Portugal vs. Spain Digital Nomad Visa: Which Country Is Better for Remote Workers

The Spain and Portugal Digital Nomad Visas are residence pathways that allow non-EU citizens to live in Spain or Portugal while working remotely for companies or clients based abroad.

The Spain Digital Nomad Visa is officially called Visado para Teletrabajo de Carácter Internacional. It was introduced under Law 28/2022, also known as the Startup Law^[1]

Source: BOE — Startup Law

Applicants who submit their application through a Spanish consulate receive a 1-year visa. After entering Spain, they apply for a residence permit.

Those who are already legally present in Spain, including holders of another visa or citizens travelling visa-free under the Schengen regime, may apply directly for a 3-year residence permit through the UGE, the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit^[2]

Source: Spain MFA — Telework visa

The Portugal Digital Nomad Visa is commonly known as the D8 Visa^[3]

Source: AIMA — D8 residence

The minimum required income is €3,680 per month. Applicants also need to prove savings of at least €11,040, with higher amounts required if family members are included.

The Portugal D8 route starts with a national visa application at a Portuguese consulate or visa centre. The national visa is valid for 4 months and allows entry to Portugal^[4]

Source: Portugal MFA — National visas

Both Digital Nomad Visas are intended for third-country nationals. EU and EEA citizens do not need them, as they already have the right to live and work freely across the EU.

Residence permits issued under both programmes are renewable, provided the holder continues to meet the requirements. After 5 years of legal residence, digital nomads in Spain and Portugal may apply for permanent residence.

The Spain and Portugal Digital Nomad Visas allow remote workers to relocate to the EU, obtain residence permits, and travel across the Schengen Area.

Visa-free travel in the Schengen Area

Holders of residence permits in both Spain and Portugal may travel to other Schengen countries without visas and stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

This benefit is useful for applicants who want to maintain business, family, or lifestyle ties across several EU countries while keeping Spain or Portugal as their main country of residence.

Residence for family members

In Spain, residence may be obtained by a digital nomad’s spouse, minor children, financially dependent adult children, and financially dependent parents or grandparents. In individual cases, financially dependent siblings may also apply.

The Portugal D8 Visa allows the main applicant to relocate with a spouse or partner, minor children, financially dependent adult children, and financially dependent parents. 

Favourable tax treatment for qualifying applicants

Spain may be attractive to high earners who qualify for the Beckham Law. Under this regime, eligible applicants may pay a fixed 24% tax rate on employment income up to €600,000

Portugal may suit applicants who qualify for the IFICI regime, which offers a 20% rate for certain professional activities, such as scientific research, teaching, tech, healthcare, and senior management.

Tax benefits are not automatic in either country, so applicants should check their eligibility before relocation.

Access to public education and healthcare

Children of residents in Spain and Portugal may attend public schools. Both countries also offer access to international education, including schools with English-language instruction and British, American, or International Baccalaureate curricula.

Residents, including family members, may use public healthcare if they meet local access rules, such as social security registration or insurance requirements.

Easier access to European banking

Residence in Spain or Portugal helps applicants open accounts with local banks, receive income in euros, make everyday payments in the EU, and use European banking services.

In Portugal, banking is also part of the visa preparation process: applicants need a Portuguese bank account to transfer the required savings before applying. 

High quality of life and developed digital nomad infrastructure

In Immigrant Invest’s Digital Nomad Visa Index 2026, Spain ranks 1st, while Portugal ranks 3rd among Digital Nomad Visa destinations. The index compares countries by living costs, tax treatment, legal rights, work restrictions, visa terms, residence pathways, and quality of life.

Spain also ranks 1st in the InterNations Quality of Life Index 2025^[5]

Source: InterNations — Expat ranking

Portugal remains one of the main European destinations for remote workers, especially in Lisbon, Porto, and Madeira. Its international community and English-speaking services make the country practical for applicants who want to settle in an established expat environment.

For applicants comparing Spain and Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visas, the main points to check first are income, savings, work structure, family composition, accommodation, and document requirements.

Spain and Portugal have similar baseline requirements. The main applicant must: 

1. Be an adult from a non-EU and non-EEA country.
2. Have no criminal record.
3. Provide proof of remote employment abroad.

Financial requirements

Spain has one of the lowest digital nomad income thresholds in Europe. In 2026, the main applicant must prove remote work earnings of at least €2,849 per month, or €34,188 per year. The threshold is linked to the Spanish minimum wage, SMI: a digital nomad must show income equal to twice the SMI^[7]

Source: BOE — SMI 2026

If family members are included in the application, Spain requires the main applicant to prove additional income:

• €1,069 per month for a spouse or adult dependant;
• €357 per month for each child.

Portugal sets a higher threshold than Spain. The main applicant must prove income of at least €3,680 per month. This amount does not increase when family members are added.

In addition, Portugal requires applicants to have at least €11,040 in savings. The amount increases by 50% for a spouse or parent and by 30% for each child included in the application.

Qualification requirements

Both Spain and Portugal require applicants to prove that they are qualified to carry out their professional activity remotely.

In Spain, applicants must provide either a university degree, postgraduate qualification, or proof of at least 3 years of professional experience in their current field. This requirement applies to both employees and self-employed applicants.

Portugal does not set a specific education or work experience threshold for the D8 Visa. 

Work requirements

Both visas are designed for foreigners who work remotely and receive income from outside the country of residence. Eligible applicants may be employees, freelancers, self-employed professionals, or entrepreneurs.

In Spain, the applicant must prove not only remote income but also the structure of their work with a foreign company or clients. They must:

• have worked remotely with companies outside Spain for at least 3 months before applying;
• have a professional relationship with a foreign company that has been operating for more than 1 year;
• provide permission from their employer to work remotely from Spain;
• prove that the employer is registered in a country that has a bilateral social security agreement with Spain, if the applicant is employed.

For self-employed applicants, working with Spanish clients is allowed, but earnings from Spanish companies must not exceed 20% of their total income.

Portugal does not require the same employer-side documents as Spain. Applicants prove remote work with an employment contract, a freelance agreement, or another document confirming professional activity performed for foreign employers or clients.

Income from Portuguese sources is not allowed.

Accommodation requirements

For Spain, a registered address is required to apply for a residence permit. At the visa stage, a hotel booking may be sufficient. There are no requirements for the property price or rental amount.

In Portugal, applicants need to secure accommodation before submitting the visa application. The property may be rented or purchased, and there is no minimum rental or purchase price.

Tax number and banking requirements

Spain requires applicants to obtain an NIE, a foreigner’s identification number used for tax, property, and immigration procedures. Applicants usually get it before submitting a visa or residence permit application. The NIE can be issued by the Spanish police at the place of residence or through a Spanish consulate.

Portugal requires obtaining an NIF, an individual taxpayer number. It is usually needed before applying for the D8 Visa, as applicants use it to rent or buy housing and open a Portuguese bank account. Non-EU citizens may obtain an NIF remotely through a Portuguese tax representative.

Applicants in Portugal must also transfer their savings to a Portuguese bank account to qualify for residence. Spain does not have the same bank deposit requirement.

Health insurance requirements

Both Spain and Portugal require health insurance for Digital Nomad Visa applicants.

In Spain, applicants must provide an original and a copy of a public or private health insurance certificate. The policy must be issued by an insurer authorised to operate in Spain and cover all risks included in the Spanish public health system. 

The cost typically starts at around €600 per year, depending on age and coverage. Applicants usually need private health insurance with coverage of at least €30,000 per person. 

In Portugal, policies usually cost €550 per person, depending on the applicant’s age, coverage, and insurance provider.

Documents for the main applicant

For the Spain and Portugal Digital Nomad Visas, the main applicant usually prepares a standard immigration document package, including the following:

• valid passport;
• completed visa or residence application form;
• passport-sized photos;
• criminal record certificate;
• proof of remote work;
• proof of income;
• bank statements;
• health insurance;
• proof of payment of government fees;
• proof of accommodation;
• documents for family members, if they apply together with the main applicant.

Requirements for family members

Spain allows a spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and siblings to apply with the main applicant. Children of 18 and over must be unmarried, financially dependent on the main applicant, and studying at a university. Parents, grandparents, and siblings have no fixed age limit, but they must be financially dependent on the main applicant.

Portugal allows a spouse or partner, children under 21, and parents to apply with the main applicant. Children aged 18 to 21 must be unmarried, financially dependent on the main applicant, and enrolled in full-time education. Parents must be financially dependent on the main applicant.

Family members usually need documents confirming their relationship, such as marriage or birth certificates. Adult dependants and parents also need evidence of financial dependency.

Spain and Portugal both allow digital nomads to move from temporary residence to permanent residence and, eventually, citizenship. In both countries, permanent residence is generally available after 5 years of legal residence, while citizenship for most third-country nationals usually requires 10 years.

Portugal previously offered one of the shortest naturalisation routes in Europe. However, under the citizenship reform introduced in 2026, most third-country nationals qualify for Portuguese citizenship after 10 years of legal residence instead of 5.

For citizens of EU and CPLP countries, the required period is 7 years. The residence period is counted from the date the first residence permit is issued.

Portugal allows multiple citizenship, so applicants usually do not need to renounce their first citizenship when naturalising.

Spain also generally grants citizenship after 10 years of legal residence. However, the country keeps a reduced 2-year naturalisation route for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic Jews.

Spain requires applicants to renounce their previous citizenship. Exceptions apply to nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and some other eligible groups.

For many Latin American applicants, shorter naturalisation timelines and the possibility of retaining dual citizenship remain among the strongest advantages of the Spain Digital Nomad Visa.

Both countries offer preferential tax treatment, but the rules differ. Spain applies the Beckham Law, while Portugal offers the IFICI regime, which replaced the Non-Habitual Resident regime and is often referred to as NHR 2.0.

Spain: Beckham Law for digital nomads

Digital nomads who become tax residents in Spain may qualify for the special tax regime for inbound workers, commonly known as the Beckham Law. Under this regime, qualifying applicants pay a flat rate of 24% on Spanish-sourced employment income of up to €600,000. Income above this amount is taxed at 47%.

Income earned outside Spain is generally not taxed under the Beckham Law. This may include dividends, interest, capital gains, and income from foreign assets, provided they are not considered Spanish-sourced. However, salary for work physically performed in Spain may be treated as Spanish-sourced even if paid by a foreign employer. 

The regime is available for 6 tax years. To qualify, the digital nomad must:

• not have been a Spanish tax resident during the previous 5 years;
• have a job contract with a foreign employer;
• apply within 6 months of starting eligible professional activity in Spain.

The Beckham Law is usually most relevant for high earners: it may become financially attractive when annual Spanish-sourced employment income exceeds roughly €60,000, as standard progressive income tax rates in Spain can reach 45—47%. The exact benefit depends on income structure, deductions, region of residence, social security status, and tax obligations in other countries.

Portugal: IFICI for qualifying professionals

Portugal closed the Non-Habitual Resident regime and introduced IFICI, a new tax regime for foreign professionals in selected sectors. IFICI offers a 20% flat rate on qualifying employment and self-employment income sourced in Portugal instead of progressive rates of up to 48%.

The regime is valid for 10 consecutive years.

IFICI is more selective than the former NHR regime. It targets: 

• highly qualified professionals;
• researchers;
• healthcare specialists;
• technology specialists;
• university professors;
• senior executives;
• other eligible applicants in strategic sectors. 

To qualify for IFICI, applicants must meet three main conditions: become tax residents of Portugal after January 1st, 2024, have no Portuguese tax residence in the previous 5 years, and work in an eligible profession or meet the required education criteria.

US and UK citizens should assess their home-country tax rules before choosing between the Spain and Portugal Digital Nomad Visas. The Beckham Law in Spain and IFICI in Portugal may reduce local tax exposure for qualifying applicants, but they do not automatically remove reporting or tax obligations in the applicant’s country of citizenship or previous tax residence.

US citizens

US citizens are taxed on worldwide income regardless of where they live. Moving to Spain or Portugal with a Digital Nomad Visa does not remove the obligation to file US federal tax returns. 

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion may reduce taxable income for qualifying applicants, but it must be claimed under IRS rules^[8]

Source: IRS — Worldwide income

For the 2026 tax year, the maximum Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is $132,900 per person. To qualify, a US citizen or resident alien must meet either the bona fide residence test or the physical presence test. The physical presence test generally requires at least 330 full days outside the United States during a 12-month period.

US citizens living abroad may also have reporting obligations for foreign bank accounts and financial assets^[9]

Source: IRS — Foreign accounts

The United States has tax treaties with Spain^[11]

Source: IRS — pain tax treaty documents

UK nationals

UK nationals should first assess their UK tax residence under the Statutory Residence Test^[13]

Source: IRS — Residence test

The UK has double taxation treaties with Spain and Portugal^[14]

Source: UK government website — Tax treaties

UK ISAs, Individual Savings Accounts, keep their UK tax advantages, but these advantages may not be recognised in Spain or Portugal. If the holder becomes a tax resident in Spain or Portugal, local tax may apply to dividends, interest, or capital gains earned inside the ISA. 

Capital gains tax may arise when selling UK or foreign assets after relocation, depending on tax residence and how the relevant tax treaty allocates taxing rights.

Spain and Portugal both offer a lower cost of living than many Western European and North American destinations. For digital nomads moving from the US or the UK, everyday expenses in Spanish and Portuguese cities may be lower than in London, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or other major hubs. 

To compare everyday expenses more precisely, it is useful to look at individual cities rather than national averages. In the PlayersTime ranking of European cities for digital nomads in 2026, four cities from Spain and Portugal entered the top 10. Madrid ranked 6th, Seville 7th, Lisbon 8th, and Porto 10th. The ranking compared 35 European cities by accommodation, groceries, Internet, public transport, and safety^[15]

Source: PlayersTime — City ranking

Lisbon remains Portugal’s main digital nomad hub. It offers a strong international community, a mild climate, ocean access, and a developed coworking scene. The estimated combined monthly cost is around €1,750, with groceries accounting for €176, Internet access for around €28, and public transport for around €40.

Porto is more affordable than Lisbon, with an estimated combined monthly cost of around €1,570. Groceries amount to €165, Internet access to around €33, and public transport to around €60.

Madrid is the strongest Spanish city in the ranking. It combines a large international community, reliable public transport, high-speed Internet, and convenient flights through Madrid-Barajas Airport. The estimated combined monthly cost is €2,170. Groceries amount to €212, Internet access to around €30, and a monthly public transport pass to €32.

Seville is a more affordable Spanish option. It is especially suitable for applicants who want a warmer climate and lower living costs than in Madrid. The combined monthly cost is around €1,200, including groceries at €187, Internet access at around €31, and public transport at €35.

Immigrant Invest is a consulting company that assists with residence and citizenship programmes in Europe and other jurisdictions. For applicants choosing between the Spain and Portugal Digital Nomad Visas, our team helps assess eligibility, prepare documents, and reduce the risk of errors before submission.

Before starting the application, Immigrant Invest conducts a confidential preliminary Due Diligence check. Compliance specialists review the applicant’s background, income structure, family composition, and possible refusal risks. This is especially important for applicants with complex income, employer documentation issues, or family members who need to prove financial dependency.

Immigrant Invest also supports digital nomads after approval. Our team helps with residence permit renewals, family applications, tax number registration, bank account opening, and preparation for permanent residence or citizenship when the applicant becomes eligible.

1. Spain is more affordable for digital nomads than Portugal: the minimum income requirement is €2,849+ per month, compared with €3,680+ in Portugal. Spain does not require applicants to prove savings, while Portugal requires at least €11,040 for the main applicant.
2. Portugal has fewer professional and employer-side requirements. For Spain, applicants need to prove the company’s operating history, remote-work permission, at least 3 months of cooperation, and either relevant higher education or 3+ years’ professional experience.
3. Spain is stronger for freelancers and founders, as self-employed applicants may receive up to 20% of their income from Spanish companies. Portugal’s D8 Visa does not allow income from Portuguese sources.
4. Both countries offer long-term residence prospects. Permanent residence is available after 5 years in both Spain and Portugal. Obtaining citizenship usually takes at least 10 years.
5. Spain’s Beckham Law is attractive for high earners, while Portugal’s IFICI offers a 20% rate for highly qualified professionals.
6. The Spain Digital Nomad Visa process is usually faster and more predictable: in-country applications may be processed in around 20 business days. Portugal requires an entry visa first and a residence permit application after arrival.