The number of Brazilian immigrants in Portugal asking for help to return to Brazil is increasing.

RFI - The number of Brazilians who requested assistance to return to Brazil in 2022 nearly quadrupled compared to 2021. Unemployment, difficulty accessing the job market, irregular immigration status, lack of preparation in the migration process, and the higher cost of living in the European country are the main factors contributing to this scenario.

The International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Voluntary Return and Reintegration Support Program has seen a rise in requests for assistance in recent months in Portugal. Based on 2022 data, an average of approximately 80 people per month registered for the IOM program. Of all those seeking support, 92% are Brazilians in situations of extreme vulnerability.  

In an interview with RFI, Vasco Malta, Head of Mission for the IOM in Portugal, explains that the situation is worrying and one of the reasons for this alarming scenario is the lack of information about the Portuguese reality, in addition to poor planning before leaving the country of origin.

“This most recent influx shows a lack of preparation and insufficient information in this process, which ultimately leads to truly complex situations from a social point of view in Portugal,” points out the head of the IOM in the country.

"The truth is that there is also a lot of misinformation on social media, which ends up reinforcing the decision to migrate to Portugal based solely on these sources, and not on official information," explains Malta.

"Sometimes, people may even bring savings, but when they need to face the harsh reality of the housing market or the rising cost of living, for example, this emergency fund ends up being consumed very quickly," he adds. 

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