Portugal ordered the departure of 11,190 foreign nationals in the second quarter of this year, ranking second in the European Union behind France's 32,420, according to data from Eurostat. Brazilian citizens accounted for the largest group of expulsions from Portuguese territory, with approximately 4,800 orders issued. The quarterly total represents a nearly tenfold increase compared to the 1,140 removals recorded in the preceding three months.
Portugal Ranks Second in EU for Foreign Citizen Expulsions
Friday, 13 November 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
Eurostat data shows Portugal issues far fewer deportation orders in absolute terms than larger EU countries like France (over 30,000 per quarter) and Germany (over 10,000 per quarter), typically ordering fewer than 2,000 non-EU citizens to leave per quarter. However, Portugal has recorded substantial percentage increases in both expulsion decisions and executed returns following recent policy shifts toward stricter immigration control. Across the European Union as a whole, only about 20% to 30% of irregular migrants ordered to depart are effectively returned.
