AIMA has published a new annual report. The document contains statistics for 2025 on the number of foreign residents, grounds for issuing residence permits, and applicants’ nationalities.
Pedro Barata, head of the Portuguese office at Immigrant Invest, analysed the data.
Official statistics
At the end of 2025, 1,585,854 foreign residents lived in Portugal. This is 42,157 people, or 2.7%, more than a year earlier[1]Source: 2025 Migration and Asylum Report on the AIMA website.
In 2025, AIMA issued 337,880 new residence permits and renewed another 189,331 residence permits. The date when a permit is issued does not always match the date when a person enters Portugal: some documents relate to applications that had been under review since previous years.
Growth of the foreign population in Portugal slowed down. In 2024, the number of residents increased by 18.3%, and in 2023, by 31.4%.
AIMA statistics include not only foreigners with valid residence permit cards, but also applicants in the regularisation process, with temporary protection, and with permits issued under special legal regimes.
Grounds for issuing residence permits
95.7% of new permits were related to professional activity. According to the report, among foreigners already living in the country, 482,818 people had residence permits issued specifically for work:
- 402,314 for employed work;
- 64,375 for independent professional activity;
- 10,723 for highly qualified work.
17,359 residence permits were issued for family reunification. AIMA lists this figure separately from work residence permits and investment permits.
Investors received 2,685 residence permits. Their family members received another 3,967 residence permits.
Pedro Barata,
Head of Portuguese office
AIMA recorded the highest number of residence permits by investment since the Golden Visa launched in 2012, about 29% more than a year earlier. In total, investors and their relatives accounted for around 6,650 new residence permits.
US citizens most often obtained residence permits by investment: 535 permits. They were followed by investors from China, the United Kingdom, Turkey, India, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa.
Citizens of which countries move to Portugal most often
The largest foreign community in Portugal is Brazilian citizens. At the end of 2025, 493,622 Brazilians lived in the country, or 31.1% of all foreign residents. Brazil has remained in first place for the 6th year in a row.
The top 10 nationalities included citizens of the following countries:
- Brazil — 493,622.
- Angola — 99,050.
- India — 91,405.
- Ukraine — 84,889.
- Cabo Verde — 71,005.
- Bangladesh — 55,579.
- Nepal — 53,304.
- Guinea-Bissau — 51,935.
- United Kingdom — 47,726.
- Italy — 42,418.
Among new residence permits issued in 2025, Brazilian citizens also led: they received 115,709 permits, or around a third of all new residence permits. They were followed by citizens of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
How to obtain a Portugal residence permit by investment
Foreign investors from countries outside the European Union can obtain a residence permit by investment.
It is not mandatory to move to Portugal. It is enough to spend 7 days in the country in the first year and 14 days in subsequent 2-year periods.
Holders of Portugal residence permits by investment travel across the Schengen Area countries visa-free. Together with the main investor, a spouse, children up to and including 25 years old, and parents are eligible to obtain residence permits.
Available investment options:
- €250,000+ — in culture, art, or restoration of cultural heritage;
- €500,000+ — in funds that operate for at least 5 years and invest at least 60% of their capital in companies headquartered in Portugal;
- €500,000+ — in scientific research;
- €500,000+ — in the share capital of a Portuguese company;
- creation of at least 10 jobs with no minimum investment amount.
Immigrant Invest lawyers help investors choose a suitable option and apply for a residence permit in Portugal.
Trusted by 10,000+ investors
