Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa vs Spain Digital Nomad Visa
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa is faster: 2 months vs 3 months for Spain Digital Nomad Visa.
- ›Faster to citizenship: Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa at ~5 years, vs 10 for Spain Digital Nomad Visa.
- ›Lower income bar: Spain Digital Nomad Visa requires $2,800/mo; Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa requires $3,280/mo.
Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa Portugal · digital nomad | Spain Digital Nomad Visa Spain · digital nomad | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Portugal | Spain |
| Category | Digital Nomad | Digital Nomad |
| Application Fee | $540 | $160 |
| Minimum Income | $3,280 /mo | $2,800 /mo |
| Minimum Investment | — | — |
| Processing Time | 2 months | 3 months |
| Family Included | 50% of main applicant income per additional adult; 30% per minor child | 75% of main applicant minimum income per adult dependent; 25% per minor child |
| Path to PR | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 10 years |
| Physical Presence | Must reside in Portugal for at least 183 days per year or maintain a habitual residence | No fixed minimum days per year stated, but physical presence in Spain is expected; must not spend more than 6 months outside Spain annually |
| Dual Citizenship | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax Impact | Eligible for Portugal's NHR 2.0 regime (20% flat tax on Portuguese-sourced income from high-value activities; some foreign-sourced income may be exempt for 10 years) | Eligible for the Beckham Law (Ley Beckham), offering a flat 24% income tax rate on Spanish-sourced income for up to 6 years instead of the progressive scale reaching 47% |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | $320 | $200 |
About Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa
The Portugal D8 Digital Nomad visa allows non-EU/EEA remote workers and freelancers earning at least 4× the Portuguese minimum wage (~€3,280/month in 2024) from foreign employers or clients to legally reside in Portugal. Introduced in October 2022 alongside the D7, it formalised a route that previously fell into ambiguous tourist-visa territory. The D8 grants the same 5-year residency-to-citizenship pathway as the D7 but targets active remote income rather than passive sources, with stricter requirements around demonstrated foreign-source revenue. Holders pay Portuguese income tax once tax-resident (183-day rule), and qualify for the IFICI tax regime only in narrow research/innovation/high-skill categories — most remote workers do not qualify for the special rate. Portuguese consulate appointment waits range from 4 to 24 weeks depending on the jurisdiction; AIMA biometrics post-arrival typically take a further 4–12 weeks. Family reunification is generous: spouse, minor children, dependent parents (over 65), and dependent siblings can be included with proportional income uplifts.
Full Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa profile →About Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Spain's Digital Nomad Visa, introduced under the Startup Act of 2023, allows remote workers and freelancers employed by foreign companies to legally reside in Spain for up to five years. Applicants must demonstrate a minimum income of approximately €3,000 per month and hold health insurance valid in Spain. Holders may benefit from the Beckham Law's preferential 24% flat tax rate on Spanish-sourced income for up to six years, making it one of the most tax-efficient digital nomad visas in Europe.
Full Spain Digital Nomad Visa profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa
- ⚠D8 income must be foreign-sourced; Portuguese-sourced income triggers different rules
- ⚠AIMA backlogs continue to affect card issuance timelines
- ⚠IFICI tax regime eligibility is narrower than former NHR — remote workers often do not qualify
- ⚠4x minimum wage threshold is strictly enforced (2024: ~€3,280/month)
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
- ⚠Spain does not allow dual citizenship with most countries at citizenship stage
- ⚠Foreign employer must have been established 1+ year
- ⚠Self-employed applicants can receive up to 20% of income from Spanish clients
- ⚠Beckham Law application requires specific filing within 6 months of tax residency
- ⚠Social security: Spain may require contributions unless there is a totalisation agreement
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.