Spain and Portugal both offer a visa that lets you live in the country while working remotely for employers or clients based abroad. Spain calls its version the digital nomad visa; Portugal calls its version the D8. They solve the same problem, so the real question is not which one is better in the abstract, but which one fits your income, your tax situation, your family, and how long you plan to stay. For most American remote workers the decision comes down to four things: the income you can document, the tax you will pay, whether you want an EU passport at the end, and where you would rather live.
This guide sets the two visas side by side and stays at decision level. It does not rebuild either country's full requirements. For the Spain criteria in depth, see the Spain digital nomad visa requirements guide; for Portugal, the Portugal D8 visa requirements guide and the Portugal digital nomad visa guide overview.
Getting help with this Choosing between the Spain DNV and the Portugal D8 means weighing two different income tests, two tax regimes, and two very different citizenship rules against your own numbers and goals. Many remote workers can read the rules and decide for themselves, and the individual requirement guides linked here are built for exactly that. Where it gets harder is running your specific income, family size, and tax residency through both systems at once, then filing in whichever country you pick. Roots Global advises on both markets and prepares digital nomad visa applications for Spain and Portugal, so the same team can compare your case and handle the filing.
Spain DNV vs Portugal D8: the head-to-head
At a glance, Spain has the lower income requirement and the stronger tax break for employees, while Portugal has the friendlier path to a second passport. Everything else, permit length, family inclusion, the type of work allowed, is broadly similar. The table below is the whole comparison in one place; the sections that follow explain the rows that actually decide most cases.
| Attribute | Spain digital nomad visa | Portugal D8 |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Ley 28/2022 (the Startup Law) | The D8 regime, introduced October 2022 |
| Income basis | 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI), a figure that moves each year | 4x the Portuguese minimum wage, a figure that moves each year |
| Monthly income, single applicant (2026) | About EUR 2,849 | EUR 3,680 |
| Savings shown | Not a fixed headline figure | Roughly 12x the minimum wage, about EUR 11,040 |
| Special tax regime | Beckham regime, a flat 24% for qualifying newcomers | IFICI, narrow; the broad NHR regime is closed to new entrants |
| Local-client work | Spanish clients allowed up to 20% of activity (self-employed) | Income must come from employers or clients outside Portugal |
| Initial permit | 1-year consular visa or 3-year in-country permit | 1-year temporary-stay visa or a 2-year residence permit |
| Family included | Spouse or partner, children, dependent parents | Spouse or partner, children, dependent parents |
| Permanent residency | After 5 years of legal residence | After 5 years of legal residence |
| Citizenship | 10 years generally, 2 years for Ibero-American nationals | 10 years generally, 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals |
| Keep your US citizenship | Generally must renounce (non-Ibero-American) | Yes, dual citizenship permitted |
The rest of this guide walks the rows that change the decision. Income comes first, because it rules some applicants out before anything else matters.
Which visa has the lower income requirement?
Spain has the lower income bar of the two. For 2026, Spain asks a single applicant to document around EUR 2,849 per month, while Portugal's D8 asks for EUR 3,680 per month. That gap of roughly EUR 830 a month is the single biggest reason an applicant near the threshold picks Spain.
Both numbers are formulas tied to each country's minimum wage, so both reset every year. Spain sets its bar at 200% of the Salario Mínimo Interprofesional (SMI), which is EUR 1,221 per month for 2026 under Real Decreto 126/2026; on the annualized basis that most filings use, that is about EUR 2,849 per month. Portugal sets its bar at four times the national minimum wage, EUR 920 per month in 2026, giving a D8 threshold of EUR 3,680, and also expects savings of roughly twelve times the minimum wage (about EUR 11,040) in the bank, which Spain does not.
The method-by-method math for Spain sits in the Spain digital nomad visa income requirements guide, and the Portuguese threshold, savings, and dependant increments are in the Portugal D8 visa income requirements guide.
Which country taxes remote workers less?
For a qualifying remote employee, Spain usually offers the better tax deal, and this is often the factor that decides the whole choice. Spain has a live special regime for newcomers; Portugal's most generous regime has closed.
Spain's option is the special regime for displaced workers, widely called the Beckham law, under Art. 93 LIRPF. Qualifying new residents can elect a flat 24% on employment income up to EUR 600,000 for the year of arrival plus the following five years, instead of progressive rates, and Ley 28/2022 extended eligibility to international teleworkers; the Agencia Tributaria administers the election.
Portugal's headline regime, the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) scheme, closed to new entrants in 2024. Its successor, IFICI, is much narrower: it targets specific scientific research, innovation, and high-value roles rather than remote workers in general, so many ordinary D8 holders will not qualify. A D8 holder who does not qualify pays Portugal's standard progressive income tax on worldwide income once they become a Portuguese tax resident, at 183 days in the country or with a permanent home there (Autoridade Tributária).
| Feature | Spain: Beckham regime | Portugal: IFICI |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Art. 93 LIRPF, extended by Ley 28/2022 | The IFICI regime (successor to NHR) |
| Who qualifies | New residents, including teleworkers; self-employed only narrowly | Specific research, innovation, and high-value activities |
| Headline benefit | Flat 24% on employment income up to EUR 600,000 | Reduced rate on qualifying Portuguese-source income |
| Duration | Arrival year plus 5 years | Up to 10 years for qualifying activity |
| Typical remote worker | Often qualifies (employees) | Often does not qualify |
| Status for new arrivals | Open | NHR closed since 2024; IFICI narrow |
Two points apply whichever country you choose. Tax residency is not automatic on arrival; it turns on spending more than 183 days in the country or making it your permanent home. And US citizens keep filing a US federal return wherever they live, using the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion or foreign tax credits to avoid double taxation, plus FBAR reporting on foreign accounts. The Portuguese tax picture in depth sits in the Golden Visa tax implications guide. This is not legal or tax advice.
Who can apply, and can you work for local clients?
Both visas are open to non-EU nationals who work remotely, and both accept employees and self-employed people. The meaningful difference is how much local, in-country work each tolerates. Spain is explicit: a self-employed holder may take work from companies located in Spain as long as it stays under 20% of total professional activity, and employees must work for an employer established outside Spain, under Ley 28/2022. Portugal's D8 requires the qualifying employer or clients to be based outside Portugal, with no equivalent percentage allowance for local clients.
Both visas separate the applicant pool the same way, and the hard document differs by type:
- Remote employees show an employment contract, an employer letter confirming that remote work is permitted, recent pay stubs, and (for Americans) a certificate of coverage so social security is not paid twice.
- Self-employed and freelancers show client contracts, invoices, and evidence the working relationship predates the application, plus home-country self-employment registration.
- Business owners who work for their own foreign company can qualify, but should expect closer scrutiny of the company's real activity.
The full eligibility set for each country lives in the requirement guides: Spain digital nomad visa requirements and Portugal D8 visa requirements.
How long can you stay, and can your family come?
Both visas give you an initial permit of one to three years that renews, and both let close family come with you. Spain issues either a 1-year visa from a consulate or a 3-year residence permit filed in-country, then renews in 2-year blocks. Portugal's D8 comes in two forms: a temporary-stay visa valid up to a year, or a residence visa that leads to a 2-year residence permit, renewable and administered by AIMA, which is the version that counts toward permanent residency.
Family inclusion is comparable on both sides. Each visa lets you bring a spouse or partner, dependent children, and dependent parents, and each raises the income you must show for every person you add. Spain adds 75% of its minimum wage for the first family member and 25% for each additional one; Portugal adds increments on top of the applicant's income for a spouse and each child.
Processing time runs longer than the headline for Portugal because of the AIMA appointment and card backlog. For the Portuguese timeline by stage, see the Portugal D7 and D8 processing time guide.
Which is faster to citizenship, and can you keep your US passport?
For an American, Portugal is the clearer path to a second passport, mainly because Portugal lets you keep your US citizenship and Spain generally does not. The timelines look similar on paper; the dual-nationality rule is the real divide.
Portugal's naturalization now generally takes about ten years of legal residence, reduced to seven years for nationals of EU and Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) countries, counted from the date your first residence card is issued, under Lei Orgânica 1/2026. Five years of residence earns permanent residency, not the passport itself; the full timeline sits in the Golden Visa citizenship path guide. Crucially, Portugal does not ask you to give up your existing nationality, so a US citizen naturalizes and holds both passports.
Spain's clock is ten years for most nationalities, dropping to just two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal, under Art. 22 of the Código Civil. The catch for Americans is twofold: the United States is not on that two-year list, so a US citizen faces the full ten years, and Spain generally requires new citizens to renounce their prior nationality, with the exception of those same treaty countries. So an American choosing Spain for a passport gives up more than one choosing Portugal.
If a second passport with US citizenship intact is your goal, Portugal is the more natural fit. If citizenship is not the point, the tax and income rows above matter more than this one.
What about cost of living and lifestyle?
Both countries are among the more affordable in Western Europe, and neither is a clear winner on cost. Lisbon in particular has grown more expensive as remote-worker demand has risen, while Spain offers a wider spread of cheaper inland cities alongside pricier Madrid and Barcelona. Housing is the line item that varies most, and in both countries the popular expat cities cost noticeably more than smaller towns.
Language and community usually matter more day to day than a small cost gap, and both countries have large, established English-speaking expat scenes. Neither choice is a mistake on lifestyle grounds. For the Portuguese side in detail, see the cost of living in Portugal guide.
Spain or Portugal: which should you choose?
Choose on your priorities in this order: income you can document, tax on that income, and whether you want a second passport. The decision tree below walks the same logic, and the two short lists after it capture who each visa suits best.
Choose Spain if:
- Your documented income sits closer to EUR 2,850 than EUR 3,680 a month.
- You are a remote employee who can elect the flat 24% Beckham tax regime.
- You want the largest possible choice of cities and a bigger country to move around.
- A second passport is not your main goal, or you already hold Ibero-American nationality and can use the two-year citizenship route.
Choose Portugal if:
- You want an EU passport eventually and intend to keep your US citizenship.
- You are comfortable meeting the higher EUR 3,680 income bar and the savings buffer.
- You value a large, established English-speaking expat community and a compact country.
- You are a national of an EU or Portuguese-speaking country and can use the seven-year citizenship route.
See also
- Spain digital nomad visa requirements for the full Spain eligibility checklist.
- Spain digital nomad visa income requirements for the Spain threshold math.
- Portugal D8 visa requirements for the full Portugal eligibility set.
- Portugal D8 visa income requirements for the Portuguese threshold, savings, and dependant increments.
- Portugal digital nomad visa guide for the complete D8 overview.
- Portugal D7 and D8 processing time for the Portuguese timeline by stage.
- Golden Visa citizenship path for the Portuguese route to permanent residency and citizenship.
- Golden Visa tax implications for the Portuguese tax picture in depth.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Spain or Portugal digital nomad visa better? Neither is better in general; it depends on your numbers and goals. Spain has the lower income bar and, for employees, a stronger tax break through the Beckham regime. Portugal has the friendlier path to a second passport, because it lets Americans keep US citizenship. Match the visa to whether income, tax, or a passport matters most to you.
Which digital nomad visa has a lower income requirement? Spain. For 2026, Spain asks a single applicant for about EUR 2,849 per month (200% of its minimum wage), while Portugal's D8 asks for EUR 3,680 per month (four times its minimum wage). Both are formulas tied to each country's minimum wage, so both figures move every year.
Which is faster to citizenship? On paper they are close: both are generally ten years, and both offer a shorter route to specific groups. Spain drops to two years for Ibero-American nationals; Portugal drops to seven years for EU and Portuguese-speaking nationals. The bigger difference for Americans is that Portugal lets you keep your US passport, while Spain generally requires renouncing it.
Which has better taxes for remote workers? For a qualifying remote employee, Spain usually does, because its Beckham regime can apply a flat 24% to employment income for up to six years. Portugal's most generous regime, NHR, is closed to new entrants, and its successor IFICI is narrow, so many D8 holders pay standard progressive Portuguese tax once they become tax resident. This is not tax advice.
Can I switch between the Spain and Portugal digital nomad visas? Not directly; they are separate national visas, so you would apply fresh in the other country and start its residency clock from your first card there. Time spent as a resident of one country does not transfer to the other's path to permanent residency or citizenship. Plan the choice up front rather than expecting to swap later.
Do both visas let me bring my family? Yes. Both let you include a spouse or partner, dependent children, and dependent parents, and both raise the income you must document for each person added. Spain adds 75% of its minimum wage for the first family member and 25% for each additional one; Portugal adds increments on top of the applicant's income for a spouse and each child.
Can I work for local clients on either visa? Only Spain sets a clear allowance: a self-employed holder may earn up to 20% of activity from Spanish companies, and employees must work for a foreign employer. Portugal's D8 requires the qualifying income to come from employers or clients based outside Portugal, with no published local-client percentage. Plan to keep your income sourced abroad on either visa.
Does either visa lead to permanent residency? Yes. Both count toward permanent residency after five years of continuous legal residence, provided you keep genuine residence and meet the conditions at each renewal. In Portugal, five years earns permanent residency while citizenship comes later; in Spain, long-term residence is available at five years and citizenship runs on the separate clock described above.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Immigration and tax rules in both Spain and Portugal change, and several figures here are 2026 formulas tied to each country's minimum wage, so verify current requirements with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before acting. Last updated: July 2026.
About the author
Vanessa Mororó is Head of Legal, Portugal at Roots Global, where she advises HNWI and US cross-border clients on Portuguese residency and immigration matters, including the D8 digital nomad visa and the path to permanent residency and citizenship, and coordinates with the firm's Spain team on comparative moves. Connect on LinkedIn.
