The number of immigrants to Portugal obtaining residence permits in 2015 has risen with 37,851 permits issued, 2,586 more than in 2014.
The National Statistics Institute (INE) released figures obtained from the Foreigners and Borders Service which showed that Brazilians led the field with 5,716 permits issued, followed by the Chinese with 2,575, Romanians with 2,569, French with 2,495 and Cape Verdeans with 2,025.
For the first time, Nepalese national are among the top ten nationalities to whom residence permits were granted but the Institute stressed that "since 2010, the foreign population with resident status has been decreasing," standing at 383,759 at the end of 2105.
There are now 80,515 Brazilians legally resident in Portugal, followed by 38,346 Cape Verdeans and 35,702 Ukrainians.
As for migration movements, in 2015 the number of permanent emigrants recorded was 40,377 which exceeded permanent immigrants numbering 29,896. This is a negative net migration of 10,481 people in the year.
Of those Portuguese who emigrated in 2015, 58% went to France, the United Kingdom or Switzerland.
The Institute stated that the balance in 2015 "continues to be characterised by a decrease in the resident population despite the increase in the birth rate and immigration, and a decrease in emigration."
In 2015, the resident population in Portugal was estimated at 10,341,330, 33,492 less than in 2014, representing a negative growth rate of 0.32%.
There are figures recorded by the SEF which do not represent the full picture as many foreigners do not bother applying for residency once in the country.
