Portugal vs Croatia: which digital nomad visa fits you?
Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa and Croatia Temporary Stay of Digital Nomads, side by side. Every figure comes from the official government source, with the date we last checked it.
- Income
- Croatia is lower
- Family
- Portugal: Not confirmed · Croatia: Yes
- Renewable
- Portugal: Yes · Croatia: Not confirmed
| PortugalD8 Digital Nomad Visa | CroatiaTemporary Stay of Digital Nomads | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income | ≈ $4,128/mo€3,680 / month | ≈ $4,063/mo€3,622.50 / month |
| Official rule | €3,680 per month: average monthly income over the last 3 months of at least 4× Portugal's guaranteed minimum monthly wage (RMMG €920 in 2026) | €3,622.50 per month (2.5× average net salary), or savings of €43,470 for a 12-month stay / €65,205 for 18 months |
| Stay | Residence permit valid 2 years | Up to 18 months |
| Renewable | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Family | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Fees | Not confirmed | At a consulate: €55.74 temporary stay + €93.00 D visa (or €41.14 biometric card). At a police station in Croatia: €46.45 temporary stay + €9.29 admin + €31.85 biometric card |
| Official source | aima.gov.pt ↗Verified, checked Oct 18, 2026 | mup.gov.hr ↗Verified, checked Oct 21, 2026 |
USD figures are approximate (FX Oct 20, 2026). The official currency figure is what the authority applies.
Key differences
- The income bars are close: Portugal asks for €3,680 a month (4× the minimum wage, averaged over your last 3 months); Croatia asks for €3,622.50 a month (2.5× the average net salary).
- Croatia also accepts savings instead of income: €43,470 for a 12-month stay or €65,205 for 18 months. Portugal’s rule is an income test only.
- Portugal’s D8 leads to a 2-year AIMA residence permit, renewable for 3-year periods. Croatia grants up to 18 months; you can only extend if your first grant was shorter, and a new application is possible 6 months after your stay ends.
- Croatia adds 10% of the average net salary per family member, and family join through family reunification. Our Portugal source doesn’t state family rules.
Quick answers
Which needs less income, Portugal or Croatia?
Croatia Temporary Stay of Digital Nomads has the lower bar: about $4,063 a month, versus about $4,128 for Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa (a gap of roughly $65 a month at exchange rates of Oct 20, 2026). Croatia Temporary Stay of Digital Nomads: €3,622.50 per month (2.5× average net salary), or savings of €43,470 for a 12-month stay / €65,205 for 18 months (mup.gov.hr, checked Oct 21, 2026). Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa: €3,680 per month: average monthly income over the last 3 months of at least 4× Portugal's guaranteed minimum monthly wage (RMMG €920 in 2026) (aima.gov.pt, checked Oct 18, 2026).
Which lets you stay longer, Portugal or Croatia?
Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa: After arriving on the D8 visa, you apply to AIMA for a residence permit. It is valid for 2 years and can be renewed for successive 3-year periods. Croatia Temporary Stay of Digital Nomads: An extension is only possible if your first grant was shorter than 18 months. Apply no later than 60 days before it expires; the extension is for up to 6 months. A new application is possible 6 months after your stay ends.
Can I bring my family on the Portugal or Croatia visa?
Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa: not confirmed on the official page we checked. Croatia Temporary Stay of Digital Nomads: yes, family members can be included.
How much do the Portugal and Croatia visas cost?
Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa: not confirmed on the official source. Croatia Temporary Stay of Digital Nomads: At a consulate: €55.74 temporary stay + €93.00 D visa (or €41.14 biometric card). At a police station in Croatia: €46.45 temporary stay + €9.29 admin + €31.85 biometric card.
Full official notes
Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa
Rule from the MNE visa portal (4× RMMG, 3-month average, from employment or self-employment for entities outside Portugal; proof of tax residence required). The MNE portal blocks automated access, so its text was read via a search-engine copy of the official page. RMMG €920 from 1 Jan 2026 per Decreto-Lei 139/2025 (DGERT). Residence permit from AIMA valid 2 years, renewable for successive 3-year periods.
Sources: vistos.mne.gov.pt · aima.gov.pt · diariodarepublica.pt · dgert.gov.pt
Croatia Temporary Stay of Digital Nomads
+10% of the average net salary per additional family member. Close family can join via family reunification once your stay is granted. Clean criminal record (legalised) required. Cannot work for Croatian employers. If your first grant was shorter than 18 months, apply to extend no later than 60 days before it expires (extension up to 6 months).
Sources: mup.gov.hr
Not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the issuing authority before you apply. How we verify
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