Thousands of Portuguese emigrants are taking advantage of the Programa Regressar to move back to Portugal. Over 30,000 Portuguese emigrants have already returned since the program began.
Created by the government in 2019, Programa Regressar is a multifaceted initiative aimed at encouraging individuals to return home with financial assistance, tax incentives, and entrepreneurial support. The financial and fiscal incentives are aimed at attracting Portuguese emigrants back, particularly to the country’s less densely populated interior regions.
According to the official website, “The purpose of the Programa Regressar is to support emigrants, as well as their descendants and other relatives, so that they have the best conditions to return to Portugal and make the most of the opportunities that currently exist in our country.”
To be eligible for financial support through the IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional) under the Programa Regressar, applicants must meet several key criteria. Under the Programa Regressar, eligible returnees can benefit from a 50% exemption on personal income tax (IRS) for five years, covering the year of return and the following four years, applicable to income from employment, business, or professional activities, among other benefits.
The financial support may be extended to accompanying family members up to the third degree, provided they return under the same terms and conditions.
As of the latest estimates in 2024, about 2.3 million Portuguese nationals are living abroad, representing roughly one-quarter (23%) of Portugal’s total population. According to Statistics Portugal (INE), as of 31 December 2024, the country’s population stood at 10,749,635.
The majority of Portuguese emigrants reside in Europe, which hosts approximately 1.29 million individuals, followed by the Americas with smaller concentrations across Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
France continues to top the list of host countries. Other significant communities include Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom. In the Americas, major concentrations exist in Brazil, Canada, and the United States, with notable clusters in New England and California.
Despite the continued outward flow of nationals, approximately 70,000–75,000 Portuguese citizens emigrated in 2023 alone.
Launched in July 2019, Programa Regressar ends December 31, 2026. Further information is available through official sources such as Portuguese diplomatic representations in the country of residency or by visiting the official website @ Programa Regressar
