SEF. Indian community was the fastest growing in Portugal in 2020

The Indian community was the fastest growing in Portugal in 2020 totaling 24,550 citizens, having surpassed the Angolan and Bissau-Guinean, reveals the Immigration, Borders and Asylum Report (RIFA) released today by SEF.

According to Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), Indians in Portugal increased 39.3% in 2020 compared to 2019, when 17,619 were living in the country, moving into the top 10 most representative nationalities.

“Highlight for India that rises two positions now occupying the 9th place overtaking Angola and Guinea-Bissau,” reads the report presented at the ceremony commemorating the 45th anniversary of the SEF, which took place on Wednesday behind closed doors and attended by the Interior Minister.

SEF notes that the number of citizens from India more than tripled last year compared to 2016.

Another community that has seen “quite remarkable growth” is the Nepalese, who now occupy the 11th position by totaling 21,015, an increase of almost 25% compared to 2019, when 16,849 citizens from Nepal were living.

The number of citizens from Nepal living in the country has quadrupled since 2016.

Of the 24,550 Indians in Portugal, 19,099 are men and 5,451 women, while of the 21,015 Nepalese, 13,339 are men and 7,676 women.

The RIFA also reports that in 2020, 118,124 new residence permits were issued to foreigners, a decrease of 8.5% compared to the previous year (129,155).

SEF reports that the most relevant reasons for granting new residence permits were family reunification (35,736), professional activity (29,715) and study (12,285).

The report underlines that the new permits issued to citizens from India and Nepal had professional activity as the main reason.

The same document highlights that 7,172 Indians and 3,880 Nepalese requested a residence permit in Portugal for the first time last year