Over 100,000 Brazilians Reside Illegally in Portugal Due to Lack of Documentation, Data Show

While the Portuguese authorities have not made an official statement on the matter yet, the authorities of Brazil have already complained about the situation and have required that Portugal takes necessary steps as soon as possible, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

The federal senator of Brazil, Chico Rodrigues, who received the data on the number of Brazilians residing without the needed documentation in Portugal said that the Foreigners and Borders Office is creating social problems.

Senator Rodrigues further pointed out that nationals of Brazil in Portugal without the necessary documentation are unable to find a job, open a bank account, or rent a place to live. The same stressed that nationals of Brazil residing in Portugal without necessary documentation live in inhuman conditions.

“What we observed on the visits to Lisbon, Porto and Faro, where the three consulates are located, was a dramatic situation among Brazilians. We found people living in sub-human conditions,” the statement of senator Rodrigues reads.

Correio Braziliense explains that the situation of nationals of Brazil in Portugal without documentation is tragic. According to the latter, a couple with a child was just recently found sleeping at a train station near Lisbon as they were unable to get a job due to their lack of documentation.

Due to the current situation, nationals of Brazil awaiting a response from the Foreigners and Borders Service on their documentation, have joined forces and have launched a movement called “I exist, with or without a visa”. By doing so, they want to pressure the Portuguese authorities to move forward with projects that would facilitate the migration process.

This is not the first time that migrants have complained about Portugal’s migration rules. Earlier in December 2022, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reported that migrants accused the Foreigners and Borders Service of racism and discrimination.

Frustrated about the way they have been treated by the Portuguese authorities, migrants held a protest in Lisbon during which they called on the authorities to take measures so they no longer face racism and discrimination.