The return of Portuguese emigrants to the country is intensifying, supported by state measures and personal decisions that favor stability and family proximity. The case of Vera Honório, who returned to Portugal after 18 years abroad and received 9 thousand euros through the Regressar Program, illustrates this reality.
At 35, the former emigrant settled in Tondela with her daughter and found work a few months later. The financial support comes as a complement to a process of restart that, according to his statement, is still under construction.
According to the news portal, the value attributed under the Regressar Program depends on several criteria, including the type of contract and the household situation. The base value can vary between five and seven times the Social Support Index. “The amount receivable can reach more than 10 thousand euros per application”, indicates the Ministry of Labor, cited by the same source, also saying that there are increases associated with expenses and location of the job.
Support is granted in two phases and involves maintaining professional activity in Portugal. “There are two payments: in the first I received 70% of the R$9,000 and, in the second, I will receive the remaining 30%”, explained Vera Honório. “In six months, I will have to prove that I continue to work and live in Portugal to receive what is missing”, he added, according to the same source.
Luxembourg stands out in the candidacies
Luxembourg is the fifth country with the most applications for the program. The country represents around 4% of applications submitted by emigrants who decided to return. According to the same source, the majority of these candidates left Portugal before 2010, which indicates prolonged migratory journeys before returning.
The average age of candidates is around 40 years old. “The majority of former emigrants […] they were between 30 and 39 years old”, writes the portal, based on official data. More than half of the candidates have education up to the 9th year, while a smaller percentage have higher education, says the same source.
Life abroad does not always live up to expectations
It should be noted that Vera Honório lived in France and Luxembourg, where she faced difficulties in family management and living costs. “I went through great difficulties,” he said, recalling the first years of emigration. “You earn more abroad, but you also spend a lot”, he said, explaining that the costs of housing and daily living were high, according to the same source.
The decision to return was also influenced by the family. “It got to a point where it no longer made sense to be abroad,” he told Contacto, mentioning the distance from one of his children. “I will never emigrate again”, he declared, adding: “I feel much happier here”.
Integration into the labor market
After returning, Vera found work in a short time, first in the food industry and then in public relations. The professional path was gradually rebuilt. “I’m starting over and I’m still building my foundations”, he explained, describing the current moment of his life in Portugal. The number of applications for the program has increased since its launch. “There are more and more people wanting to return,” he says. “Every day I receive messages,” he added, noting that many emigrants are considering returning, although some are afraid.
Since 2019, more than 25,000 applications have been submitted to the Return Program. According to the Employment and Professional Training Institute, around 70% were approved. The most recent data indicates that almost 7,000 applications were approved in the last period, confirming the significant adoption of the measure.
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