According to the Emigration Observatory, in 2021, 2,561
Portuguese acquired British nationality, the majority by right as permanent residents
or registered minors, 25 percent more than the 2,042 registered in 2020.
According to statistics from the British Home Office, the
number had already skyrocketed to 2,227 in 2019, but the impact of the Covid-19
pandemic on public services also affected this process, reducing the number of
administrative acts.
In the first three quarters of 2022, 2,066 Portuguese had
already acquired British nationality.
In 2015, the year before the referendum that dictated the
departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU), only 422
Portuguese acquired British nationality, a figure that has been rising rapidly
since then (672 in 2016, 1,234 in 2017, 1,906 in 2018, 2,227 in 2019).
"This increase seems to be explained, above all, by the
fears induced by Brexit and the reduction of rights associated with the status
of being a foreigner that could result from it", said the researcher at
the Observatório da Emigração, Inês Vidigal.
Brexit effect
The UK Home Office confirmed that EU nationals accounted for
almost a third (32 percent) of all UK nationality applications in 2021 compared
to 12 percent in 2016.
The application for British nationality can be made after a
minimum period of residence of five years in the United Kingdom and 12 months
as a permanent resident, in the case of European citizens.
For the process, the candidate needs to prove knowledge of
the English language, pass a test on British life and culture, present a
criminal record without serious offenses and pay a fee of 1,330 pounds (1,500
euros).
According to the European Union Citizens Registration System
in the United Kingdom [EU Settlement Scheme, EUSS], 252,400 Portuguese have a
permanent residence permit [settled status] and 164,640 a provisional title
[pre-settled status].
2 thousand people? That's almost nothing! In my opinion the Portuguese are choosing Portugal!
By Diogo F. from Lisbon on 04 Jan 2023, 00:26
To Diogo F.
Indeed after living in UK from 1999 until 2018 I did return back to Portugal and not to return back the UK again neither if I was paid . Like many others EU citizens left the UK and isn't any anymore the country I knew from years ago complete broken and divide .
By Isabel Oliveira from Lisbon on 07 Jan 2023, 09:33