The number represents a 37% drop compared to the previous year, when 4,409 registrations were recorded, and a 91% drop compared to 2014 (30,548), one of the years with the highest volume of Portuguese immigration to the United Kingdom.

Veterinarians and health professionals, especially nurses, stood out in terms of visas approved for Portuguese workers last year.

Before 2023, the lowest number of Portuguese immigrants registered on British social security schemes was in 2002 (7,917), statistics provided by the UK Department of Labour show.

A National Insurance Number is mandatory for any foreign national who wants to work or claim social security benefits in the UK, including self-employed workers or students working part-time.

Ireland, Romania, France, Italy and Spain were the most represented countries in immigration from the 27 to the UK last year.