Spain or Portugal for digital nomads: DNV and D8 compared

Spain's digital nomad visa and Portugal's D8: the main differences

The differences lie in income, documents and time frames. D8 is the everyday name for the Portuguese residence visa for remote work: the official pages describe it as a visa for professional activity carried out remotely. Below are the conditions according to official sources in both countries as of 2 October 2026.

The decision times in the table are the statutory ones; actual times differ in both countries, and we found no official statistics.

How much you need to earn for the digital nomad visa and the D8

In Spain the amount is tied to the SMI: 200% for the applicant, 75% added for the first family member, 25% for each further one [2]. The amounts are calculated before tax and contributions are deducted [2]. Details of the calculation: income for the DNV in 2026.

In Portugal the D8 page says you must prove an average monthly income over the last three months of at least four minimum monthly wages (RMMG, remuneração mensal mínima garantida) [5]. The page on means of subsistence gives the RMMG for 2026 as €920 [6]. These two pages give €3,680. The D8 page does not say whether this amount is gross or net, while the general page on means of subsistence treats the RMMG as net, after social security deductions. For families the same portal gives a general means-of-subsistence scale: first adult 100%, each further adult 50%, children under 18 and dependants 30% [6]. The portal does not explain whether it applies to the D8 as a supplement on top of the four RMMG.

Documents and procedure: the UGE in Spain and AIMA in Portugal

In Spain the applicant proves qualifications, income, that the company has been trading for at least a year, a relationship with it of at least three months, a clean criminal record, insurance and social security [1][2]. Everything is submitted electronically to the UGE, while the visa application is accepted by the consulate [1][3].

In Portugal, for the D8, the portal lists a contract or employer’s declaration or a service contract, proof of income for three months and a tax residence document; on top of the general list for residence visas you add a criminal record certificate from your country of nationality or any country where you have lived for more than a year, and travel insurance covering medical expenses [5]. After the residence visa you must apply to AIMA in person by appointment (according to the AIMA page, an online platform for visa holders is being introduced): passport, visa, a declaration from the foreign employer or client and a declaration of your place of residence with proof of accommodation [7][10].

How long the digital nomad visa and the D8 are granted for

The Spanish visa is valid for up to a year, the permit for up to three years, with a two-year renewal [1]. Portugal has a temporary stay visa of up to a year and a residence visa for four months with two entries, after which you apply for the permit [7]. The Portuguese permit for this category is valid for two years and is renewed for periods of three years [10]. The route to permanent residence and citizenship is covered in the section on long-term residence. More on the Spanish time frames: how many years the DNV is issued for.

Family, long-term residence, citizenship and tax: comparison table

After income and documents, the choice of country usually comes down to family, the time to a permanent status and tax. The Portuguese data below comes only from vistos.mne.gov.pt and aima.gov.pt. Where those portals give no answer, the table says so.

For a family, the key difference is the sequence. In Spain a spouse and children apply at the same time as the applicant or later, and their permit lets them work[4]. In Portugal family reunification starts with an application to AIMA by someone who already holds a residence permit. Once it is approved, relatives apply for a visa at the consulate[14]. The visa fee is paid by spouses and parents; children are exempt[14]. The AIMA pages do not say whether you must live in Portugal for a set period before applying for reunification: check this with a Portuguese lawyer. How a family move works in Spain: family on the digital nomad visa.

Long-term residence and citizenship after the digital nomad visa and the D8

In Spain the permanent status (larga duración-UE) is granted after five years of legal, continuous residence[15]. Absences do not break the period if none lasts more than six months in a row and together they do not exceed ten months over the five years. For work-related trips the overall limit is 18 months[15]. Besides the residence period you need sufficient regular means for yourself and your family and health insurance[15]. Article 176 sets no language requirement. How to count the five years and absences: permanent residence in Spain: counting five years.

In Portugal AIMA grants residência permanente to people who have held a temporary residence permit for at least five years. You must prove basic Portuguese, means of subsistence, compliance with tax and social security obligations, and no sentence of more than one year in prison over the last five years[11]. There is a second route, long-term resident status (ERLD): five years of legal, uninterrupted residence immediately before applying, stable means for yourself and your family, health insurance, compliance with tax and social security obligations and, where applicable, basic Portuguese[12].

Spanish citizenship by residence takes 10 years for Russians. Nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal need two years. In every case residence must be legal, continuous and immediately before the application[16]. Portuguese citizenship is governed by a separate law: its conditions are not on vistos.mne.gov.pt or aima.gov.pt, and we do not give them here. More on the Spanish route: how many years to Spanish citizenship.

Which visa suits whom: typical situations

We do not judge which country is better. Below are situations where the official texts of the two countries diverge.

• No degree and less than three years of experience. Spain requires one of the two[1]; the D8 document list does not mention qualifications[5].
• Income between €2,849 and €3,680 a month. You meet the Spanish threshold for a single applicant[2], but not the Portuguese threshold of four RMMG on the figures[5][6]. The Spanish amount is gross, while Portugal's means-of-subsistence page refers to the minimum wage net[2][6].
• Your client has been active for less than a year, or your contract is less than three months old. Spain requires both periods[1]. The D8 list sets no such periods: it asks for a contract or employer's declaration and three months of income[5].
• Your family moves at the same time as you. In Spain relatives apply together with the applicant[4]; in Portugal you get your residence permit first, then AIMA considers reunification[14].
• You want to avoid in-person visits after the visa. The UGE permit is processed electronically[1]; in Portugal, after the visa, you apply to AIMA in person by appointment[10].
• You are employed and thinking about tax. In Spain an employed teleworker on this visa can opt for the article 93 LIRPF regime if they were not Spanish tax resident in the five previous years[17]. Portuguese tax regimes are not described on the visa portals. More on the regime: the Beckham law for digital nomads.
• You plan to apply for citizenship. In Spain it takes 10 years for Russians[16]; for Portugal these portals give no conditions.

What the comparison leaves out

Taxes are compared here only in broad terms, in the comparison table. Tax residence and any “digital nomad” regime depend on your income and length of stay, and the visa and taxes are checked separately: for Spain, see tax residence and the residence permit. We do not assess which country suits you better: that depends on your family, your source of income and your plans. We checked Portugal’s conditions against the pages vistos.mne.gov.pt and aima.gov.pt; they may be updated, and you should check them for your case with a Portuguese lawyer. If you are leaning towards Spain, start with the DNV route card and the service page; the degree requirements are covered in the article do you need a degree for the DNV.

Frequently asked questions

Related articles

ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 20.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.