In 2014, AIMA recorded that 16,559 UK citizens applied for residency in Portugal; by 2024, that number had soared to 48,238.

Different lifestyle

What makes Portugal interesting to people has changed: what used to be a popular holiday destination is now a full-time living destination for UK nationals. Despite the complications with Brexit and the new Entry/Exit System for countries outside the Schengen Area, Portugal remains the top choice for UK residents.