So, in 2021, for the sixth year in a row, there was an increase in the resident foreign population, an increase of 5.6% compared to 2020, with a total of 698,887 foreign nationals holding a residence permit, the highest value recorded by the SEF since then. It started in 1976,” says the Immigration, Border and Asylum (RIFA) report, which Lusa had access to.
RIFA notes that the context of the covid-19 epidemic has caused “a slowdown in the increase in the resident foreign population, in line with what happened in 2020,” although the growth of the resident foreign population between 2015 and 2021 (plus 310156) was maintained.
According to the SEF, Brazilians remain the main foreign community residing in the country, accounting for 29.8% of the total last year, the highest number since 2012.
The document presents that at the end of last year, 204,694 Brazilians lived in Portugal, and the Brazilian community was also the most developed in 2021 (11.3%) compared to 2020.
RIFA states that the UK maintains its position in relation to 2020 despite a 9.3% decrease, being the second most represented foreign nationality in Portugal.
At the end of 2020, 204,694 Brazilians were living in Portugal, followed by nationals of the United Kingdom (41,932), Cape Verde (34,093), Italy (30,819), India (30,251) and Romania (28, 911), Ukraine (27,195), and France. (26719), Angola (25802) and China (22,782).
“The continued growth of foreign nationals from EU countries underscores the special impact of the attractiveness factors already mentioned in previous years, such as the perception of Portugal as a safe country, as well as the tax advantages arising from the system for non-residents .normal,” he asserts.
RIFA also highlights the growth of indigenous peoples from India, which has climbed four places and is now in fifth place, surpassing France, China, Ukraine and Romania, as well as Italy, which is in fourth place, “confirming the growth observed in the past years.”
Immigrants mainly reside on the coast, with 68% registered in the provinces of Lisbon, Faro and Setúbal, a total of 466,779 resident citizens, compared to 450,074 in 2019.
RIFA reported that there was an increase in the number of foreigners living in Viana do Castelo province, and on the other hand, there was a decrease in Bragança, stressing that in terms of residence areas, there were increases in Lisbon, Vale do Tejo and Alentejo with an increase of 9.8% as a result of increases In Setúbal, Beja and Santarém.
Regarding the migration flow, the SEF indicates the continuation of the downward trend of new bonds issued (111,311), with a decrease of 5.8% compared to 2020, “confirming the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, which can be observed already in 2020”.
Most of the new surnames were also attributed to Brazilians (39,456), followed by Indians (7407) and Italians (5302).
“The most relevant reasons for granting new residence permits were professional activity (35,886), family reunification (20,718) and study (10,919),” states RIFA, highlighting the “strong majority of professional activity in nationalities from Asia”.
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