Lisbon, Portugal, April, 15th 2025 - Qwoted Newswire - According to recent data from Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), foreign residents now make up 15% of the country’s population. As shared by Presidency Minister António Leitão Amaro, the number of foreign-born individuals living in Portugal has quadrupled since 2017-rising from just over 400,000 to more than 1.1 million in 2024. In the same period, the number of foreigners contributing to the country’s social security system grew from 244,000 to over 1 million.
As a market leader in Portugal, Get Golden Visa has released an in-depth industry insight analyzing how this demographic shift is shaping the investment landscape.
“Our position in the Portuguese market gives us a unique perspective on the momentum behind this migration trend,” the report states. “In a time marked by geopolitical uncertainty and economic instability, Portugal stands out as a secure and attractive destination for global investors and residents alike.”
According to the newly released report, Portugal’s ongoing demographic transformation is fueling a broader investment ecosystem-shaped by a more diverse investor profile, rising interest in Golden Visa applications, and emerging opportunities across real estate, private healthcare, and education.
For example:
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US Golden Visa applicants rose by 162% in 2023 (from 216 to 567)
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Family applications increased by 83%, reaching 2,901
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The UK ranked 3rd among nationalities with 234 applications
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Digital nomads, retirees, tech investors, and entrepreneurs are driving demand
“The growth we’re seeing isn’t just a surge in numbers-it’s a sign of ecosystem expansion,” says Murat Coskun, Co-Founder of Get Golden Visa.
“Portugal’s recent administrative reforms are laying the groundwork for a more transparent and efficient residency process-especially for investor categories.”
System Reforms Create Space for Strategic Migration
With AIMA replacing the former immigration agency SEF in 2023, Portugal took a step toward greater procedural clarity. The controversial “expression of interest” pathway-formerly a low-cost option that caused massive application backlogs-was abolished as of June 3, 2024. This policy change opened the door to faster and more predictable processing for Golden Visa applicants.
From Migration to Market Momentum
Portugal’s growing foreign population is not simply a matter of demand-it signals the expansion of a dynamic and diversified investment and lifestyle ecosystem. In 2023, foreign workers contributed €2.7 billion to Portugal’s social security system. In 2024, that number increased to €3.654 billion, accounting for 12% of the nation’s total €29 billion in revenue.
According to Minister Amaro:
“This is the largest and fastest demographic change our democracy—and possibly our lives—have ever witnessed.”
The positive impacts are already becoming evident: increased pension contributions, greater workforce participation, and rising birth rates and school enrollments. As the Get Golden Visa report points out:
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Growth in the foreign population doesn’t simply signal a demand spike—it reflects a broader expansion of the entire ecosystem.
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This demographic shift translates into wider investment opportunities and more diverse lifestyle offerings.
Download the Full Report
https://getgoldenvisa.com/portugal-immigration-shift-golden-visa-impact
About Get Golden Visa
Get Golden Visa is a bespoke investment advisory firm founded in 2014. We help people get additional residency and citizenship by making a qualifying investment in Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, and the rest of the world. Depending on the program of choice, we offer professional advisory services for property acquisition, fund subscription, or other investment vehicles. Our teams of local experts mark Get Golden Visa apart from its competitors because it offers independent advisory services and accompanies investors throughout the whole journey. With local offices in Lisbon, Athens, Istanbul, and London and various international associations, Get Golden Visa offers transparent guidance with a tailor-made and flexible approach. For more information about Get Golden Visa, please visit https://getgoldenvisa.com/
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