The number of migrant workers leaving Portugal has skyrocketed in the last two years, with a 40% monthly increase in departures in 2024. According to Social Security data processed by the Bank of Portugal, the country recorded the highest number of departures of foreigners since 2015, the beginning of the historical series.
The net migration of foreign citizens, which had peaked in May 2023, has fallen to its lowest level since February 2021. The study released this Friday, December 12th, reveals a sharp change in the migration trend following measures announced by the Portuguese government in June 2024. according to the newspaper Expresso.
Departures reach highest level in nine years.
In 2022, the average monthly departure of foreign workers was 1,9. The following year, this number rose to 3,8. In cumulative terms, the total departures reached 32,3 in 2023. By 2024, this number had jumped to 45, an increase of 40%.
The data shows that the exodus gained momentum starting in June 2024. In that month, the government revoked, by decree-law, the rule that allowed the regularization of immigrants with at least 12 months of contributions to Social Security. The decision was announced by the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, who stated that it was necessary "End the open-door policy."
With the change, the "expression of interest" procedure was no longer accepted. The impact was immediate. Until May, the number of monthly departures was around three thousand. By the end of 2024, it had already exceeded five thousand.
Entries also fall sharply.
The negative trend was not limited to departures. The number of new entries of foreign workers also suffered a sharp decline. According to a study by the Bank of Portugal, between June and December 2023, the monthly average was 20 entries. In the same period of 2024, this number fell to 12, a reduction of 40%.
The net migration balance — the difference between arrivals and departures — plummeted. In the second half of 2024, the monthly average of net arrivals fell to around seven thousand, compared to 17 thousand in the same period of the previous year.
The survey highlights that "this evolution of the balance is essentially determined by the decrease in inflows." Between January and August 2025, the average inflow remained around 12 per month.
Government hardens its rhetoric and the economy feels the effects.
The tightening of immigration rules and the more restrictive tone adopted by the government appear to have contributed to the drop in net migration. The Minister of the Presidency acknowledged that... "The economy will have to adapt.", when commenting on the new model, which is more closed to the entry of foreigners.
The departure of immigrant workers directly impacts Social Security revenues and puts pressure on sectors that depend on foreign labor.The expectation is that the next economic bulletins will detail the effects of this change on... Portuguese labor market.
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Rogerio
December 14, 2025 at 12:18 am
A country with an aging population and no population renewal of any kind leads to total stagnation... the results are there for all to see.