Compared to the same period in 2019, the number of Portuguese who entered the UK decreased by 73%, from 24,593 in 2019 to 6,664 in 2020. This decrease was more marked than for migrant entries to the UK as a whole (-58%), but the evolution of Portuguese emigration followed the general trend of reversal of the growth of entries to the UK that took place in 2019. Since 2001, there has not been such a low number of Portuguese citizens entering British territory. This fall is likely to be, on the one hand, associated with the effects of the pandemic on the restriction of mobility that occurred during the year 2020 and, on the other hand, to the new immigration rules for the United Kingdom post-Brexit.

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

Cite as Vidigal, Inês (2021), “Portuguese emigration to the UK falls significantly in 2020”, Observatório da Emigração. http://observatorioemigracao.pt/np4EN/7956.html