Resident foreign population rose 7.8% in 2021; sixth straight increase
The foreign population resident in Portugal has been increasing since 2016, when there were 397,731 - meaning the figure almost doubled in five years.
Portugal’s resident foreign population last year increased for a sixth consecutive year, to 714,123, according to provisional data from the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF).
SEF data sent to Lusa show that the number of foreign citizens living in the country at the end of last year was 7.8% up on a year earlier, when the figure was 662,095.
The foreign population resident in Portugal has been increasing since 2016, when there were 397,731 – meaning the figure almost doubled in five years.
According to the SEF, 2019 saw the largest increase in foreign residents, at 22.9%.
The figures show that the most numerous nationalities are Brazil (209,072), followed by the UK (42,071), Cape Verde (35,913), India (30,995) and Italy (30,887).
Despite the increase, the number of new residence permits granted to immigrants last year was down by almost 8%, to 109,000 from the 118,124 granted in 2020. According to the SEF, new permits were above all issued to Indian, Brazilian, Nepalese, Italian, French and German nationals.
Residence permits for professional activity were granted to 13,027 Brazilians, 5,685 Indians and 1,876 Nepalese.
As for European nationals, last year residence permits were granted to 5,307 Italians, 4,750 French and 3,937 Germans.
Under rules on family reunification, where a member of a family is already legally resident in Portugal, 8,482 permits were granted last year, including a total of 8,492 Brazilian, 732 Angolan and 572 Indian family members.
