Portuguese emigration to the United Kingdom has decreased by 26% in 2017 compared to 2016. After a maximum of 32,301 entries in 2015, Portuguese emigration to the United Kingdom is already below the numbers registered in 2013. There is, therefore, the decline already observed in 2016 (-5.4%). This trend was in line with the general movement to reduce immigrants' arrivals in the United Kingdom, which fell by 0.4% in 2016 and 17.2% in 2017. Flows originating in the European Union (EU) countries experienced an even more negative variation, of respectively, -0.7% and -20.5%. The flows of other EU countries have been similar, accentuating in 2017 the reduction of immigrants from Spain, France and Italy.. The acceleration of the reduction of Portuguese emigration to the United Kingdom seems therefore to be explained mainly by the fears induced by Brexit.

Link  https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk

Cite as Vidigal, Inês, e Rui Pena Pires (2018), “Brexit”, Observatório da Emigração. http://observatorioemigracao.pt/np4EN/5988.html