According to data from Portugal’s Social Security Institute (ISS), 162,252 migrant employees ceased making contributions in 2025 and did not subsequently reappear with an active registration, suggesting that many either left Portugal altogether or remain in the country without legal employment status.
Departures
The latest figures represent a 66 percent increase compared with 2024, with the pace of departures accelerating significantly over the past two years.
Meanwhile, the system lost an average of 267 foreign contributors each day in 2023, climbing to approximately 455 per day in 2025.
Brazilian nationals accounted for the largest share of those no longer registered with the social security system, with nearly 60,000 disappearing from the records in 2025 alone, bringing the cumulative total over the past couple of years to around 100,000.
However, the most pronounced increase was recorded among individuals from East Asia, as departures involving workers from the Indian subcontinent, such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal, almost tripled over the course of the year, marking the fastest growth among the principal migrant communities.
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Why is this concerning at all? Isn't this the goal, especially when immigrants are to blame to every single problem this country had since ever? In all honesty we should all leave and let the locals bear the consequences. You can up sell your self as "paradise" for limited amount of time. Immigrants are not stupid. They see 2000€ for 15m2 to rent in Lisbon, they see what they can earn, do the math and say goodbye. The next will be nomads as soon as they find new cheaper gem. And then it is game over. Good luck with foreign pensioners and super rich people who will buy property here in which they will not live. I guess Portuguese are getting what they've been wishing for... Shame on you if you fool me once, shame on me if you fool me twice. For good portion of immigrants there is no "twice".
By Mike from Lisbon on 05 Jul 2026, 06:34
My wife and I have been waiting to get our residency cards renewed for months. We are trapped here since we cannot travel with expired cards. AIMA does not answer emails, does not answer the phone , won't let you in their office without an appointment, which of course you can't get without an email or a phone call. The government is well aware of the situation, and refuses to act. It is clear we are considered second class and are not wanted here. We have started looking for another country to move to, and of course we will take our investment money with us.
By John from Madeira on 06 Jul 2026, 00:01