imigrante

Imigrante is the Portuguese-language term for a person who moves to another country with the aim of settling there. It denotes long-term residence or permanent relocation and is used in legal, demographic, and social discussions of migration. The closest Spanish-language equivalent is inmigrante; the related term emigante is used for someone who leaves their country of origin, while migrante is a broader term for a person who moves across borders regardless of direction.

Legal status and pathways: Immigrants may enter through visas, work permits, family reunification, student status, or asylum procedures. Host countries vary in the pathways they offer to regularize status, obtain temporary or permanent residence, and pursue citizenship. Immigrant status often depends on duration of stay, work, family ties, language proficiency, and integration requirements.

Socioeconomic aspects: Immigrants contribute to labor markets, entrepreneurship, and cultural diversity, while facing challenges such as language barriers, credential recognition, discrimination, and access to services. Integration policies typically address education, recognition of qualifications, housing, healthcare, and civic participation.

Demographics and policy: Global migration patterns have grown since the late 20th century, with large immigrant populations in many regions. Policy debates frequently focus on border controls, asylum procedures, labor demand, social cohesion, and human rights protections for migrants.