7 de July, 2026
Trying to decide between the Spain Digital Nomad Visa and the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8)? Both countries offer residence permits for remote workers, but the requirements are not the same. Minimum income, professional documentation, family reunification rules, and even the timeline to citizenship can vary significantly depending on the destination you choose. Spain tends to require a lower minimum income, while Portugal is less demanding when it comes to documentation.
In this comparison between the Portugal and Spain digital nomad visas, we break down the main differences between the two paths for anyone who wants to live as a digital nomad in Spain or Portugal. Which one is best for you? Find out all the requirements in this updated 2026 guide!
Realizing your goal of living in Europe or obtaining European citizenship can be simpler than you think. We offer personalized support to make the immigration process more accessible and uncomplicated.
Below is the comparison between the Digital Nomad Visa in Spain and Portugal:
| Spain 🇪🇸 | Portugal 🇵🇹 | |
|---|---|---|
| Individual income requirement | 200% of the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI): €2,849 | 400% of the minimum wage: €3,680 |
| Couple’s income requirement | 275% of the SMI: €3,918 | 400% of the minimum wage: €3,680 (same) |
| Savings | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory, but highly recommended |
| Employee profile | Employment contract for 3 months with a company that has existed for at least one year | Remote employment contract with no minimum experience requirement |
| Restriction on source of income | Up to 20% of income may come from Spanish companies, but must be received as a natural person | Can only work for companies based outside Portugal |
| Education/qualifications | Requires a university degree and 3 years of professional experience in the relevant field | No specific years-of-experience requirement, but significant experience in the field can strengthen the application |
| Family reunification | Does not include adult children who are students | Includes single adult children who are students and financially dependent |
| Health insurance | Unlimited international health insurance, valid for 1 year | International health insurance with €30,000 coverage, valid for 1 year |
| Medical certificate | Proof of absence of serious diseases that could affect public health | Not required |
| Criminal record certificate | Clean record, no criminal convictions | Clean record for offenses punishable in Portugal by more than 1 year of imprisonment |
| Housing | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory proof of housing for 12 months |
| Time to citizenship | Standard route: 10 years of legal residency | Standard route: 10 years of legal residency |
| Visa issuance timeline | Legal deadline of 10 to 20 days (consulate vs. UGE) | Legal deadline of 60 days. In some countries, such as the U.S., it can take up to 120 days |
| Minimum stay | No objective absence rule as exists in Portugal. In practice, to renew residency, the applicant must continue meeting the visa requirements, including maintaining effective residence in Spain. Very long absences may raise questions | Cannot be absent from Portugal for more than 6 consecutive months or 8 interpolated months during the validity of the residence permit (2 years for the first permit, 3 years for the second) |
| Ideal profile | Those looking for a lower minimum income and a straightforward path to residency | Those looking for more flexible requirements and easier adaptation |
One of the main factors when choosing between Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa and Portugal’s D8 Visa is the minimum income required.
To apply for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa, applicants must prove a monthly income equivalent to 200% of the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI), approximately €2,849 per month.
If the application includes family members, the amount increases:
Spain does not require a minimum savings amount, although demonstrating financial reserves can strengthen the application.
In Portugal, the D8 Visa requires a monthly income equivalent to four times the national minimum wage, approximately €3,680 per month (averaged over the last 3 months). Unlike Spain, Portugal does not increase the minimum required income when the application includes family members. Under the D8 Visa, the applicant’s income is assessed together with their ability to support the entire household.
In addition to proving income for the last three months, it is advisable to demonstrate sufficient financial means to support yourself during the first year of residency. Although there is no legally mandatory savings amount for the visa, presenting compatible financial resources strengthens the application.
The higher the available amount, the better — it improves the chances of visa approval! It’s worth noting that, for the residence permit application with AIMA, having a Portuguese bank account is important. However, this amount does not need to remain in the account throughout the year and can be used after obtaining the residence permit.
Although both visas are aimed at remote workers, the professional criteria differ significantly.
The Spanish visa can be requested by employees or by independent professionals. However, the requirements are stricter than in Portugal.
To be eligible, it is generally necessary to:
In addition, self-employed workers should be aware of a few details:
Portugal also accepts employees and independent workers. Professionals who work remotely for companies or clients based outside Portugal can apply, by presenting the relevant contracts or proof of service provision.
Unlike Spain, Portugal does not require a specific academic qualification.
Anyone planning to move with family should carefully review each country’s rules, as there are significant differences.
The Spanish visa allows reunification of:
Keep in mind that each additional family member increases the minimum income required for approval.
The D8 Visa also allows family reunification.
Those who can be included:
However, recent changes to the Foreigners Law have tightened the rules regarding family reunification, so in many cases it can only be requested after a certain period of legal residency in Portugal and subject to new legal requirements.
What’s the main difference?
Both countries allow you to bring your family, but the rules are not identical. Spain allows simultaneous reunification as part of the visa application, while Portugal has adopted more restrictive rules in certain situations, especially following recent legislative changes. Anyone planning to move with a spouse, children, or parents should therefore carefully review the conditions that apply to their specific case.
Applicants must meet several other criteria:
Applicants must meet several other criteria:
[Link to the English-language article: full details of the Spain Digital Nomad Visa]
Remote workers with legal, continuous residency in Spain can apply for Spanish citizenship after meeting certain periods of continuous residency, which vary from 1 to 10 years depending on personal circumstances and country of origin:
Remote workers with legal residency in Portugal can apply for Portuguese citizenship after residing legally in the country and meeting all residence permit renewal requirements:
For most applicants who do not fall into one of the special categories above, both Spain and Portugal require 10 years of continuous legal residency before citizenship can be requested.
There’s no single answer to this question. Both Portugal and Spain offer excellent options for digital nomads, but each country makes more sense for different profiles.
Portugal and Spain have a relatively similar cost of living. However, in recent years, the Portuguese real estate market has seen strong appreciation, making housing costs currently higher than in many Spanish cities. On the other hand, expenses like food, transportation, and leisure tend to vary more by city than by country. Take a looki at our articles about the Cost of living in Portugal and Cost of living in Spain. We also have a complete comparison between living in Spain or Portugal, as well as articles on what it’s like to live in Spain and live in Portugal.
When it comes to remote work authorization in Europe, which is the best option — being a digital nomad in Portugal or a digital nomad in Spain? There’s no “better” visa, only the one that best fits your needs.
Which of these countries do you prefer to live in? Do you speak the local language of each destination? Do you want to learn a new language? In Portugal, besides Portuguese, a large part of the population speaks English — it’s ranked among the top countries in the world for English proficiency among non-native speakers. Does that make your life easier? Another question: do you have a criminal record? Generally speaking, Spain is stricter in this regard, and even minor incidents can prevent your application from moving forward.
Talk to other expats and listen to other nomads’ experiences. Still have questions about the requirements and want professional help? Talk to the Atlantic Bridge specialists and find out which destination is perfect for you! Schedule a meeting with our team now.
Spain requires a lower minimum income than Portugal: approximately €2,850 vs. €3,680.
Under the standard route, both countries require 10 years of legal residency. Spain does offer faster pathways for specific groups — for example, spouses or descendants of Spanish citizens (1 year), or nationals of certain Ibero-American and other specific countries (2 years) — but for most applicants outside those categories, the timeline in both countries is comparable.
Portugal tends to be more accessible for those without a university degree or who have difficulty gathering documentation from their employer. Spain tends to be more advantageous for highly qualified professionals with an established professional relationship and compatible income.
Yes. Both Spain and Portugal accept digital nomads who are self-employed, but the rules differ. In Spain, up to 20% of income can come from Spanish clients. Portugal requires that the activity be carried out for clients or companies outside Portugal.
Spain has stricter requirements, which can take applicants longer to prepare. But in terms of visa issuance itself, the process is currently faster in Spain.
Spain has currently been issuing visas more quickly than Portugal. In practice, the digital nomad visa is ready in Spain in about 30 days. In Portugal, it can take 2 to 4 months.
Author:
Silvia Resende
