Initially, between 2005 and 2010, the figures remained relatively low and stable, with fewer than 500 entries per year. From 2011 onwards, a marked increase is observed, reaching a peak during the 2010s, partly driven by the economic crisis in Portugal and the consequent rise in emigration during that period. This growth was sustained until 2019, with some annual fluctuations. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant decline occurred between 2020 and 2021, reflecting international mobility restrictions. From 2022, the numbers began to gradually rise again, indicating a partial recovery of Portuguese entries into Australia, although still below the highest levels recorded in the previous decade. Between 2000 and 2024, the number of Portuguese entries into Australian territory reached a minimum in 2021 (120 entries) and a maximum in 2013 (700 entries).

In May 2025, the Observatory of Emigration changed its data source for entries into Australia from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This change is due to the fact that ABS data account for effective migration, defined as individuals who remain in Australia for at least 12 months within a 16-month period, regardless of visa type. In contrast, data from the Department of Home Affairs are based on arrivals with permanent visas, without guaranteeing that individuals will reside in the country long-term. Therefore, ABS data are considered more representative of actual Portuguese emigration, which justified the change in data source.

Link [A] https://www.abs.gov.au/; [B] https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/

Cite as Vidigal, Inês (2025), “Nearly 500 Portuguese nationals entered Australia in 2024", Observatório da Emigração. http://observatorioemigracao.pt/np4EN/10258.html