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Comparison · PORTUGAL ↔ SPAIN
Head-to-head dossier
Portugal vs SpainGolden Visa, side by side — 2026
The short verdict
Portugal. Portugal edges Spain on the headline metrics most applicants weight first (entry price, speed, path to citizenship and physical presence).
The full picture is below — by the numbers, then category by category.
By the numbers
Headline metrics
| Metric | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 🇪🇸 Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Reformed | Closed |
| Headline minimum | €250,000 | €500,000 |
| Processing time | 12–24 months | 20 days |
| Path to citizenship | 5 years | 10 years |
| Physical presence | 7 days/year | 1 day/year |
| Tax overlay | NHR 2.0 (IFICI) for qualifying activities | Beckham Law (24% flat for 6 years) |
| Best for | Founders, remote professionals and HNW families who want an EU passport without relocating immediately. | If you already hold the visa, this is your renewal guide. If you're new — read the Digital Nomad and Non-Lucrative sections. |
Category by category
- 01
Lower entry price
Edge: PortugalPortugal starts at €250,000, Spain at €500,000.
- 02
Faster path to citizenship
Edge: PortugalPortugal: 5 years. Spain: 10 years.
- 03
Lower physical-presence burden
Edge: SpainPortugal requires 7 days/year. Spain requires 1 day/year.
Who each one is for
🇵🇹 Portugal — best for
Founders, remote professionals and HNW families who want an EU passport without relocating immediately.
- +Path to EU citizenship in 5 years
- +Only ~7 days/year physical presence
- +Family included (spouse, children, dependent parents)
- +Visa-free travel to 191 countries after naturalization
🇪🇸 Spain — best for
If you already hold the visa, this is your renewal guide. If you're new — read the Digital Nomad and Non-Lucrative sections.
- +Existing holders keep their residency and renewals
- +Digital Nomad Visa fills much of the gap for active professionals
- +Beckham Law tax regime still available
The honest tradeoffs
🇵🇹 Portugal — working against you
- − Real estate route closed in October 2023
- − AIMA backlogs have stretched processing to 18+ months
- − Portuguese language A2 required for citizenship
🇪🇸 Spain — working against you
- − Program permanently closed to new investors
- − Citizenship still requires 10 years (2 for Latin Americans)
- − Bureaucracy heavier than Portugal or Greece
Read the full dossier