An
increasing number of people in recent years have been coming to Portugal for a better
life than they have been experiencing in America, the United Kingdom and a
number of EU countries.
At the same
time, many Portuguese residents have been leaving for the same countries
immigrants are coming from.
The number
of foreign residents in Portugal is now more than 6% of the total population.
Some,
especially those from former Portuguese territories such as Brazil, come to
study or work. Many of the English-speakers are elderly and wanting to enjoy
their retirement in Portugal.
For those seeking further education or work opportunities, Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra and the other main cities are very attractive. The milder climate and less busy environments in the Algarve region is the preferred option for many retirees.
More than 285 passengers disembarked at Azores airports last month, almost a 10% increase on August the previous year, but it is not clear now many of those visitors may have been lured to remain and reside on one of those beautiful islands.
The number of foreigners living on the Portuguese island of Madeira was about 10,600 at
the beginning of last year, an increase of nearly 20% since 2019 and the COVID
pandemic.
Immigrants
are obviously drawn to mainland Portugal and the autonomous islands by
conditions they consider better than in their homelands. Among the most
important is the fact that the Portuguese are generally a welcoming people and
while English is not an official language, many Portuguese understand and speak
it fluently. Also of great significance is the fact that Portugal is one of the
most peaceful countries in the world.
There are
plenty of English-speaking property agents, lawyers and health professional
available to offer their services. All sorts of advice is also available in
English and other European languages for members of the Association of Foreign
Property Owners (AFPOP).
The cost of
living throughout Portugal has risen a lot in recent years, but it is still
moderate compared with many other places. On the negative side, property rental
and purchase prices have soared, causing a shortage of affordable accommodation
for locals who are earning in many cases €1,000 or less a month.
The housing
situation in the cities and low incomes are two of the main reasons why so many
young Portuguese are emigrating in search of a better life abroad, mainly in
the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and the Nordic countries.
More than
two million Portuguese-born citizens are living elsewhere at present. Together
with the descendants of Portuguese emigrants, the number around the world is
about five million, more than 40% of the home nation’s total population.
There is no
suggestion that the comings and goings will reduce let alone stop in the years
ahead.
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