This post was most recently updated on January 21st, 2023
The minimum age of consent in Portugal is 14 years. Individuals aged 13 or younger in Portugal are not legally able to consent to sexual activity, and such activity may result in prosecution for statutory rape or the equivalent local law.
14 years is the minimum age at which an individual is considered legally old enough to consent to participation in sexual activity in Portugal.
The establishment of a minimum age for sexual consent, the age at which a child can decide to have sex with someone, aims to protect children from abuse or the consequences of early sexual activity, such as early pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.
Portugal’s statutory rape law is violated when an individual has consensual sexual contact with a person under the age of 14. However, it is also illegal to perform sexual acts with a minor between 14 and 16 when taking advantage of their inexperience.
Madeira in Portugal has its own law regarding the age of consent which is the same as the national law. The age of consent in Madeira is also 14 years.
Is it illegal to date a minor in Portugal?
Dating someone who is less than 14 years is fine in Portugal as long as you don’t involve in sexual activities with them. It is illegal to perform sexual activities with a minor in Portugal. Anyone who engages in a major sexual act with or under 14 years of age, or causes him/her to do it with another person, is punished with imprisonment from one to eight years.
Whoever commits the sexual act for profit is punished with imprisonment for up to 5 years. Who, being of legal age, engages in a major sexual act between the ages of 14 and 16, or causes it to be practiced by him/her with others, abusing their inexperience, is punished with imprisonment for up to 2 years.
The age of consent for Pornography in Portugal is 18 years. You would be in jail if you are less than 18 years old and acted/act in Pornographic movies.
You would also be jailed if you are found owning some pornographic media that involves someone who is less than 18 years old.
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