Spain vs Portugal: which digital nomad visa fits you?
Spain Digital Nomad Visa and Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa, side by side. Every figure comes from the official government source, with the date we last checked it.
- Income
- Spain is lower
- Family
- Spain: Yes · Portugal: Not confirmed
- Renewable
- Spain: Not confirmed · Portugal: Yes
| SpainDigital Nomad Visa | PortugalD8 Digital Nomad Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income | ≈ $3,196/mo€2,849 / month | ≈ $4,128/mo€3,680 / month |
| Official rule | €2,849 gross per month (€34,188/yr): 200% of Spain's 2026 minimum wage (SMI €17,094/yr). Some consulates calculate it on the 14-payment monthly SMI (€1,221), which gives €2,442/month, so plan for the higher figure | €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) |
| Stay | Consular visa valid 1 year; you can then apply in Spain for a residence permit (from 60 days before the visa expires) | Residence permit valid 2 years |
| Renewable | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Family | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Fees | €73.26 for initial residence-permit applications filed in Spain (paid online); consular visa fees vary by nationality | Not confirmed |
| Official source | inclusion.gob.es ↗Verified, checked Oct 16, 2026 | aima.gov.pt ↗Verified, checked Oct 18, 2026 |
USD figures are approximate (FX Oct 20, 2026). The official currency figure is what the authority applies.
Key differences
- Both thresholds are indexed to the national minimum wage: Spain uses 200% of the SMI, Portugal 4× the RMMG averaged over your last 3 months, so both move when the minimum wage changes.
- Spain lets freelancers bill Spanish clients for up to 20% of their work; Portugal’s rule asks for income from employers or clients outside Portugal.
- Spain issues a 1-year visa, then a residence permit you apply for inside Spain; Portugal’s D8 leads to a 2-year AIMA residence permit, renewable for 3-year periods.
- Spain requires Social Security registration right after approval. Portugal asks for proof of tax residence.
Quick answers
Which needs less income, Spain or Portugal?
Spain Digital Nomad Visa has the lower bar: about $3,196 a month, versus about $4,128 for Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa (a gap of roughly $932 a month at exchange rates of Oct 20, 2026). Spain Digital Nomad Visa: €2,849 gross per month (€34,188/yr): 200% of Spain's 2026 minimum wage (SMI €17,094/yr). Some consulates calculate it on the 14-payment monthly SMI (€1,221), which gives €2,442/month, so plan for the higher figure (inclusion.gob.es, checked Oct 16, 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, Spain or Portugal?
Spain Digital Nomad Visa: The consular visa is valid for 1 year. From 60 days before it expires, you can apply from inside Spain for a residence permit (initial in-Spain applications cost €73.26, paid online). Register with Spanish Social Security right after approval: skipping it can get the permit revoked. 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.
Can I bring my family on the Spain or Portugal visa?
Spain Digital Nomad Visa: yes, family members can be included. Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa: not confirmed on the official page we checked.
How much do the Spain and Portugal visas cost?
Spain Digital Nomad Visa: €73.26 for initial residence-permit applications filed in Spain (paid online); consular visa fees vary by nationality. Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa: not confirmed on the official source.
Full official notes
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Family: +75% of SMI for the first family member (about €1,068/month on the annual basis) and +25% (about €356/month) for each additional one. Degree or 3 years' experience; employer active 1+ year. Freelancers qualify with a 3+ month contract with a foreign company and may bill Spanish clients for up to 20% of their work. Spanish Social Security registration is mandatory right after approval (self-employed must join RETA), and skipping it can get the permit revoked. Amounts are gross, before taxes.
Sources: inclusion.gob.es · inclusion.gob.es · boe.es · sepe.es
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
Not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the issuing authority before you apply. How we verify
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