The new “El Dorado”: Brazilian migration in the Iberian Peninsula, the profile of the Brazilian immigrant in Madrid

Duval Fernandes, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais
Carolina Nunan, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geografia - Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais

Following the opposite direction taken by Portuguese and Spanish immigrants, thousands of Brazilians have chosen Portugal and Spain as a place to try a new life. This work, based on a survey with over 400 interviews, depicts the profile of these immigrants in Madrid. These emigrants leave stable jobs behind in exchange for irregular jobs in Madrid with monthly salaries ranging from 800,00 to 1.000,00 euros. The majority of men work in civil construction, while women tend to labor as daily maids. Migration stays are short-lived lasting no more than two years - time enough to raise the necessary funds to build a house back in Brazil. Despite the relatively small number of Brazilians in Madrid, compared to the overall foreign population, this immigrant group is gaining importance given its socioeconomic profile.