The number of Brazilians living abroad, including Europe, grew by 35% from 2010 to 2020, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2021, there were around 1.3 million Brazilians, equivalent to just over 30% of all Brazilians living abroad. In the last 12 months alone, D4U Immigration, a consultancy specializing in immigration claims for the US and Europe, has seen a 20% increase in searches for information specifically about immigration to European countries. Among the main reasons why Brazilians are seeking immigration to European countries is the possibility of a better quality of life and security. Compared to the United States, Europe has a number 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, such as 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 has intensified even more during and after the pandemic, leading the company to expand its offer of immigration visas to 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 called upon by Brazilians who are often looking to immigrate to the US, but are not immediately eligible for US immigration visas. For this reason, European countries are recommended due to the greater ease of obtaining immigration visas, lower costs and much less bureaucratic and time-consuming processes. “Clients who have used our services and do not yet have all the qualifications required to immigrate to the US can find the opportunity to qualify in immigration to Europe. A ‘yes’ from a European country can have a very positive influence on an American immigration process in the future,” says Wagner. Another very relevant attraction for immigrating to Europe is health. While countries like the US don’t offer a public health system that can provide equal care for free, on the other side of the Atlantic you can count on high-quality, efficient health services for free or at very affordable prices in many countries. In terms of education, many Brazilian students choose to study undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in Europe, attracted by the quality of teaching, research opportunities and access to scholarships. The list of attractions also includes geographical location, with the possibility of getting to know different countries and cultures, family and cultural connections, a hot job market in some areas and the appeal of the European lifestyle.
The profile of the Brazilian immigrant who chooses the US and Europe is very different
With almost eight years’ experience in immigration visas for the US, D4U officially entered the European market last year, mainly due to the high demand for information on visas caused by the economic crisis and political uncertainty due to the elections in Brazil. “In 2022, we started to see a much higher demand for visas, around 33% compared to 2021, both for the US and Europe. During this period, in addition to making the partnership with Lexidy official, we were able to map the differences in the profile of those who immigrate to the two regions,” says Wagner. The executive explains that, while Brazilians who immigrate to the US are most often looking for professional recognition in their field, a place on the job market with very attractive annual salaries or study opportunities for school-age children, immigrants who go to Europe, whether to Portugal or another country, travel in search of a better quality of life, a routine in search of knowledge, whether through quality education or through new cultures and tourism in the destination country and in nearby countries. “The immigrant who chooses the USA to live in is economically active, looking to improve their professional CV and get better pay for it. The majority of European immigrants are older and want to explore Europe culturally. In some cases, they want to retire in Brazil and live off their income in their 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 possible destinations in detail and take care of emotional health in order to succeed in the experience of immigrating to the new country.
About D4U Immigration
Founded in 2015, D4U Immigration is the largest immigration law firm in the USA, has already benefited more than 6,000 people and has an approval rate of over 99% in applications submitted to USCIS, the US immigration department.In 2021 and 2022, it received the award for best immigration advice in the USA and Latin America from Legal Awards. D4U Immigration helps Brazilian families gain permanent residency (Green Card) and has an extensive network of professionals and partners who offer complementary services and help identify and choose the best option for schools, houses, and all the 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 offer clients who prefer the culture of another continent. Press information
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