Dissatisfaction with elections in Brazil sparks interest in moving to Portugal

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Dissatisfaction with Brazil’s political direction is fueling interest in changes to Portugal. Real estate companies, law firms and specialized consultancies report a significant increase in demand after the result of the first round of elections.

Data from the Google Trends platform indicate that the volume of searches for the terms “move to Portugal” and “how to live in Portugal” soared on October 3, the day after the election.

Specialized in moving Brazilians to the country, Patrícia Lemos, from the consultancy Vou Mudar para Portugal, noticed a specific increase in the high-end segment, with clients interested in properties from € 2 million (about R$ 10.3 million) .

“It was impressive, we did not expect all this demand with the elections. There was a 140% increase in the search for real estate in Portugal”, says the businesswoman. “These are well-established people, who say they are dissatisfied with politics and who want to change with the whole family.”

The result of the presidential elections, with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in the lead, but with Jair Bolsonaro (PL) with an expressive vote, seems to have displeased voters from all political spectrums.

“They are two candidates with a lot of rejection. Whatever the result of the polls, there will be many dissatisfied people. These people are already thinking about an alternative”, says Lemos.

On condition of anonymity so as not to compromise the business, two Brazilian brokerages specializing in the premium segment in Portugal said they had noticed a special interest in the purchase of real estate by businessmen sympathetic to Bolsonaro.

The decision to leave Brazil for political reasons is nothing new among elites, but, until recently, the United States used to lead the preference of the dissatisfied. In 2014, for example, the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal did an extensive report on Brazilians who migrated to Miami after the defeat of Aécio Neves to Dilma Rousseff.

In addition to the common language, Portugal has another competitive advantage over the US: a generous policy of tax incentives.

Foreigners with activities considered “high added value” can apply for a special status, which guarantees the payment of a flat rate of only 20% on income – well below what is normally practiced in the country and in other Member States of the European Union. . The list of professions covered is long, and includes doctors, architects, engineers, designers, psychologists, among others.

A lawyer specializing in migration issues, Anna Araújo says that, since the first round of the elections, there has been a significant increase in demand for information on visas and European nationality.
There was also an increase in requests for revalidation of diplomas, mainly in the health area.

“It is a movement that is not exclusive to people who support one or another candidate. It is happening on both sides. There is a huge feeling of dissatisfaction”, says Araújo. According to her, the demand for businessmen who seek guidance to internationalize —or even migrate permanently to Europe— their ventures grew.

The increase in demand for Portugal as a destination for those dissatisfied with Brazilian politics was also felt by TR Advogados, which assesses that the movement began after the definition that the presidential race would clearly be between Lula and Bolsonaro.

“Among our clients, consultations revolve around obtaining Portuguese nationality or residence permits, especially for investment”, says Angela Theodoro, partner at the firm.

According to her, one of the main investments sought by dissatisfied Brazilians is the so-called golden visa, whose main way of obtaining it is the purchase of properties worth at least €500,000 (R$ 2.56 million).

Post-election interest in a move to Portugal could help swell the already growing Brazilian community in the country. Figures from the Foreigners and Borders Service indicate that, until June 2022, there were about 252,000 Brazilians with legal residence in the country. The figure is 220% higher than that recorded in 2016, when there were 81,251 official residents.

The statistics do not count as Brazilians people with dual citizenship of Portugal or another European Union country. People who are in an irregular migratory situation are also not included in the survey.

Immigrant support associations estimate that there are at least 400,000 Brazilians in Portugal.
The growth trend should remain high, as the Portuguese government has just launched new types of visas to attract mainly workers from countries of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).

Among the newly approved new permits is the creation of a special visa for job seekers and another one dedicated to digital nomads. In the first modality, foreigners have a period of 120 days, extendable for another 60 days, to be hired. If they cannot find a job during this period, they must leave the country.

The second type covers freelancers or contracted professionals, who need to present documents that prove employment or service provision. On all types of visas, authorities will also carry out a criminal background check — in Brazil and Portugal.

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