Foreigners in Portugal are working, guarantees Santos Pereira

Governor of the Bank of Portugal gave a portrait: employees, administrative activities, 33 years.

The governor of the Bank of Portugal (BdP), Álvaro Santos Pereiraargued that, regardless of nationality, foreigners who are in Portugal “are carrying out productive activities and working”.

The official pointed out that there has been a “large influx of immigration in recent years, most of whom are workers“, in the March economic bulletin, in Lisbon.

According to the bulletin, in 2025, around 1.13 million foreigners were registered in the Social Securitybeing almost entirely employees or self-employed workers.

With regard to nationalities, the study concludes that 38% of foreign individuals entering Portugal were citizens with nationality Brazilian, followed by individuals from South Asian countries — India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan — with around 19%, and those from Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP), com 14%.

As for the sectors of activity, between 2010 and 2024, around 20% of workers joined companies in the administrative activities and support services18% no accommodation and catering15% already agriculture and fishing by 14% construction. Already the business represented 10% of entries and the industry about 7%.

The governor highlighted that the conclusion of the study is that “foreign workers are[inPortugaltoworktheyaredoingworkinvariousactivities”regardlessofnationality[emPortugalparatrabalharestãoafazertrabalhoemváriasatividades”independentementedanacionalidade

He also highlighted that among immigrants there are fewer social benefits and pensions than for nationalsare individuals who hang around the 33 years and are involved in various activities.

Asked about what immigration policies should be applied, Santos Pereira pointed out that “perhaps it is worth having an active immigration policy, trying identify the sectors” where there are more needs and try to attract people in those sectors.

“It is also important, as in other countries, to try to attract more immigrants with bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees,” he said.