The Portugal Golden Visa offers a practical way to gain EU residency with minimal time commitment.
This guide explains the program’s low stay requirements, making it a strong choice for those wanting a backup plan without relocating full-time. You’ll learn the exact rules for maintaining residency and moving toward permanent residency or citizenship, even with recent legal updates.
What Makes the Portugal Golden Visa a Flexible Option?
The Portugal Golden Visa stands as one of Europe’s most accessible residency-by-investment programs for non-EU investors. It requires just 14 days of physical presence in Portugal every two years. This light commitment suits global investors who prioritize mobility and security without needing to uproot their lives.
The program provides a temporary residency permit for two years, renewable for additional two-year terms, leading to permanent residency after five years. Portugal understands that many high-net-worth individuals manage commitments worldwide, so it offers a residency path that fits their lifestyle.
Beyond the short stay requirement, Portugal has one of the lowest physical presence rules in Europe. This appeals to busy professionals and entrepreneurs seeking EU residency benefits without long-term stays.
How Much Time Must You Spend in Portugal?
Clear Rules for Maintaining Residency
The Portugal Golden Visa sets a specific stay requirement under Portuguese law. You need to spend exactly 14 days in Portugal during each two-year residency period, as outlined in relevant legal frameworks.
This rule holds for the initial permit and all renewals. Each permit lasts two years, and the 14-day stay applies to every cycle. You can split these days however you like within the period, giving you control over when to visit based on your schedule.
Portugal’s approach offers a straightforward, predictable commitment. Unlike other European programs requiring longer or continuous stays, this system lets you keep your global focus while maintaining residency status.
Does the Rule Apply to Family Members?
The 14-day stay requirement extends to all family members on your Golden Visa application. Spouses, dependent children, and parents must each meet this requirement individually. Thankfully, family visits can overlap, and shared documentation counts toward each person’s total, making it easier to coordinate trips.
How to Prove Your Stay in Portugal for Renewal
What Documents Show Your Presence?
Keeping records of your time in Portugal is vital for renewing your Golden Visa. You can use boarding passes for entry and exit, along with daily receipts or invoices tied to your Portuguese tax number. These confirm you were actively present, not just passing through.
Here are examples of valid evidence:
- Boarding passes for flights to and from Portugal
- Hotel receipts showing a Portuguese tax number
- Restaurant or store receipts
- Rental car agreements
- Any daily invoice reflecting activity in Portugal
Try to gather at least one receipt or invoice per day you claim to be in Portugal. This careful record-keeping supports a hassle-free renewal and shows you follow the program’s rules.
Working with AIMA for Renewal
The Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum, or AIMA, handles Golden Visa renewals. Renewals now require in-person appointments booked online through AIMA’s updated system. Each family member must prove their stay, though shared documents like hotel receipts can cover group trips.
Beyond proving presence, renewals also need updated criminal background checks, proof of maintained investment, and compliance with tax obligations. Partnering with skilled legal counsel familiar with AIMA’s processes can simplify these steps significantly.
Your Path to Permanent Residency and Citizenship
Keeping Your Investment Active
Your financial commitment to the Portugal Golden Visa doesn’t end with the initial payment. You must maintain a minimum investment of €500,000 in eligible funds for at least five years, until you secure permanent residency or citizenship. Only then can you withdraw the investment.
This requirement supports Portugal’s economic goals while giving investors a clear timeline. The five-year period matches the journey to permanent residency, marking a logical shift from temporary to long-term status.
VIDA Capital provides advisory support, helping investors navigate the Golden Visa process and connecting them with opportunities in the VIDA Fund, focused on asset-backed hospitality investments in Portugal. Historical returns of the VIDA Fund are not a guarantee of future results.
Moving to Permanent Residency
After five years of holding the Golden Visa, meeting stay rules, and sustaining your investment, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal. This step offers greater stability, removes the need for regular renewals, and sets the stage for eventual citizenship, despite recent changes to timelines.
New Citizenship Timeline as of October 2025
Portugal’s Parliament introduced a new framework in October 2025, extending the citizenship timeline for Golden Visa holders. You must now reside in Portugal for 10 years before qualifying. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens face a shorter wait of seven years. This law applies to all applicants, except those who filed for citizenship before its publication.
The updated timeline affects only the path to citizenship, not residency rules. Golden Visa stay requirements remain at 14 days every two years, unchanged by this legislation.
Why Choose Portugal Over Other European Residency Programs?
Unique Benefits of Portugal’s Golden Visa
Portugal’s Golden Visa excels among European residency options due to its low stay commitment and citizenship pathway. Requiring only 14 days every two years, it offers far more flexibility than many similar programs. This suits investors who need to balance global responsibilities while securing EU access.
Few European countries match Portugal’s balance of minimal stay rules and citizenship potential. The program accommodates modern mobility, allowing a gradual connection to Europe without heavy upfront demands.
Comparing Portugal to Greece and Spain
|
Feature |
Portugal Golden Visa |
Greece Golden Visa |
Spain Golden Visa |
|
Minimum Stay for Residency |
14 days every 2 years |
No minimum stay for residency |
No minimum stay for residency |
|
Path to Citizenship |
10 years (new framework) |
7 years + residency requirement |
Program discontinued |
|
Relocation Required |
No (for residency) |
No (for residency; required for citizenship) |
Not applicable |
|
Investment Options |
Asset-backed funds |
Property investments mainly |
Not applicable |
Portugal remains a standout. Greece has no stay requirement for residency, but demands seven years of living there for citizenship. Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program. Portugal is currently one of the few countries in Europe granting a citizenship path without mandatory relocation for residency.
Build Your EU Future with Flexibility
The Portugal Golden Visa provides a rare chance for high-net-worth individuals to secure a European backup plan with minimal time in-country. Just 14 days every two years lets you maintain residency while focusing on commitments elsewhere, alongside a clear route to EU citizenship.
Navigating the rules, documentation, renewals, and recent legal shifts requires careful attention. Expert support can ensure you meet all requirements and gain the full value of this program.
VIDA Capital offers advisory services to simplify the Portugal Golden Visa process, linking investors to the VIDA Fund, which focuses on transforming hospitality assets in Portugal for a second life. Historical returns of the VIDA Fund are not a guarantee of future results.
With Portugal being one of the few European nations offering citizenship without requiring relocation for residency, the Golden Visa holds strong appeal in an unpredictable world. Its light stay rules let you plan a European future on your terms.
Common Questions About Golden Visa Stay Rules
How Long Must I Stay in Portugal?
You need to spend at least 14 days in Portugal during each two-year term of your temporary residency permit. This applies to the first permit and every renewal, as set by Portuguese law.
Do the 14 Days Need to Be Back-to-Back?
No, you can spread the 14 days across the two-year period. This allows multiple short trips or a couple of longer visits, fitting your personal or business travel plans.
Does My Family Have the Same Stay Requirement?
Yes, each family member on the application must meet the 14-day rule individually. This includes spouses, dependent children, and parents. Joint trips work, and shared receipts can verify group presence for renewals.
How Do I Show Proof of My Stay for Renewal?
Keep boarding passes for entry and exit, along with daily receipts tied to your Portuguese tax number. Examples include hotel bills, dining receipts, or rental agreements. Aim for one receipt per day to ensure a smooth renewal with AIMA.
Did Recent Laws Change the Stay Rules?
No, the 14-day stay requirement for residency remains the same. However, as of October 2025, citizenship now requires 10 years of residency for most applicants, or seven years for CPLP nationals and EU citizens. This affects only the citizenship timeline, not residency rules, and applies to new applicants after the law’s publication.
