The number of Brazilians living abroad, including in Europe, grew by 35% from 2010 to 2020, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2021, there were about 1.3 million Brazilians, equivalent to just over 30% of the total Brazilians living abroad. In the last 12 months alone, D4U Immigration, a consultancy specializing in immigration claims for the USA and Europe, recorded a 20% increase in requests for information specifically about immigration to European countries.
Among the main reasons that have led Brazilians to seek immigration to European countries is the possibility of a life with better quality and security. Compared to the United States, Europe presents a series of attractions for those wishing to immigrate, starting with less restrictive immigration policies. “European countries have announced various incentives for immigration, such as more flexible rules and programs for specific profiles, like digital nomads, in the cases of Portugal, Germany, and Spain, for example”, says Wagner Pontes, founder of D4U Immigration.
According to the executive, interest in Europe intensified even more during and post-pandemic, leading the company to expand its offer of immigration visas for the continent through a commercial partnership with the segment leader in the region, Lexidy. Created in 2017, the company works with immigration to countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Italy and has already processed thousands of cases, including those of Brazilians.
The D4U executive explains that the consultancy is contacted by Brazilians who most often seek to immigrate to the USA but are not immediately eligible for American immigration visas. Therefore, European countries are recommended for their greater ease in obtaining immigration visas, lower costs, and much less bureaucratic and time-consuming processes. “Clients who have resorted to our services and do not yet have all the qualifications required to immigrate to the USA can find in immigration to Europe the opportunity to qualify. The ‘yes’ from a European country can very positively influence an American immigration process in the future”, Wagner considers.
Another highly relevant attraction for immigrating to Europe is healthcare. While countries like the USA do not provide a public health system that can serve the population equally for free, on the other side of the Atlantic, it is possible to count on free, high-quality, and efficient health services or with very affordable prices in various countries. As for education, many Brazilian students choose to do undergraduate or graduate studies in Europe, attracted by the quality of education, research opportunities, and access to scholarships.
Adding to the list of attractions are the geographical location, with the possibility of experiencing different countries and cultures, family and cultural connections, a heated job market in some areas, and attraction to the European lifestyle.
The profile of the Brazilian immigrant who chooses the US and Europe is very different
With almost eight years of experience in immigration visas for the USA, D4U officially entered the European market last year, mainly due to the high demand for visa information consultations motivated by the economic crisis and political uncertainty due to the elections in Brazil. “In 2022, we started to have a much higher demand for visas, around 33% compared to 2021, both for the USA and Europe. During this period, in addition to formalizing the partnership with Lexidy, it was possible to map the profile differences of those immigrating to the two regions”, says Wagner.
The executive explains that while Brazilians who immigrate to North American territory mostly seek professional recognition in their field, placement in the job market with very attractive annual salaries, or study opportunities for school-age children, immigrants going to Europe, whether to Portugal or another country, travel in search of a higher quality of life, a routine in pursuit of knowledge either through quality education or through new cultures and tourism in the destination country and nearby countries. “The immigrant who chooses the USA to live is economically active, seeks to improve their professional resume and receive better compensation for it. The European immigrant, for the most part, is older, wants to explore Europe culturally. In some cases, they want to retire in Brazil and live off income in the chosen country”, he concludes.
The founder of D4U, however, is emphatic in stating that, whatever destination the immigrant chooses, it is essential to plan financially well in advance, study potential destinations in detail, and take care of emotional health to achieve success in the experience of immigrating to the new country.
About D4U Immigration
Created in 2015, D4U Immigration is the largest immigration office in the USA, has already benefited more than 6,000 people, and records an approval rate of over 99% in claims submitted to USCIS, the North American immigration department. In 2021 and 2022, it received the award for best immigration consultancy in the USA and Latin America by Legal Awards. D4U Immigration helps Brazilian families achieve permanent residency (Green Card) and has an extensive network of professionals and partners that offer complementary services and assist in identifying and choosing the best option for schools, houses, and all other procedures for the best stay in the United States. In 2022, D4U entered the European market and merged with one of the largest European immigration companies to provide the client who prefers the culture of the other continent.
Press Information
Priscilla Natale – [email protected]
Beatriz Turella – [email protected]
