Spain vs Portugal Digital Nomad Visa: 2025 Information – Model Slux

Spain vs Portugal Digital Nomad Visa: which one is best for you? Each international locations have develop into prime decisions for distant staff in recent times, providing a mixture of sunny climate, inexpensive dwelling, and vibrant nomad communities. With devoted visa choices now obtainable in each Spain and Portugal, freelancers, startup founders, and distant workers are questioning which vacation spot gives the higher long-term setup.

This information breaks down the Spain and Portugal Digital Nomad Visas facet by facet, from eligibility and taxes to life-style perks and residency pathways, so you may make an knowledgeable resolution to your 2025 transfer.

(Article Up to date Might 2025)

Digital Nomad Visa Comparability: Spain vs Portugal

Each Spain and Portugal have launched digital nomad visas to draw distant staff from outdoors the EU. Whereas the visas are comparable in objective, every has distinctive options that may considerably have an effect on your expertise, from revenue thresholds and tax obligations to long-term residency choices.

Under is a fast Spain vs Portugal Digital Nomad Visa comparability as of 2025:

This overview offers a snapshot of how the 2 packages examine structurally, however as we’ll discover within the following sections, the true variations seem in taxation, life-style, and authorized complexities.

Spain vs Portugal Digital Nomad Visa Necessities

When selecting between Spain and Portugal to your digital nomad base, understanding the eligibility standards is essential. Whereas each international locations welcome distant staff, documentation and necessities differ in ways in which might influence your utility technique.

Requirement	Spain Digital Nomad Visa	Portugal Digital Nomad Visa
Minimal Earnings (2025)	€2,763/month for primary applicant + €1,036 for first member of the family + €345 every extra member	€3,480/month for primary applicant + €435 per grownup dependant (accomplice or baby) + €261 per minor dependent
Work Eligibility	Distant work for non-Spanish corporations. Max 20% revenue from Spanish purchasers.	Distant work for non-Portuguese corporations. No Portuguese revenue allowed.
Required Paperwork	– Proof of revenue for the final 3 months. – Titles associated to the exercise or earlier expertise. – Employment or freelance contract. The contract should be 3+ months previous, and the employer firm will need to have been lively for at the very least 12 months. – Proof of fine standing of the employment firm. – Felony background verify. – Spanish personal medical insurance.	– Proof of revenue for the final 3 months – Employment or freelance contract – Felony background verify – Legitimate journey insurance coverage (public or personal) – Proof of lodging in Portugal
Utility Choices	You may apply from Spain or from your own home nation.	You could apply out of your nation of authorized residence through the Portuguese consulate.
Processing Time	Roughly 20 working days from submission (Spain-based purposes.	60–90 days (varies by consulate).

Key Variations Between the Spain and Portugal Digital Nomad Visas

• Portugal’s revenue threshold is larger than Spain’s, which can restrict eligibility for some distant staff.
• Spain gives extra flexibility for freelancers by permitting restricted Spanish-sourced revenue.
• Utility processing is quicker in Spain if submitted whereas already within the nation.
• Portugal requires a confirmed lease or lodging on the time of utility, which can be tough earlier than arrival.

For each visas, lacking paperwork or failing to fulfill revenue thresholds may cause delays or rejections.

Need to know should you qualify? Our Spain Digital Nomad Visa and Portugal Digital Nomad Visa service pages have the total eligibility guidelines plus professional suggestions.

Spain vs Portugal Digital Nomad Visa Tax Implications

When deciding between Spain and Portugal to your digital nomad base, tax obligations and on a regular basis dwelling prices can have a serious influence in your life-style and financial savings. Right here’s how they examine when it comes to tax coverage and affordability, supplying you with a transparent digital nomad visa comparability from a monetary standpoint.

Tax Regimes for Digital Nomads

Spain – Beckham Regulation (Particular Expat Tax Regime)

• Eligible digital nomads can decide into the Beckham Regulation, which permits them to pay a flat 24% tax on Spanish-sourced revenue as much as €600,000/yr for five–6 years.
• International revenue (like dividends or rental revenue) shouldn’t be taxed in Spain underneath this regime.
• Ineligible revenue (e.g., over €600,000 or Spanish rental income) could also be taxed at commonplace progressive charges (as much as 47%).
• Should apply inside 6 months of registering as a Spanish resident.

Portugal – NHR/IFICI (New Regime since 2024)

• Portugal’s Non-Routine Residency (NHR) regime led to 2024 and has since been changed by IFICI, which not gives main tax exemptions for passive revenue.
• Digital nomads now pay commonplace Portuguese tax charges (14.5%–48%) on worldwide revenue, together with international pensions and dividends.
• Some skilled revenue (from “excessive value-added actions”) should profit from decrease flat tax charges underneath transitional guidelines.

Tax Abstract

Nation	Particular Regime	Key Advantages	Period
Spain	Beckham Regulation	24% flat tax on Spanish revenue, no tax on international revenue	5–6 years
Portugal	IFICI (NHR 2.0)	Not tax-exempt; common tax guidelines apply	10 years

Price of Residing Comparability: Spain vs Portugal

Right here’s a common breakdown of typical month-to-month prices for a single digital nomad:

Expense Sort	Spain (Barcelona/Madrid)	Portugal (Lisbon/Porto)
Hire (1 Bed room metropolis heart)	€900 – €1,600	€1,000 – €1,400
Coworking area	€150 – €250	€120 – €200
Groceries	€250 – €350	€200 – €300
Public transport	€20 – €60	€30 – €50
Life-style (gyms, cafes, and many others.)	€300 – €500	€250 – €400

Total, Portugal tends to be barely extra inexpensive, particularly in secondary cities like Porto or Coimbra. Nonetheless, Spain gives a broader infrastructure for distant staff, notably in bigger city hubs.

Many digital nomads make the error of selecting a vacation spot based mostly on life-style alone, solely to find later they’re overpaying taxes or lacking out on authorized benefits.

Our worldwide authorized group helps you consider your distinctive revenue construction, optimize for native tax advantages, and make an knowledgeable alternative based mostly in your priorities.

Life-style & Digital Nomad Communities

Each Spain and Portugal provide vibrant existence and lively digital nomad scenes. The vibe, tempo, and infrastructure can differ fairly a bit between the international locations, relying on the town you select. Right here’s how they stack up throughout common hubs.

Lisbon

Portugal’s capital is a top-tier digital nomad vacation spot. With scenic viewpoints, dependable public transport, and high-speed web, it blends custom with tech startup vitality. Town gives dozens of co-working areas, and plenty of cafes double as workspaces.

Porto

Quieter and extra inexpensive than Lisbon, Porto is good for creatives and distant staff preferring a slower tempo. The expat scene is smaller however rising, and the town boasts sturdy cultural attraction.

Portugal is extraordinarily foreigner-friendly. English is extensively spoken, particularly in Lisbon and the Algarve. There’s a powerful presence of nomads from the US, UK, and Germany. It’s good for many who take pleasure in a slower-paced, relaxed life-style. A few of Portugal’s highlights embrace surf, wine, and walkable streets.

Barcelona

One in all Europe’s digital nomad capitals, Barcelona gives beachside dwelling, top-tier coworking areas, quick web, and a buzzing worldwide scene. Nice for networking and assembly different professionals.

Madrid

The Spanish capital is barely extra formal than Barcelona however nonetheless gives a powerful digital infrastructure and loads of cultural perks. Glorious transport, infinite tapas bars, and fashionable flats entice professionals and distant staff alike.

Valencia/Málaga

Smaller cities like Valencia and Málaga have gotten distant work havens due to decrease prices and a hotter local weather.

The expat neighborhood in Spain is giant, various, and lively. English is much less extensively spoken outdoors of main cities, however it’s enhancing. Spain is ideal for expats who need to take pleasure in vigorous, social, late nights whereas experiencing deep cultural traditions.

Co-Working & Connectivity Snapshot

Metropolis	Coworking Price (avg/month)	Avg Web Velocity	Neighborhood Vibe
Lisbon	€150–€250	150–200 Mbps	Chill, collaborative
Porto	€120–€200	100–150 Mbps	Inventive, small-scale
Barcelona	€200–€300	200+ Mbps	Dynamic, worldwide
Madrid	€200–€280	200+ Mbps	Skilled, busy

Which is best for you?

• Select Portugal for a calmer life-style and affordability.
• Select Spain for a fast-paced expertise with stronger infrastructure {and professional} networking.

Portugal vs Spain Digital Nomad Visa Course of: How Lengthy Does It Take

When deciding between the Spain and Portugal digital nomad visas, the appliance course of and timeline could be a main deciding issue, particularly should you’re aiming to relocate shortly.

Class	Portugal	Spain
The place to Apply	Apply at Portuguese consulate in your house nation. As soon as accredited, you’re granted a 4-month entry visa. Subsequent, enter Portugal and attend AIMA (immigration workplace) appointment to get your residence allow.	Choice 1: Apply from Spanish consulate Choice 2: Apply from inside Spain (on vacationer visa)
Processing Time	Consulate Stage: about 2–3 months Residence Allow Stage: about 2–6 months to get an appointment, relying on demand and AIMA backlog.	In-Nation Utility: Sometimes processed inside 20 working days (about 1 month). Consulate Route: Can take 1–3 months, relying on consulate effectivity.
Whole Time to Full Approval	Round 4–9 months, relying on how early you e-book the AIMA appointment.	As quick as 1 month if making use of from inside Spain.
Benefits	You may arrive and start life in Portugal whereas ready to your residence allow.	– Can apply from residence nation or in Spain. – Quicker path should you’re already in Spain.
Disadvantages	– Should apply from your own home nation. – Lengthy AIMA delays can result in uncertainty if not managed early.	In-country purposes require all paperwork to be prepared on day one, a problem with out authorized help.

Lengthy-Time period Residency and Citizenship

For digital nomads contemplating an extended keep, and even full relocation, understanding the paths to residency and citizenship is important. Spain and Portugal each provide routes to everlasting residency and citizenship, however the timelines and necessities differ.

Class	Portugal	Spain
Visa Period	2-year allow, renewable for 3 extra years	3 years if making use of in-country; 1 yr if from overseas (renewable)
Everlasting Residency Eligibility	After 5 years of authorized residence	After 5 years of authorized residence
Citizenship Eligibility	After 5 years of authorized residence	After 10 years (common rule); 2 years for choose international locations, 1 yr for descendants of Spaniards
Key Situations for Citizenship	– Will need to have maintained authorized residence with out lengthy absences. – Display integration (A2-level Portuguese language take a look at required). – Clear prison file and proof of revenue/ties to Portugal.	– Will need to have maintained steady authorized residence with out lengthy absences. – Clear prison file and confirmed integration. – Spanish language take a look at and cultural data examination (DELE A2 and CCSE).

Remaining Verdict: Spain vs Portugal Digital Nomad Visa?

So, the query stays: Spain or Portugal? Each provide glorious digital nomad visa choices, however the only option is dependent upon your objectives, life-style preferences, and monetary setup.

Select Portugal if:

• You need sooner entry to everlasting residency and EU citizenship (5 years).
• Your revenue comes from passive sources (like investments or pensions), which Portugal traditionally favored, although new tax guidelines ought to be reviewed.
• You favor a decrease value of dwelling in cities like Lisbon or Porto.
• You worth a relaxed tempo of life and a powerful, close-knit expat neighborhood.
• You’re coming from a non-EU nation and desire a clear path to settle long-term.

Select Spain if:

• You’re a distant worker or freelancer trying to profit from the Beckham Regulation, which gives diminished tax charges for as much as 6 years.
• You’re drawn to bigger, vibrant cities like Barcelona or Madrid with extra worldwide enterprise presence and sooner journey connections.
• You prioritize life-style, meals, and cultural entry, even when the citizenship timeline is longer.
• You’re initially from Latin America, the Philippines, or Andorra and qualify for Spain’s diminished 2-year citizenship rule.

In case your prime precedence is long-term settlement in Europe, Portugal possible wins. However should you’re looking for a dynamic life-style and short-term tax advantages, Spain could also be your higher match.

Earlier than making a transfer, get readability on how every nation’s visa necessities and tax system apply to your distinctive state of affairs. Fill out the shape under to get your free digital nomad visa session.

Steadily Requested Questions About Spain vs Portugal Digital Nomad Visa

Which is best for digital nomads, Spain or Portugal?

It is dependent upon your objectives. Portugal’s digital nomad visa is nice for long-term settlement, with faster entry to everlasting residency and citizenship. Spain’s digital nomad visa gives decrease taxes for distant staff underneath the Beckham Regulation and higher entry to giant cities and coworking networks.

What are the revenue necessities for every visa?

For Portugal, you’ll want to point out a month-to-month revenue of at the very least €3,480 (4x Portugal’s minimal wage in 2025).
For Spain, the minimal is round €2,763/month (200% of Spain’s month-to-month minimal wage). Proof of distant work, financial institution statements, and contracts are required for each.

What’s the tax distinction between Spain and Portugal?

Spain gives the Beckham Regulation: flat 24% revenue tax on earnings as much as €600,000/yr for six years.
Portugal’s digital nomad visa not contains the previous NHR tax perks, that means most world revenue is now taxed underneath common Portuguese charges (14.5%–48%). Nonetheless, tax treaty protections could apply to stop double taxation.

Able to Select Your Good Digital Nomad Vacation spot?

Spain and Portugal each provide enticing digital nomad visa paths. The best alternative is dependent upon your life-style, revenue construction, and long-term objectives. Spain could also be perfect for many who need decrease taxes and entry to vibrant cities like Barcelona or Madrid. Portugal fits distant staff searching for a slower tempo, a neater path to citizenship, and a powerful worldwide neighborhood in cities like Lisbon or Porto.

Regardless of the place you land, shifting overseas comes with authorized and tax complexities, particularly when revenue, residency, and timelines are concerned.

Lexidy’s immigration and tax groups assist distant staff and freelancers relocate easily to Spain or Portugal. From visa purposes to tax structuring and long-term residency planning, we’ll information you each step of the best way.

Whether or not you’re prepared to maneuver ahead or simply exploring your choices, you’ll discover all the pieces you want on our Spain Digital Nomad Visa or Portugal Digital Nomad Visa service web page — or just fill out the shape under to talk with our group.