Indian immigration to Brazil

This article is about people originating from India. For native ethnic groups of Brazil, also sometimes called "Indians", see Indigenous peoples in Brazil.

Indian immigration to Brazil

Total population
1,900
Regions with significant populations
São Paulo · Rio de Janeiro · Manaus · Foz do Iguaçu
Languages
Portuguese · Various Indian Languages · English
Religion
Hinduism · Catholicism · Islam
Related ethnic groups
Indo-Caribbean

There is a small community of Indians in Brazil who are mainly immigrants and expatriates from India. There are currently 1,900 people of Indian origin living in the country and a majority of them live in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Migration History

The first wave of Indian immigration to Brazil began when a small number of Sindhis had arrived there from Suriname and Central America (mainly from Belize and Panama) in the 1960s to set up shop as traders in the city of Manaus. The second wave of immigration consisted of university professors to Rio de Janeiro from Bangalore, Goa and Delhi who arrived in the 1960s and also in the 1970s. Other people of Indian Origin migrated to that country from various African countries, mainly from former Portuguese colonies (especially Mozambique), soon after their independence in the 1970s. The number of PIOs in Brazil has been augmented in recent years by the arrival of nuclear scientists and computer professionals.

Current status

There are as many as 1,500 PIO's and only 400 NRI's besides the descendants and only since foreign nationals can acquire local citizenship without any discrimination after 15 years of domicile in this country. Brazil has also no bar against dual citizenship. But in recent years, it has been granting immigration visas only in high technology fields. The only exceptions are the Sindhis in Manaus and the immigrants and descendants in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Besides its dispersal over the country, many of those that arrived in the earlier years have acquired Brazilian brides and are totally assimilated in the local society. The children born to such couples are Brazilians by birth. Most of the Indians living in Brazil have not only been able to assimilate themselves in the Brazilian way of life but also maintain close cultural and economic connection with India.

Notable people

• Ashok Gandotra - Cricketer
• Froilano de Mello - Microbiologist
• Nathalia Kaur - Model, Bollywood actress and a trained Opera singer.

See also

• Asian Latin American
• Brazilians in India
• Caminho das Índias