Portugal's D7 or Spain's Non-lucrative visa 2026: where is it easier to get a residence permit through passive income

What this is about: two visas for rentiers and retirees

Both the Portuguese D7 and Spanish non-lucrative visa were created for the same audience: people who can support themselves without working in the local market. A retiree with a steady pension, a rentier with rental income, an investor with dividends and interest, a business owner receiving profits from abroad. In both cases, the state essentially says the same thing: "Prove you have enough money to live, and live here, but don't take jobs from locals."

That is where the similarities end. Significant differences then emerge in the figures, approach to remote work, taxes, and the speed of the path to EU citizenship. These differences determine which country will suit you personally. For some, a low entry threshold is critical; for others, the ability to continue running an online business; for still others, predictable tax burden.

Let us note immediately a common advantage of both countries compared, for example, to island programs: both Portugal and Spain are full EU and Schengen area members. If you are considering remote work as your primary income, it makes sense to also look at Portugal's specialized Digital Nomad D8 visa, which we will discuss below.

Income threshold: 920 versus 2400 euros - a difference of nearly three times

The key figure that motivates many to read such comparisons is how much money needs to be demonstrated. Here the gap is enormous.

Portugal, D7. The threshold is tied to the country's minimum wage. The 2026 benchmark is approximately 870-920 euros per month for the primary applicant, meaning roughly 10,440-11,040 euros in annual passive income. This is the lowest threshold in the EU among similar programs.

Spain, NLV. The threshold is tied to the IPREM indicator (state income index) and equals 400% of it. With IPREM at approximately 600 euros per month, this yields roughly 2400 euros per month, or about 28,800 euros per year per person. The difference from Portugal is nearly three times.

These figures are approximate and indexed annually: both Portugal's minimum wage and Spain's IPREM are reviewed, so current values should be checked at the time of application. But the order of magnitude remains stable: entry to Portugal is noticeably cheaper. For a retiree with an average pension or a rentier with moderate income, D7 is often the only realistically achievable option between these two.

Family allowances: percentages versus fixed amounts

Rarely does anyone relocate alone, so it is important to understand how family income is calculated. The logic differs between the two countries.

Portugal (D7) calculates in percentages of the base amount:

• Primary applicant - 100% (minimum wage, ~920 euros/month);
• Spouse or adult dependent - additional +50%;
• Each minor child - additional +30%.

Spain (NLV) calculates in fixed amounts based on IPREM:

• Primary applicant - 400% IPREM (~2400 euros/month);
• Each additional family member - additional +100% IPREM (~600 euros/month).

Calculating for a family of two adults and one child: in Portugal, approximately 920 + 460 + 276 = around 1656 euros per month. In Spain - approximately 2400 + 600 + 600 = around 3600 euros per month. The gap persists and even widens for larger families. The conclusion is simple: the more dependents you have, the more attractive the Portuguese model looks in terms of entry. This is one of the factors that often outweighs all others for families with children.

Employment and remote work: key difference between D7 and NLV

This is perhaps the most underestimated and yet the most important comparison criterion. People focus on income threshold but forget to ask the main question: can I continue working?

Spain, NLV - no. The visa name speaks for itself: "no lucrativa" means "non-professional," "without extracting income from work." The visa directly prohibits any employment activity in Spain - neither working for a Spanish company, nor freelancing, nor - which is critical - remote work for a foreign employer from Spanish territory. In 2025-2026, consulates increasingly require strict proof that the applicant has ceased work activity.

Portugal, D7 - de facto yes. D7 is designed as a passive income visa, but in practice it does not prohibit the applicant from continuing remote work or freelancing and even combining this with local employment. The main condition is that the basic passive income (pension, rental, dividends) covers the required minimum.

This is why for those who want to live in Europe while continuing to work remotely, Portugal wins on this pair of visas almost every time. If remote work is your primary and sole income, it is more appropriate to obtain the specialized D8 visa for digital nomadsrather than D7.

Comparison table: criterion - Portugal D7 - Spain NLV

We will consolidate all key information into one table to keep the full picture in view. This is the framework; we discuss details for each point in neighboring sections.

The table reveals a pattern: Portugal is cheaper and more flexible on entry and lifestyle, Spain is stricter on income and work but offers an ultra-fast path to a passport for certain nationalities. Details follow.

Conditions and documents: what you actually need to gather

Despite the difference in figures, the basic set of requirements for both visas is similar - both countries want to see a solvent, law-abiding, insured applicant.

What is needed for Portugal D7:

• confirmed stable passive income from the threshold (bank statements, rental agreements, pension documents, dividend certificates);
• Savings in account as emergency fund (typically annual minimum amount);
• Housing in Portugal - rental agreement or property ownership;
• Medical insurance, criminal record certificate, application and forms.

Requirements for Spain's NLV:

• Confirmation of passive income from 400% IPREM for primary applicant and +100% for each family member;
• Evidence that income is passive and employment activity has ceased;
• Private medical insurance with Spanish coverage level without deductibles and copayments;
• Criminal record certificate with apostille, medical certificate, housing.

For applicants from Russia and other CIS countries, enhanced compliance applies in both countries: banks and consulates carefully examine source of funds. All documents must be legalized, translated by certified translator, and logically explain the origin of funds. This is work strictly within the law, without any workarounds.

Path to citizenship: 10 years and important exceptions;

For many final goal is not just residence permit but EU passport. Here both countries by 2026 reached common basic term but with different exceptions.

Portugal. Previously Portugal offered fastest EU path - 5 years. This changed: reform (Lei Organica 1/2026, effective May 19, 2026) increased general naturalization residency from 5 to 10 years for most. For CPLP country citizens (Portuguese-speaking community - Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and others) term is 7 years. Cannot count on "5 years" as given anymore; also requires basic language knowledge (A2 level).

Spain. Basic residency requirement - 10 years legal residence. But powerful exception exists: for Ibero-American country citizens, also Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and persons of Sephardic origin, term reduced to just 2 years. Important caveat: Spain generally does not recognize dual citizenship, so naturalization normally requires renunciation of previous passport.

Result: for most CIS applicants both countries now provide passport roughly in 10 years, and with Ibero-American connection Spain is unbeatable. Detailed route analysis we keep in guide on Portugal citizenship;.

Strengths and weaknesses of each visa;

We will reduce to balance of advantages and limitations, without marketing gloss.

Portugal D7 - strengths:

• Low income threshold (~920 euros/month) - accessible to pensioners and rentiers with moderate income;
• De facto permitted remote work and freelance;
• Mild family supplements (percentages, not fixed amounts);
• No wealth tax;
• EU and Schengen member state.

Portugal D7 - restrictions:

• Path to citizenship extended from 5 to 10 years (7 for CPLP);
• Progressive income tax up to 48%, favorable IFICI - with narrow conditions;
• High housing demand in Lisbon and Porto.

Spain NLV - strengths:

• Ultra-fast citizenship (2 years) for Ibero-Americans;
• Familiar, well-established procedure;
• EU and Schengen member, developed infrastructure and climate.

Spain NLV - restrictions:

• High income threshold (~2,400 EUR/month);
• Complete prohibition on any work, including remote work;
• Requirement to reside 183 days per year for renewal;
• Wealth tax and solidarity tax on large estates.

As evident, each visa has its own niche. There is no universal "better" - only "better for your situation."

Which visa suits whom: breakdown by profiles

To translate the comparison into practical terms, we will analyze typical applicant profiles and suggest a logical choice.

• Retiree with moderate pension. If your pension is around 1,000-1,500 EUR, you may not meet the Spanish threshold of 2,400 EUR, but the Portuguese one easily. Logical choice - Portugal D7.
• Remote worker / online entrepreneur. You need to continue working. NLV explicitly prohibits this. Choice - Portugal D7 (or relevant D8), but not Spanish NLV.
• Wealthy rentier with substantial assets. Wealth tax is decisive: with large global assets, Spain can be more expensive in taxes. Portugal without wealth tax is often more advantageous.
• Citizen of an Ibero-American country. If you have, for example, a Brazilian or Argentine passport, Spain grants citizenship in 2 years - this outweighs everything. The choice is obvious.
• Family with children. Portugal's mild income multipliers make D7 noticeably cheaper on aggregate income threshold.

If your profile does not fit clearly into one category - which is usually the case - it makes sense to calculate both scenarios in parallel, considering taxes and work plans. We maintain a comprehensive comparison of the two countries in our material. Portugal or Spain: which is better.

Common mistakes in selection and application

In practice, applicants are undermined not by rare edge cases, but by the same recurring mistakes. We list them so you can avoid them.

• Look only at income threshold. Portugal's low bar is tempting, but if your main income is remote work, the right to work matters more than the figure. Conversely, you may qualify for Spain by income but hit the work prohibition.
• Confuse NLV with digital nomad visa. These are different visas. Want to work online from Spain - you need the Spanish digital visa, not NLV.
• Underestimate Spain's wealth tax. For a wealthy applicant, this can negate all benefits. Tax calculation must be done before applying, not after moving.
• Assume Portugal still grants citizenship in 5 years. As of May 2026, it is 10 years (7 for CPLP). Planning must rely on current law.
• Poorly prepare source of funds. For CIS applicants, this is a frequent cause of delays. Money must be transparent and documentally explainable.

Main conclusion: choose a visa not by one attractive figure, but by the totality of income, work plans, family composition, and tax situation.

Residence permit validity, renewals, and presence in country;

First residence permit validity and renewal logic differ between the two visas, which affects how often you visit migration authorities.

Portugal, D7. First residence permit is issued for 2 years, then renewed for 3 years. After second renewal you hold status long-term and approach permanent residence and naturalization. There is no rigid "183 days" rule for D7, but actual country ties are important: path to citizenship counts actual residence, not status on paper.

Spain, NLV. More detailed scheme: first residence permit for 1 year, then two renewals for 2 years each (1 + 2 + 2 model). Spain expects actual residence from 2025 onwards for renewal - minimum 183 days per year. If you don't live in country most of year, renewal becomes questionable. This makes NLV less suitable for those wanting to "keep backup option" while spending much time elsewhere.

Upon entry to Spain, NLV holder obtains foreigner card (TIE) within month. In Portugal, resident card is issued following approval decision by AIMA migration service. Overall timeline for both routes leads to permanent residence roughly within 5 years of legal residence.

Taxes: rates, benefits, and wealth tax;

Tax aspect often outweighs income threshold difference, so it must be examined separately and in advance.

Portugal. Income tax is progressive, top rate up to 48%. Former favorable NHR regime closed to new applicants from 2024; replaced by IFICI regime (unofficially "NHR 2.0") - flat 20% rate on qualified Portuguese income and exemption of part of foreign income for 10 years, but with narrow conditions. Important for rentiers and pensioners: Portugal has no wealth tax.

Spain. Income tax is progressive, top rate exceeds 45% and varies by region. Additionally, wealth tax (impuesto sobre el patrimonio) applies to worldwide assets above regional thresholds, plus solidarity tax on large estates. For wealthy applicant with substantial assets this is significant factor against Spain.

Specific rates and thresholds change and depend heavily on region and your asset structure, so figures here are approximate - individual tax calculation is mandatory before country choice. More on Portuguese regime we cover in article on Portuguese tax regime (NHR and IFICI);.

Expert view: how to decide without mistakes

When a client asks me "D7 or NLV," I never answer immediately. I first ask three questions, and they resolve almost everything.

• Will you be working? If yes, even remotely a couple of hours a day, Spanish NLV is off the table - it is a direct breach of its conditions. Portugal remains.
• What is the size and structure of your assets? If assets are substantial, Spanish wealth tax and solidarity levy can cost more than all other savings combined.
• Do you have connections to the Ibero-American world? If yes - Spanish citizenship in 2 years outweighs any drawbacks.

For most CIS applicants, Portugal wins over Spain in this comparison due to its low entry threshold and flexible work arrangements. However, this is not a universal rule but a calculation tailored to each individual. And one more thing, to be : after the 2026 reform, the path to citizenship in both countries is now lengthy—approximately ten years. Therefore, the decision should be based not on emotional appeals of climate, but on cold figures: your income, taxes, and realistic life plans in the country.

Summary: Where it is easier to obtain residence permits based on passive income.

In one phrase: Portugal D7 is more flexible and cheaper to enter; Spanish NLV is stricter on income and work requirements but offers uniquely rapid citizenship for Ibero-Americans.

For a retiree with moderate pension income, remote workers, families with children, and wealthy individuals with substantial assets, Portugal's D7 is typically the better choice: lower threshold, softer family allowances, remote work permitted, no wealth tax. Spanish NLV becomes a sensible option when you have high stable passive income, are prepared to actually reside in the country at least 183 days per year and do not plan to work—or when you hold Ibero-American citizenship and prioritize obtaining a passport as quickly as possible.

Both countries are full EU and Schengen members, both lead to permanent residency in approximately 5 years and citizenship in approximately 10 years. Therefore, the final choice is always an individual calculation, not a general ranking. Current conditions and forms for Portugal should be verified on the official government services portal, and the complete overview of pathways can be found in our guide on Portugal's D7 visa. 6-7. [Content navigation elements] 8-34. [Table of contents and author information] gov.ptOver 8,000 families have already entrusted us with their new status. 36-45. [Consultation and FAQ section headers] Frequently Asked Questions.