Portugal is making sure tourists follow visa rules. The country’s police are now giving fines to those who stay too long.
Portugal is a top spot for travelers. The government wants to keep everything in order as more people visit.
In 2024, non-resident tourists in Portugal went up by 15% while resident tourists also saw a 2% rise. This data comes from Caixa Bank. TravelBiz says this is part of Portugal’s plan to make sure visitors follow visa rules.
Short-Stay Rules
New rules mean tourists can stay for 90 days in 180 days. If they stay too long, they will get a fine. This helps make sure everyone follows the rules, especially as Portugal gets more tourists.
Details on Fines
At first, people thought fines could reach up to €700. But, most fines are between €40 and €250. This depends on how long someone stays. If they stay a very long time, fines are higher. The police say no one has gotten the €700 fine yet. Most people pay lower fines because they don’t know they are breaking the rules.
1,200 Fines in 2023
In 2023, 1,226 fines were given for visa issues. The government is serious about their immigration laws. Out of these, 651 fines were because people stayed too long. Other fines were for not telling authorities when they arrived or not renewing their permits.
Portugal Still Popular
Even with strict visa rules, Portugal is still very popular for tourists.
According to Reuters, “the number of foreign tourists visiting Portugal rose 7.5% between January and June in 2024, making it the best first half ever and paving the way for another record year, official data showed on Wednesday.”
The National Statistics Institute (INE) said more than 8.8 million foreigners stayed in Portuguese hotels in the period, adding that in June alone, nearly 2 million guests entered the country, which was also a record, up 6.9% from a year earlier.
Portugal earns a lot from tourism. This year, tourists spent 43.7 billion euros ($48.2 billion). Tourism makes up 16.5% of the country’s total earnings and helps the economy grow by 2.3%. Portugal is one of the most dependent on tourism in Europe, second only to Iceland.
Key Points
– Fines range from €40 to €250 for staying too long.
– €700 fines are for very serious cases.
– Tourists can stay for 90 days in 180 days.
– In 2023, 1,226 fines were given to tourists.
– 207,654 people applied for visas in 2023, and 16% were rejected.