Portugal Golden Visa Duration Requirements: Stay Rules 2026

Key Takeaways

• Duration of stay rules are central to any global Plan B, and Portugal offers one of the lowest physical presence requirements among European residency options.
• The Portugal Golden Visa requires only 14 days in Portugal every two years to maintain temporary residency, while the full process from application to approval usually spans 12 to 18 months.
• Recent legal changes introduced in October 2025 extended the citizenship timeline to 10 years from permit issuance, or seven years for CPLP and EU citizens, without increasing stay requirements.
• Greece now requires seven years of living there for citizenship and long-term residency, and Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa, while Portugal remains a competitive option for investors who prefer not to relocate.
• Investors can work with VIDA Capital to explore Golden Visa-eligible fund investments; speak with VIDA Capital about starting your Portugal Golden Visa plan.

Why Minimal Stay is Key for Your Global Plan B

Minimal stay requirements help investors secure backup residency without disrupting their current lives. Many high-net-worth individuals manage global businesses, family obligations, and tax considerations that do not allow long relocations.

Extensive presence rules can trigger tax residency in more than one country, complicate business operations, and split families when children remain in other school systems. Programs with low stay requirements protect flexibility, allowing investors to preserve their current base while preparing a Plan B for themselves and their heirs.

Stay rules also define how practical a program is. A requirement of 14 days every two years has a very different impact from 183 days per year, even when both claim to offer long-term residency and a route to citizenship.

Secure Portuguese residency and a path to an EU passport with a Portugal Golden Visa. VIDA Capital provides advisory support for asset-backed fund investments in Portugal’s hospitality sector.

Portugal Golden Visa: Flexible Stay Rules for Residency and Citizenship

The Portugal Golden Visa requires only 14 days of physical presence in Portugal during each two-year residency period. This structure remains one of the most flexible among European options that offer a route to citizenship.

Investors receive an initial temporary residency permit valid for two years. They must then renew it for two additional two-year periods, maintaining the same 14-day requirement every two years across the full five-year period. As the approval card issuance usually takes a year, you will most likely only need to do a single renewal instead of two in the 5-year period.

Portugal’s Parliament approved a new framework in October 2025 that extended the standard citizenship timeline to 10 years from the date of the first residence permit. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens benefit from a reduced requirement of seven years. The new rules should apply to Golden Visa holders unless they submitted their citizenship application before the law is published.

Key benefits of Portugal’s minimal stay rules include:

• Visa-free travel in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period
• Family inclusion for a spouse or partner, economically dependent children who are full-time students, not working, and unmarried throughout the program, and parents and in-laws who are either over 65 or financially dependent on the main applicant
• No Portuguese tax residency created solely by holding the Golden Visa, unless you decide to relocate
• Ability to maintain existing business operations and personal commitments in your current country of residence
• Clear pathway to Portuguese permanent residency and, later, citizenship, without full-time residence in Portugal, while residency rights during the program apply only to Portugal

This structure suits investors who want long-term European options while keeping their main home and tax base elsewhere.

Comparing Duration of Stay: Portugal Golden Visa vs. Other Leading Programs

European residency programs differ sharply in how much time they expect you to spend in the country. These stay rules shape both long-term residency and citizenship eligibility.

Greece Golden Visa: Stay Requirements

The Greece Golden Visa does not require a minimum stay to maintain residency. However, securing Greek citizenship requires seven years of continuous residence, with at least 183 days per year spent in Greece, as well as language and integration tests. Greece also expects long-term residents to live in the country to keep their status, which limits its use as a low-commitment Plan B.

Malta Permanent Residence Programme: Stay Requirements

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme also has no minimum stay requirement for maintaining permanent residence. Citizenship through naturalization, however, requires proof of genuine links to Malta. This usually means substantial time spent in the country, clear community ties, and often property and lifestyle connections that go beyond the initial investment. The result is a longer and less predictable path to citizenship compared with Portugal.

Spain Golden Visa (Historical Context)

The Spain Golden Visa program no longer accepts new applicants. Historically, long-term residency and citizenship required significant physical presence in Spain, which made the program more demanding for investors who did not want to relocate. Spain now serves mainly as a point of reference when assessing how Portugal’s rules compare with previous European approaches.

Portugal remains one of the only European options that combines a low stay requirement, a defined route to citizenship, and no obligation to relocate during the residency period.

Your Long-Term Journey: From Minimal Stay to Portuguese Citizenship

The Portugal Golden Visa journey starts with an eligible investment through a qualifying fund and an application supported by a Portuguese immigration lawyer. Legal guidance is essential for document collection, application submission, family inclusion, and later renewals.

After approval, investors receive a two-year temporary residency permit. They must then renew it for two further two-year periods, maintaining the investment and spending 14 days in Portugal every two years. As the approval card issuance usually takes a year, you will most likely only need to do a single renewal instead of two in the 5-year period. The full administrative process from initial application to first card issuance usually spans 12 to 18 months.

After five years of temporary residency, investors can apply for permanent residency while maintaining the same low stay requirements. Citizenship becomes available after 10 years from the first permit issuance, or seven years for CPLP and EU nationals, under the framework approved in October 2025.

During the residency period, the Golden Visa grants the right to live, work, and study in Portugal and to travel visa-free across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Residency rights apply only in Portugal. Once granted, Portuguese citizenship and a passport provide the ability to live, work, and study across EU and Schengen countries and to access public healthcare and education systems.

The citizenship application requires basic Portuguese language skills at the A2 level, a clean criminal record, and proof of ties to Portugal. Many applicants build these ties through regular visits that satisfy the 14-day requirement rather than full-time relocation.

Discuss your Portugal Golden Visa timeline with VIDA Capital. The team coordinates with local lawyers so you can progress toward residency and, later, citizenship with a clear plan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Full-time residence is not required under the Portugal Golden Visa

The Portugal Golden Visa does not require you to live in Portugal full-time. You and your family must spend only 14 days in Portugal during each two-year period to keep your residency status. This rule stays the same throughout the temporary residency phase, so you can maintain your main home and business operations elsewhere while progressing toward permanent residency and citizenship.

Portugal’s duration of stay compares favorably with other European options

Portugal offers one of the lowest physical presence requirements among European programs that lead to citizenship. Greece and Malta do not require stays for residency, but both expect long residence in the country for citizenship. Greece requires seven years of living there, paying taxes, and spending at least 183 days per year in the country. Malta expects genuine links that usually involve substantial time in Malta. Portugal keeps its 14-day rule every two years for the full residency and citizenship track.

Family members can share the same minimal stay rules

The 14-day stay requirement applies to all family members included in the application. Eligible relatives include a spouse or documented partner, economically dependent children who are full-time students, not working, and unmarried throughout the program until citizenship application, and dependent parents or in-laws who are over 65 or financially reliant on the main applicant. This structure supports multigenerational planning with minimal disruption to existing education or care arrangements.

Citizenship timelines do not increase the stay requirement

The new citizenship framework that took effect in October 2025 changed the number of years required for citizenship, but not the stay requirement. Investors must now reside in Portugal under a valid permit for 10 years before applying for citizenship, or seven years if they are from CPLP countries or EU member states. Throughout this period, the rule remains 14 days in Portugal every two years, rather than continuous residence.

Fund investments align with the Golden Visa’s minimal stay benefit

The Portugal Golden Visa currently requires a minimum investment of €500,000 in qualifying funds that meet specific Portuguese regulations. VIDA Capital focuses on advisory services for asset-backed fund investments in Portugal’s hospitality sector through the VIDA Fund. The fund buys and transforms hospitality assets, giving them a second life, while supporting Golden Visa eligibility. Any reference to performance must be viewed with caution, as historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

Conclusion: Building a Flexible Path to Portuguese Residency and Citizenship

Duration of stay rules determine whether a residency by investment program works as a practical Plan B or forces a full relocation. In 2026, the Portugal Golden Visa remains a competitive choice because it combines clear rules, a predictable route to permanent residency and citizenship, and a low requirement of 14 days in Portugal every two years.

Greece and Spain expect long-term residents to live there to keep their status, and Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program. Portugal stands out as one of the only European options that allows a path to citizenship without relocation, while still requiring a modest time in the country during the residency phase.

VIDA Capital provides advisory services for Golden Visa-eligible fund investments through the VIDA Fund, with a focus on capital preservation through hospitality assets that are acquired and upgraded rather than built from scratch. The fund gives existing properties a second life while supporting your residency strategy. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns, so investors should review risks carefully with professional advice.

Contact VIDA Capital to explore a Portugal Golden Visa strategy tailored to your situation. The team helps coordinate your investment and legal support so you can pursue Portuguese residency and, in time, citizenship on a clear and manageable timeline.