Over the past seven years, the number of foreign citizens legally residing in Portugal has increased almost fourfold. According to Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA), by the end of 2024, there were about 1,543,697 foreign residents registered in the country, while in 2017, this figure was about 421,802 people.
Foreign citizens now account for approximately 15% of Portugal‘s population, confirming the accelerated growth of migration in this country.
According to AIMA, the majority of foreign residents are citizens of Brazil (approximately 31.4%), India (approximately 7.4%), Angola (approximately 6.9%), and Ukraine (approximately 5.9%). Most migrants are of working age: 77% are between 18 and 44 years old, and 56.1% are men. However, no direct official breakdown by nationality has been found in open sources — these data require additional verification.
Portugal is considered one of the most immigrant-friendly countries in the EU — it has a Golden Visa program that requires an investment of €250,000 and grants the right to a residence permit and then citizenship. There are other categories as well: the D2 business visa, visas for digital nomads, and financially independent individuals.
Meanwhile, the sharp increase in the number of applications is putting a strain on AIMA: the agency reports a shortage of staff, a significant backlog of unprocessed cases, and delays in processing applications. A number of media outlets report that some cases have been pending for over two years.
The growth in the number of foreign residents in Portugal reflects a changing demographic landscape and makes the country attractive to international investors, start-ups, and migrant workers.
Key factors include relatively low investment thresholds, openness to foreign specialists, and a favorable climate. However, this dynamic is accompanied by growing challenges: increased pressure on the housing market, social infrastructure, and a migration management system in need of modernization.
For businesses, this is a signal that Portugal is a promising market for relocation and the creation of international teams, but it is important to take into account bureaucratic delays and changes in migration policy.
FOREIGNERS, PORTUGAL, UKRAINIANS
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