Why, where and what kind of houses are Brazilians buying in Portugal?

In the past, it was the Portuguese who emigrated to Brazil, with the migratory wave reaching its peak during the 60s and 70s of the last century. From the second half of the 1980s onwards, the direction was reversed and the first migratory wave of Brazilians to Portugal took place. They were mostly immigrants with high levels of education and who entered the more qualified segments of the Portuguese labor market, namely dentists. From the end of the 90s onwards, the second wave begins, which lasts until the beginning of the 21st century, partly facilitated by more favorable registration mechanisms and visas, associated with lower average levels of education and less qualified professions.

In this century, the third wave began, with the dimension of the resident community registering a strong growth in the last two decades. From the 22,000 Brazilians registered and legalized in the year 2000, to over 250,000 today (30% of all foreigners), forecasts point to soon reaching 300,000 Brazilians living and working in Portugal!

But the real size of the Brazilian community may be much larger than the 252,000 people counted by the SEF-Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras. This statistic does not include those with dual citizenship, namely Brazilians with Portuguese, Italian or Spanish citizenship. To these numbers must be added all Brazilians who are in an irregular situation. According to Pedro Góis, a researcher at the University of Coimbra, the number of Brazilians could double, that is to say around 500,000!

What are the places in Portugal where Brazilians are looking for a house to live in?

Because of the hot climate in Brazil and the regions where many Brazilians come from, the coastal regions and the south of Portugal are the most sought after areas. The proximity of the sea and the beach is one of the factors that most weighs in the choice.

This choice is quite clear when looking at the map below. Lisbon, the entire Estoril line and the town of Cascais (Estoril, Parede, Carcavelos and Oeiras) are at the forefront of demand for homes by Brazilians. But in addition to the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon, the AML of Porto and the Algarve are the most sought after regions.

The infographic also shows, based on the 2021 Census, that there are more Brazilian women than men living in Portugal, 55% against 45%. Based on INE data, we also found that the majority of Brazilian residents belong to households and only 16% live alone.

Search for houses in greater Lisbon by Brazilians

The Portuguese capital is the city with the highest demand for homes by foreign buyers, including many Brazilians. The neighborhoods overlooking the Tagus River: Ajuda and Restelo, Estrela and Príncipe Real, Alfama and the entire coastal area that extends to Parque das Nações are at the top of demand. For example, in the luxury development Prata Riverside Village, in the Braço de Prata area, Marvila, with 781 apartments under construction next to the Tagus River and in an international community with more than 30 nationalities, Brazil is the country from which comes the greatest number of buyers.

The type of houses traded are mostly apartments, but in the high segment, above 1 million euros, houses are the most chosen typology.

On the south bank of the Tagus, the new apartment developments that are emerging in Almada / Seixal, the Caparica area next to the beaches that extend to Meco and the luxury developments that surround Aroeira, with emphasis on the Golf da Aroeira, Belverde, etc. Here, the offer is mostly made up of villas.

Search for houses for sale in Lisbon, prices and nationalities

(2nd Quarter 2022)

Search for houses in greater Porto by Brazilians

According to Portal Idealista, Porto is the 5th Portuguese municipality with the highest demand for houses for sale, among the different foreign nationalities.Brazilians are the 2nd nationality in comparative terms. Looking at the following graph, we can see that compared to North Americans, French, Spanish and Germans, Brazilians are looking for cheaper homes, and in the bracket above 1 million euros the percentage is similar to the rest.

Search for houses in the Algarve by Brazilians

The Algarve region, in the south of Portugal, attracts people from all over the world in search of the "California of Europe".It is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Portugal, known for its subtropical climate, lots of sunshine, mild temperatures in summer and winter, where rainfall is less and the sea temperature is the highest in the entire continent. The proximity of the mountains and the beauty of the beaches offer stunning landscapes, and allow you to enjoy the best that Portugal has to offer. "Discovered" by the British many years ago, the Algarve is their favorite destination in Portugal.

The Brazilians who arrive in the Algarve are mostly young people looking for jobs, which they find in the tourist sector and in commerce. Thus, leasing is one of the main options. But in recent years, a type of Brazilian has emerged, upper class or retired, who buys houses in condominiums or luxury areas, in the most qualified municipalities in the Algarve.

The real estate offer depends on the zones. Cities like Portimão and Albufeira have an offer that is very focused on apartment buildings, but other areas such as Quinta do Lago, Alvor, Galé, Vilamoura, etc. have an offer more centered on detached houses or gated condominiums/resorts.

What makes Brazilians choose Portugal as a destination to live and work?

Motivations are mainly of a socioeconomic nature. Many flee the successive economic crises that have plagued Brazil and come to take advantage of job opportunities, others are attracted by the quality of life and security that one lives in Portugal and which is at odds with the high crime rate in Brazil.

But political reasons also count. Many emigrate because they do not see themselves in political and economic governance, be it left or right.An example of this is the recent Brazilian elections in which, due to the political change in the presidency (in January 2023 Lula will succeed Bolsonaro) an increase in the number of upper-middle class Brazilians who choose Portugal as their country of residence is expected. The same thing happened before, when many Brazilians, especially artists, went to Portugal in protest against Bolsonaro’s rule.

A determining factor for this demand is also due to the press and social networks, which have greatly contributed to destroying the image of a poor and backward Portugal. The resident Brazilian community contributed, as their number increased, to further accentuate the positive image of the country, thus helping to exponentially amplify this migratory flow from Brazil to Portugal. Just look at the number of Brazilian celebrities who keep coming to Portugal and who help reinforce this positive image. Reasons that justify it abound:

Mild and sunny climate - This is a factor that positively differentiates Portugal from other European destinations. For a long time, Brazilians emigrated to Florida, USA, moved by the same motivation, today Portugal is in fashion and has been occupying that place, with the advantage of the mother tongue being common. The climate in Portugal is one of the least harsh in Europe, with the exception of some regions in the lower Alentejo, the country does not have extreme temperatures. In Portugal, the summer is dry and it rains little and the maximum temperatures vary between 30º and 36º, an ideal climate to enjoy the immense beach of the Portuguese coast, from North to South. In winter, despite being colder than Brazilians are used to, the minimum temperature only in the interior and in the mountains occasionally reaches 0º, not dropping below 10º in most months.

A safe, hospitable and inclusive country - Portugal is the 6th safest country in the world and the 5th in all of Europe. What most surprises the newly arrived Brazilian is being able to move around Portuguese cities at night, without the danger of being mugged. Alongside this advantage, Portugal is a country that knows how to welcome foreigners and is very inclusive with regard to racial, creed, ethnic, cultural, sexual orientation, etc. differences. Tolerance and safety are synonymous with quality of life. Those looking for a safe haven, fleeing the high crime rate that is experienced in the main Brazilian cities, join a large portion of the LGBT community in Brazil who migrate to Portugal, to live their sexuality in a transparent way, without the fears and prejudices with which are confronted in Brazil.

Similar language - Because they speak a language born from their mother tongue, Portuguese, Portugal is the preferred destination for Brazilians, without the language barriers of other countries. However, it is easier for a Portuguese person to understand the Brazilian language than the other way around. As the poet Fernando Pessoa wrote, “First it is strange. Then go inside”. But after some time, Brazilians get used to the more closed and accentuated accent in the "rres", to the speed with which the Portuguese speak, to the vocabulary of words that generate misunderstandings or lack of knowledge.

Low cost of living - Portugal is one of the cheapest countries in Europe to live in and compared to Brazil it wins. The cost of living in Lisbon is similar to the cost of living in São Paulo, and Porto is 14% cheaper.

Job Opportunities - Portugal is experiencing a situation of almost full employment with serious shortages of manpower, namely in catering and hotels, services, civil construction, etc. Tourism and the influx of foreigners who choose to live in Portugal is an unstoppable movement that has greatly contributed to this shortage.

Portugal, a modern country - This international image of the country took some years to build, going against some prejudiced ideas shared in the past. Portugal now has one of the most modern technological and transport infrastructures in Europe, with easy access to a community of 50 countries and more than 450 million inhabitants. eg. Lisbon is highlighted in the " Smart Cities Index Report 2022 ", among cities such as NovaYork, Tokyo or Amsterdam, thanks to the various urban intelligence projects and it is no coincidence that every year, the capital is the main stage of the Web Summit

Quality of life - Although Portugal is not part of the group of richest countries in Europe, it is a country with characteristics that make it very attractive, in addition to those already mentioned. In this small rectangle overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, there is a great diversity of landscapes and great beauty. From the snow-covered Serra da Estrela to some of the biggest and most beautiful beaches in Europe, cities rich in history and heritage, a very dynamic cultural offer (Lisbon has been the main stage of the Brazilian music festival Rock in Rio ), etc.

Health and Education - In addition to all that has been mentioned, the public and private health system are the envy of many Brazilians. Tendentially free, the National Health Service has universal access and the quality of doctors and nurses in Portugal is widely recognized. Outside the SNS there is a wide network of private clinics and hospitals, which provide a faster response and are supported by a good network of private health insurance. The public education system is free, with well-equipped schools that teach with great quality. There are also good private schools and some of them are International Schools where the quality is top notch. Portuguese colleges, public and private, compete with the best in the world. Three Portuguese universities feature in the Financial Times Masters in Management ranking, with Nova SBE, in Carcavelos, being part of the Top 15.

Portuguese gastronomy - Brazilians love Portuguese wines and food and consider it cheap compared to Brazil. Who can resist a Pastel de Belém or a good wine, whose price / quality ratio beats those from anywhere in the world? The famous grilled sardines, cod dishes, Cozido à Portuguesa, Prego or Bitoque, Leitão à Bairrada, sausages and alheira from Trás-os-Montes, Francesinha from Porto, the multitude of dishes made with rice (tomato rice, duck rice, bean rice), fish and seafood, etc., are elements of our cuisine that surprise and attract Brazilians. At the base of this affinity are common standards in terms of sweet, savory and condiments used in the cuisine of both countries.

It's easy to obtain a Visa - The amendments to the Foreigners' Law, published in August 2022, further facilitate mobility between the Member States of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), facilitating the obtaining of residence visas in Portugal, by Brazilian citizens. Remember that the temporary stay visa in Portugal has a maximum duration of 1 year and the visa to obtain a residence permit is valid for 4 months, during which time the holder must apply to the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) a residence permit.