A New Forever Home
With so many people moving there, are immigrants welcome to Portugal? Find out in this article written by a Portuguese!
Article by Viv Europe - Official Legal and Relocation Partner to KipperTree
Read the full article here
10 09 2023
Portugal has a long history of cultural diversity and immigration, dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries! The country’s tradition of welcoming people has contributed to its dynamic and culturally rich nation. So, are all immigrants welcome in Portugal equally?
People say that ‘’home is where the heart is’’. As an immigrant, it takes time to feel part of the community. Moving to a new country with a different language and traditions sounds quite scary. So what makes people choose Portugal as their new ”home sweet home”?
Keep reading to know what the Portuguese think about immigrants and how they’re welcomed. And most importantly, what makes expats move to Portugal in the first place. Happy reading!
Are immigrants welcome in Portugal?
Generally speaking, yes. For the last decade, Europe’s westernmost country has been showing that both tourists and immigrants are welcome and valued. Winning Europe’s Leading Destination Award four times in a row is quite an achievement!
In the last 6 years, the number of foreign residents in Portugal has increased significantly. Today, in a total population of a bit more than 10.33 million, more than 12% are first-generation immigrants or descendants of immigrants.
A huge majority of these immigrants are highly skilled workers, including professionals working in the IT, engineering, and healthcare sectors. Have you heard about Lisbon and its booming IT sector?
We’ll tell you all about it!
But first, why did people start choosing Portugal, and how do the locals see this new (or not so new) reality?
How big is the expat community?
Between the years 2011 and 2022, the country has seen a 40% increase in the expat population in different parts of Portugal. The Algarve and Lisbon continue to be the two favourite regions with the highest representation of foreigners. Their percentages are 14.7% and 8.9%, respectively.
Here are some statistics to show you how many immigrants are welcome in Portugal as of 2020:
Why expats choose to move to Portugal
One of the key factors that we’ve heard over and over again is the fact that Portugal offers an incredible quality of life compared to other European countries at the same cost of living. Even among tourists, the country is known for its incredible beaches, affordable rentals, and locals’ hospitality. That’s why they keep coming back for more! Factors that make Portugal such a unique place explain why the Portuguese population is so open to welcoming people to their country. Let’s find out more about them and explore how immigrants are welcome in Portugal.
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