New generation of legal immigrants in Portugal up 50 per cent

13/9/2008

Statistics from 2006 showed that a new influx of legal immigrants in Portugal boosted the resident population by 50 per cent, though the total number of recent settlers did not reach the three thousand mark as thousands of immigrants are also departing.

According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Portugal is one of a handful of EU countries registering high numbers of ‘new’ foreigners, on a par with Sweden, Ireland and Denmark.

Over the past few years searching for employment has stopped being the main reason for individuals leaving their homelands.

Joining family members who are already in Portugal is now the main motive, mainly for Ukrainians.

Just three years ago searching for employment and joining family were of equal balimportance ance as reasons for emigrating, though since 2006 family has gained more importance, being the main motive for around six in every ten ‘new’ emigrants.

In 2006 42,000 legal immigrants chose Portugal as their destination. Even so, the report says, the total number of immigrants in Portugal only rose by 2,800 as thousands of those who have already settled here, mainly from Eastern Europe, are choosing to return home as the work market is saturated.

Amongst those recently-arrived, one in four is from Brazil. Ukrainians, Cape-Verdeans and Moldavians represent the second largest group of immigrants.

On the other hand, the Angolan, British and Mozambican communities decreased from 2005 to 2006. All other foreign communities in Portugal grew during that period.

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