrieved 2007-12-14
  30. "SEFSTAT" (PDF).
  31. Estatísticas da Imigração (PDF) (in Portuguese), Alto Comissariado para a Imigração e Minorias Étnicas, 2005, archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28, retrieved 2007-12-14
  32. "SEFSTAT" (PDF).
  33. População Estrangeira em Portugal - 2006 (pdf) (in Portuguese), Instituto Nacional de Estatística, December 13, 2007, retrieved 2007-12-14
  34. "SEFSTAT" (PDF).
  35. Victoria Waldersee (October 15, 2019), Portugal amends returnee program in bid to attract more citizens home Reuters.
  36. "Portugal is paying its emigrants to return". World Economic Forum.
  37. "Eurostat: Acquisition of citizenship in the EU".
  38. "Sefstat" (PDF).
  39. "Portugal approves new immigration law". People's Daily Online. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  40. "Portugal sees integration progress". BBC. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  41. "Russian immigrants in Portugal – miracles and nightmares". Pravda. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  42. "Irregular Transit Migration from Moldova". Degruyter. doi:10.1515/9789048523160-010.
  43. "Ukrainian Migration to Portugal".
  44. "Deportation of illegal immigrants up 53%". The Portugal News. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  45. "Jail terms for employers of illegal immigrants". The Portugal News. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  46. "Amid rising European anti-Semitism, Portugal sees Jewish renaissance". Timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  47. "New citizenship law has Jews flocking to tiny Portugal city". Timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  48. "Portugal open to citizenship applications by descendants of Sephardic Jews". Jta.org. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
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