Portugal D8 Visa vs Spain Digital Nomad Visa: Which Is Better in 2026?

Two Countries, Two Very Different Approaches

Portugal and Spain sit side by side on the Iberian Peninsula, share a border stretching over 1,200 kilometers, and both offer dedicated visa pathways for remote workers. Yet the experience of applying for and living under each country's digital nomad visa could hardly be more different.

Portugal launched its D8 visa for remote workers in late 2022, building on the country's already strong reputation among the nomad community. Spain followed shortly after with its own Digital Nomad Visa (Ley 28/2022), which came into effect in January 2023. By 2026, tens of thousands of remote workers have used these programs, and the data is clear enough to make a meaningful comparison.

This guide breaks down every major factor -- income thresholds, taxes, processing speed, cost of living, and long-term residency paths -- so you can decide which visa fits your situation.

The Quick Comparison

Before diving into the details, here is the high-level picture.

| Factor | Spain DNV | Portugal D8 | |---|---|---| | Minimum income | €2,849/month | €3,680/month | | Income basis | 200% of Spain's SMI | 4x Portuguese minimum wage (€920) | | Minimum savings | Not formally required | €11,040 in bank account | | Tax regime | Beckham Law — 24% flat on Spanish income, 0% on foreign income for 6 years | NHR — 20% flat on Portuguese income, potentially 0% on foreign income for 10 years (if still eligible) | | Initial visa validity | 1 year (consulate) or 3 years (in-country) | 1 year (renewable to 2, then 2) | | Processing time | ~20 business days (application), 3-6 months total | 45-60 days (consulate), then 6-12+ months for AIMA residence permit | | Pre-application requirements | Passport, documents, insurance | NIF + Portuguese bank account required BEFORE applying | | Path to citizenship | 10 years (2 years for some nationalities) | 5 years (status uncertain — see below) | | Application route | Consulate or in-country (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) | Consulate + AIMA appointment in Portugal | | Healthcare | SNS (public, highly rated) | SNS (public, good quality) | | Primary language | Spanish | Portuguese |

Income Requirements

Spain sets its threshold at 200% of the Salario Minimo Interprofesional (SMI). For 2026, that works out to approximately €2,849 per month, or around €34,188 per year. You must demonstrate this income through employment contracts, client invoices, or bank statements covering the previous 12 months.

Portugal pegs its requirement to four times the national minimum wage. With the Portuguese minimum wage at €920 in 2026, the threshold lands at approximately €3,680 per month, or €44,160 annually. On top of the income requirement, Portugal mandates a minimum of €11,040 in savings (equivalent to 3 months of the minimum income) in a bank account. Portugal also requires proof of accommodation — specifically a 12-month rental agreement (not just a booking confirmation) — and valid health insurance at the time of application.

Critically, Portugal requires you to obtain a NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) and open a Portuguese bank account BEFORE you can submit your residence permit application. This creates a chicken-and-egg situation that many applicants find frustrating — you need Portuguese banking infrastructure before you even have the right to reside there. Many applicants hire a fiscal representative to obtain the NIF remotely.

The gap is significant: Portugal demands roughly 29% more monthly income than Spain, plus savings proof and more upfront infrastructure. For freelancers and early-career remote workers, these differences can be decisive.

Tax Regimes: Beckham Law vs. Post-NHR Portugal

Spain's Beckham Law

Spain's Beckham Law (formally the Impatriado regime under Article 93 of the IRPF law) is one of the most attractive tax incentives for incoming remote workers anywhere in Europe. If you qualify — which digital nomad visa holders typically do — you pay a flat 24% income tax rate on Spanish-sourced income up to €600,000, with amounts above that taxed at 47%. Foreign-sourced income is effectively taxed at 0% — you are treated as a non-resident for tax purposes, meaning income from outside Spain is generally not subject to Spanish income tax.

The Beckham Law applies for the tax year of arrival plus the following five years, giving you up to 6 years of favorable treatment. You must not have been a Spanish tax resident in the five years preceding your arrival.

Spain also allows you to apply from within Spain. If you enter on a tourist visa, you can apply for the DNV through the UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) and receive a 3-year residence authorization directly — skipping the 1-year consulate visa entirely. This is a significant advantage over Portugal, where the in-country process is bogged down by AIMA backlogs.

Portugal's Situation After NHR

Portugal's Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime was legendary — a 20% flat tax on qualifying Portuguese-sourced employment and self-employment income, with broad exemptions that made foreign-sourced income potentially taxed at 0% for a full 10 years. For those who secured NHR before the cutoff, this remains one of the most generous tax regimes in Europe. However, Portugal closed NHR to new applicants effective January 1, 2024. Applicants who had already secured NHR status before that date continue to benefit for their full 10-year period, but new arrivals in 2026 cannot access the program.

In its place, Portugal introduced a more limited tax incentive aimed primarily at young workers and researchers (the Incentivo Fiscal a Investigacao Cientifica e Inovacao), which offers a 20% flat rate on eligible employment income for those under 35 in qualifying roles. For the majority of digital nomad visa holders, however, standard Portuguese IRS progressive rates now apply. These range from 14.5% on income up to roughly €7,700 to 48% on income above approximately €78,000, plus a solidarity surcharge of up to 5% on very high incomes.

Bottom line: In 2026, Spain's tax proposition for digital nomads is substantially more attractive than Portugal's. The Beckham Law remains open, broadly accessible, and straightforward. Portugal's post-NHR landscape means most new arrivals face progressive taxation similar to local residents.

Application Process and Processing Times

Spain

Spain offers two routes. If you are outside Spain, you apply at your nearest Spanish consulate. If you are already in Spain on a valid visa (such as a tourist visa with remaining validity), you can apply in-country through the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estrategicos (UGE-CE) in Madrid or delegations in other cities.

The legal processing window is 20 business days from submission of a complete application. In practice, decisions often arrive within 30--45 calendar days. Some consulates are faster than others -- those in the U.S. and U.K. tend to be among the most efficient, while others may take slightly longer. Overall, Spain's processing is considered reliable and predictable.

Portugal

Portugal's process has two stages. First, you apply for a D8 visa at the Portuguese consulate in your country of residence. The consulate stage is reasonably efficient — processing typically takes 45 to 60 days, which is faster than Spain's end-to-end timeline.

The second stage is where the system breaks down. After arriving in Portugal, you must schedule an appointment with AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo — the successor to SEF) to convert your visa into a residence permit. Remember that you need to have your NIF and Portuguese bank account already set up before this step.

AIMA has been overwhelmed by application volume since its restructuring from SEF in 2023, and backlogs persist into 2026. Wait times for an AIMA appointment range from 6 to 12 months or longer, during which applicants often find themselves in legal limbo — technically residing in Portugal but without a formal residence card. While AIMA has made incremental improvements, the delays remain a serious pain point for applicants.

Cost of Living

Both countries offer a lower cost of living compared to Northern and Western Europe, but there are meaningful differences between specific cities.

| City | Average 1BR Rent (City Center) | Monthly Living Costs (Single) | |---|---|---| | Lisbon | €1,100--€1,500 | €1,800--€2,400 | | Porto | €800--€1,100 | €1,400--€1,900 | | Madrid | €900--€1,300 | €1,600--€2,200 | | Barcelona | €1,000--€1,400 | €1,700--€2,300 | | Valencia | €700--€1,000 | €1,300--€1,800 | | Malaga | €750--€1,050 | €1,400--€1,900 |

Lisbon has experienced steep rent increases since the pandemic, driven by tourism, golden visa legacy demand, and limited housing supply. In 2026, it rivals or exceeds Barcelona for rental costs. Meanwhile, Spanish cities outside Madrid and Barcelona -- Valencia, Malaga, Seville, Alicante -- remain considerably more affordable while offering strong infrastructure and quality of life.

Portugal's smaller cities (Braga, Aveiro, Coimbra) offer lower costs but also have smaller international communities and fewer coworking options.

Path to Residency and Citizenship

This is where Portugal has historically held its strongest card — but the situation is now uncertain. Portugal previously offered a path to citizenship after 5 years of legal residence. However, in October 2025, the Portuguese parliament voted to extend the residency requirement from 5 years to 10 years for citizenship by naturalization. This change is currently pending review by Portugal's Constitutional Court, and its final status remains unclear as of February 2026.

If the 10-year requirement stands, Portugal's citizenship advantage over Spain largely disappears for most nationalities. If it is struck down or modified, the 5-year path may be restored. This is a critical factor to monitor if the citizenship timeline is driving your decision.

Regardless of the outcome, Portuguese citizenship grants you an EU passport with visa-free access to over 180 countries. Portugal also allows dual citizenship, so most applicants do not need to renounce their original nationality.

Spain requires 10 years of legal residence for most nationalities before you can apply for citizenship. However, there is a major exception: nationals of former Spanish colonies and other historically connected countries -- including most Latin American nations, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Andorra, and Portugal itself -- can apply after just 2 years. This fast track makes Spain the clear winner for citizens of countries like Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Peru.

Spain also permits dual citizenship with many Latin American countries, though not with all nationalities. Check the specific bilateral agreement for your country of origin.

Healthcare

Both countries have universal public healthcare systems. Spain's Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS) is consistently ranked among the best in Europe and the world -- the WHO has historically placed it in the top 10 globally. Coverage is comprehensive and generally free at the point of use for residents.

Portugal's Servico Nacional de Saude is solid and improving, though it has faced staffing shortages in recent years, particularly for general practitioners in some regions. Both systems allow you to supplement with private insurance, which is affordable in both countries (typically €50--€150/month for comprehensive coverage).

For the first year on a digital nomad visa, you will likely rely on private health insurance in either country, as enrollment in the public system is tied to your residence permit.

Language and Community

Spanish is spoken by over 500 million people worldwide, making it the fourth most spoken language globally. If you invest in learning Spanish, the returns extend far beyond Spain -- across Latin America, the U.S., and many international business contexts.

Portuguese is spoken by around 260 million people, primarily in Brazil, Portugal, and several African nations. While valuable, it has a narrower reach. Many digital nomads in Lisbon and Porto find they can get by with English, but integration into local life requires Portuguese.

Both countries have thriving digital nomad communities. Lisbon was one of the earliest European nomad hubs and has a mature ecosystem of coworking spaces, meetups, and community events. Spain's nomad scene is more distributed -- Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, Gran Canaria, and Madrid all have strong communities. Spain has a slight edge in coworking density per capita, with more options outside the capital.

Which Should You Choose?

There is no universal answer, but the data points toward clear recommendations based on your profile.

Choose Spain if you are:

• A freelancer earning under €3,680/month -- You meet Spain's threshold but not Portugal's.
• Focused on tax optimization -- The Beckham Law at 24% flat is hard to beat anywhere in Europe. Portugal's NHR is closed, and standard rates are steep.
• A Latin American citizen -- Spanish language compatibility plus the 2-year fast track to citizenship is an unmatched combination.
• Someone who values predictable timelines -- Spain's 20-business-day processing gives you certainty. Portugal's AIMA backlog does not.
• Looking for affordable cities -- Valencia, Malaga, and Seville offer excellent quality of life at prices well below Lisbon.

Choose Portugal if you are:

• Prioritizing the path to an EU passport — If the 5-year citizenship timeline is upheld by the Constitutional Court, this remains a strong advantage. However, be aware that the parliament has voted to extend it to 10 years — the outcome is uncertain as of February 2026.
• Already connected to the Lisbon nomad ecosystem — If you have community, clients, or a partner in Portugal, the bureaucratic friction may be worth enduring.
• Planning to build a business serving the Brazilian or Lusophone market — Portuguese language and cultural proximity to Brazil matter for specific business models.
• Already holding NHR status — If you secured NHR before the January 2024 cutoff, Portugal's tax regime (20% flat, 0% on foreign income for 10 years) is actually more generous than Spain's Beckham Law.

Can You Apply to Both?

Technically, nothing prevents you from gathering documentation for both applications. Some applicants prepare parallel applications and submit to whichever consulate offers an earlier appointment. However, once you accept a visa from one country and enter on it, you are committing to that country's tax residency and legal framework. You cannot hold active residence permits in both countries simultaneously.

A practical strategy: if you are uncertain, start with Spain. The faster processing means you can be settled within weeks rather than months. If Portugal's citizenship timeline is your priority, you can always relocate later -- though the clock on residency years resets when you move.

Make Your Decision with Confidence

Both Spain and Portugal offer genuine pathways to living and working legally in Europe. The right choice depends on your income level, tax situation, citizenship goals, and personal preferences. Whatever you decide, working with a lawyer who specializes in your chosen country's immigration system will save you time and prevent costly mistakes.