Portugal vs Spain residency
Portugal and Spain are the two Iberian countries people compare when they move south, and their residence routes have diverged. Spain closed its golden visa to new applications in April 2025, while Portugal keeps one without real estate. Both offer residence for passive income and remote work, and both have tax regimes for qualifying newcomers.
Updated
The table compares the investor route, the passive income and remote work thresholds for 2026, permit terms, long-term residence, the newcomer tax regimes and citizenship.
| Criterion |  Portugal |  Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Golden visa | Open without real estate: EUR 500,000 in funds, research or a company with 5 jobs, or EUR 250,000 in culture | Closed to new applications since 2025-04-03; existing permits keep their validity |
| Passive income route | D7: EUR 920 a month for the main applicant in 2026; +50% per extra adult; +30% per child | Non-lucrative residence: 400% of the IPREM a month (EUR 2,400 in 2026), plus 100% per family member |
| Remote work route | D8: EUR 3,680 a month in 2026, average of the last 3 months | Digital nomad: 200% of the monthly minimum wage (EUR 2,442 per payment, or EUR 2,849 a month over 12 months); +75% of it for the first family member, +25% for each further one |
| First permit | Temporary residence permit: 2 years, then renewals of 3 years | Digital nomad: visa up to 1 year, in-country permit up to 3 years, renewals of 2 years; non-lucrative: first permit 1 year |
| Long-term residence | Permanent residence after 5 years of temporary residence, with basic Portuguese (A2) | After 5 years of continuous legal residence; absences up to 6 months at a time and 10 months in total |
| Tax regime for newcomers | IFICI: 20% for 10 years on qualifying Portuguese work income | Beckham regime: 24% up to EUR 600,000 of employment income, 47% above; arrival year plus 5 tax years |
| Citizenship by residence | 10 years; 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals (applications filed from 2026-05-19) | 10 years; 2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal |
| Banking partners in our network | 0 | 0 |
- Golden visa: Diário da República, Lei n.º 56/2023 (Portugal); BOE, Ley Orgánica 1/2025 (Spain). As of 2026-10-25.
- Passive income route: Portuguese consular visa portal, means of subsistence (Portugal); Ministry of Inclusion, information sheet 6, and SEPE, IPREM 2026 (Spain). As of 2026-10-25.
- Remote work route: Portuguese consular visa portal, residence visa documents (Portugal); Ministry of Inclusion, UGE FAQ, and SEPE, SMI 2026 (Spain). As of 2026-10-25.
- First permit: AIMA, general rules (Portugal); BOE, Ley 14/2013, and Ministry of Inclusion, information sheet 6 (Spain). As of 2026-10-25.
- Long-term residence: AIMA, permanent residence permit (Portugal); Ministry of Inclusion, information sheet 49 (Spain). As of 2026-10-25.
- Tax regime for newcomers: Portal das Finanças, IFICI (Portugal); BOE, Ley 35/2006 (Spain). As of 2026-10-25.
- Citizenship by residence: Diário da República, Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 (Portugal); BOE, Civil Code, articles 22 and 23 (Spain). As of 2026-10-25.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Approval always rests with the institution or authority.
Our take
Portugal suits people with modest passive income, since the D7 threshold is tied to the minimum wage, investors who want a golden visa without property, and qualifying professionals who can use IFICI.
Spain suits remote workers and employees who can use the digital nomad permit or the Beckham regime, and people with enough passive income for the non-lucrative route; nationals of Ibero-American countries can apply for citizenship after two years. Where you spend most of the year decides your tax residence, so plan the move with advice in both countries.
Questions
Does Spain still have a golden visa?
No. Spain closed its investor residence to new applications on 3 April 2025 under Ley Orgánica 1/2025; existing permits keep their validity. Portugal still has a golden visa, but real estate no longer qualifies.
How much passive income do I need in Portugal or Spain?
Portugal's D7 asks for EUR 920 a month for the main applicant in 2026, the national minimum wage. Spain's non-lucrative residence asks for 400% of the IPREM, EUR 2,400 a month, plus 100% for each family member.
What is the difference between the Beckham regime and IFICI?
Spain's Beckham regime taxes qualifying employment income at 24% up to EUR 600,000 and 47% above, for the arrival year plus five tax years. Portugal's IFICI applies 20% for ten years to qualifying Portuguese work income. Each has its own eligibility conditions.
How long until citizenship in Portugal or Spain?
Portugal requires 10 years of residence, or 7 for EU and CPLP nationals, for applications filed from 19 May 2026. Spain requires 10 years, or 2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal.
The jurisdictions in this comparison
- Portugal residence permits: golden visa, D7 and D8Portuguese residence for non-EU nationals runs mainly through three routes: the golden visa for qualifying non-property investments, the D7 visa for passive income of at least EUR 920 a month in 2026, and the D8 visa for remote income of at least EUR 3,680. Approval rests with the consulates and AIMA.Learn more
- Spain residency: digital nomad, non-lucrative and the Beckham regimeSpain residency for non-EU nationals now runs through presence-based permits: the digital nomad permit for remote workers earning at least 200% of the minimum wage, non-lucrative residence for people living on savings, and entrepreneur residence. The investor golden visa has accepted no new applications since 3 April 2025.Learn more
Related guides
Five Mistakes People Make When Setting Up a Cyprus Company
Cyprus is a good jurisdiction, and the mistakes happen in the setup. The five covered here involve payment rails, presence, accounting, foreign parent companies and residency.
Golden Visa 2026: Where the Wealthy Are Moving Next
Residency and citizenship rules can change overnight. Portugal has closed most property routes, the UAE and the Caribbean are stepping in, and the best programs never last forever. Where the wealthy are moving in 2026, and why timing decides your options.
The Price of Waiting: Why Delaying Your Wealth Restructuring Could Cost Millions
Waiting is not neutral. Banking relationships take months to build, residency programs close, and compliance tightens every year. The real cost of delaying your restructuring, and why the worst time to need a new bank is the day you lose the old one.
Not sure which one fits?
Tell us about your situation and we recommend the jurisdiction and structure that suit it.