PORTUGAL'S GOLDEN VISA STAY REQUIREMENTS: UPDATE
2 April 2014
This is a piece of good news to Golden Visa applicants and holders.
SEF, the Portuguese border agency, has clarified that the minimum stays in Portugal required from Golden Visa holders are as follows:
- During the first year, 7 days, whether or not consecutive;
- During each of the two subsequent 2 year periods (i.e. years 2 and 3 and then 4 and 5), 14 days, whether or not consecutive. Please note that these are not calendar years. Rather, they are counted from the Golden Visa issue date.
The way the statutes had been written led most people to interpret them as requiring a 14-day stay per year during years 2 to 5. However, the wording was ambiguous and the SEF's interpretation is a welcome clarification.
Discover everything about house insurance in Portugal, including legal requirements, types of policies, average costs, and the best coverage options in Lisbon.
Learn how Portugal's Golden Visa changed in 2025: new rules, investment fund options, the Immigrant Entrepreneur Visa, updated residence permit costs, and more.
