Requests for Voluntary Return of Immigrants in Portugal Surge by Over 40%

The number of immigrants in Portugal requesting support for voluntary return to their home countries has seen a significant increase. Since 2020, over 2,000 immigrants have made such requests, with 1,767 being from Brazil. The program, run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), provides administrative, logistical, and financial support to immigrants who wish to return to their home countries but lack the economic means to do so.

The IOM's voluntary return program has seen a substantial increase in requests, with a 40% rise this year compared to last. In 2025, an average of 55 people per month requested support, while in 2026, this number has increased to 79 per month. According to Vasco Malta, head of the IOM mission in Portugal, the Brazilian community, which is the largest foreign group residing in Portugal, continues to be the one that most seeks support for voluntary return.

The reasons behind the immigrants' desire to return to their home countries vary, but often include difficulties in accessing the job market, precarious working conditions, obstacles to regularization of migratory status, and economic difficulties. Problems with access to housing, healthcare, and education also contribute to the decision to return. Vasco Malta notes that these factors can be combined or isolated and all contribute to the person's desire to interrupt their migration project in Portugal and seek help to return home.

Despite the increasing number of requests, there is a significant difference between the number of people registered and those who actually return. According to Vasco Malta, some people find employment or receive support from family members in Portugal, no longer needing to return. Others travel by their own means. The IOM is not a travel agency, and the time required for the return process, which takes an average of two to three months, may not be compatible with the person's needs.

The IOM's project, ARVoRe IX, co-financed by the Fund for Asylum, Migration and Integration (FAMI 2030) and the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), provides information and counseling on voluntary return and reintegration, as well as logistical and operational support for the trip and preparation for return to the home country. The support is granted according to vulnerability criteria, with the most vulnerable individuals being prioritized.

The logistical and operational support provided by the IOM includes obtaining passports, booking travel, and, in cases of extreme vulnerability or health problems, ensuring accompaniment by a staff member or healthcare professional during the trip. Returnees also receive a daily allowance of 75 euros per person to cover expenses during the trip or on the way home. In cases where reintegration support is requested, the IOM can grant up to 2,000 euros per person to help develop a life project in the home country.

According to the Migration and Asylum Report by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), the Brazilian community in Portugal numbers 493,622 citizens, making it the largest foreign group in the country. The IOM's Vasco Malta attributes the high number of requests from Brazilians to the dissemination of information on social media and the circulation of information among community members.

Key points

• Over 2,000 immigrants have requested support for voluntary return to their home countries since 2020.
• The number of requests for voluntary return has increased by 40% this year compared to last.
• The IOM provides administrative, logistical, and financial support to immigrants who wish to return to their home countries but lack the economic means to do so.