Head to head
Portugal D2 freelancer visa vs Spain Self-employed permit
Two business routes side by side: money, stay, family, fees and tax, from the official sources. The official authority decides every application.
Key differences
- First stayThe first stay is 2 yrs on Portugal D2 freelancer visa and 1 yr on Spain Self-employed permit.
- RenewalRenewable on both.
- Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence on both.
- CitizenshipAfter 10 years of residence on both.
- FamilySpouse can work on both.
- Government feesThe first government fee listed is €133 ≈ $150 for Portugal D2 freelancer visa and €90 ≈ $100 for Spain Self-employed permit; the table lists every fee.
- Tax residencePortugal: more than 183 days (any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax year). Spain: more than 183 days (calendar year).
Side by side
Portugal D2 freelancer visa | Spain Self-employed permit | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | 1D2 freelancer visa | 2Self-employed permit |
| Type | 1D2 freelancer visa Business / Startup | 2Self-employed permit Business / Startup |
| Money needed | 1D2 freelancer visa Needs income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030 | 2Self-employed permit |
| First stay | 1D2 freelancer visa 2 yrs | 2Self-employed permit 1 yr |
| Renewal | 1D2 freelancer visa Renewable DetailsValid two years from issue, then renewable in successive three-year periods while subsistence, housing and tax and social-security conditions are still met. File renewal at least 30 days before expiry. | 2Self-employed permit Renewable DetailsThe initial authorization lasts one year; renewal is requested in the two months before expiry. Boletín Oficial del EstadoMinistry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration |
| Spouse can work | 1D2 freelancer visa Can work | 2Self-employed permit Can work |
| Government fees | 1D2 freelancer visa €133 ≈ $150 · €114 ≈ $130 · +1 more Details
| 2Self-employed permit €90 ≈ $100 Details
|
| Permanent residence | 1D2 freelancer visa After 5 years of residence DetailsPermanent residence needs five years on a temporary residence authorization, no serious recent conviction, means of subsistence, housing and basic Portuguese. | 2Self-employed permit After 5 years of residence DetailsLong-term residence needs five years of continuous legal residence; absences of up to 6 consecutive months (10 in total, or 18 for work) do not break continuity. |
| Citizenship | 1D2 freelancer visa After 10 years of residence DetailsNaturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence on any residence title or visa (7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU states), plus Portuguese language and culture, and means of subsistence. | 2Self-employed permit After 10 years of residence DetailsNationality needs 10 years of legal, continuous residence immediately before applying (2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal), plus good conduct and integration. |
| Processing | 1D2 freelancer visa Up to 60 days DetailsThe consulate must decide a residence visa within 60 days; after arrival AIMA must decide the residence permit within 90 days, extendable by 30 in exceptional cases. | 2Self-employed permit Official timeline DetailsThe decision is due within three months (silence means refusal); the consulate then decides the visa within one month. Boletín Oficial del EstadoMinistry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration |
| Where to apply | 1D2 freelancer visa From abroad DetailsApply for a residence visa at the Portuguese consulate for your place of residence, then book AIMA in Portugal for the residence permit. | 2Self-employed permit From abroad DetailsFile in person at the Spanish consulate abroad; the visa follows approval. Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and MigrationBoletín Oficial del Estado |
| Employer needed | 1D2 freelancer visa No | 2Self-employed permit No |
| Tax residence test | 1D2 freelancer visa More than 183 days (any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax year) | 2Self-employed permit More than 183 days (calendar year) |
| Foreign-source income | 1D2 freelancer visa Resident individuals are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 12.5% up to 48% on the 2026 brackets set by the 2026 State Budget (Lei 73-A/2025: first bracket up to EUR 8,342, (≈ $9,320) top rate above EUR 86,634 (≈ $96,800)), plus an additional solidarity rate of 2.5% on taxable income above EUR 80,000 (≈ $89,400) and 5% above EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000); non-residents are taxed on Portuguese-source income. | 2Self-employed permit Residents are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income. |
| Official source | 1D2 freelancer visa | 2Self-employed permit |
| Checked against official sources | 1D2 freelancer visa | 2Self-employed permit First checked |
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Official sources
Portugal D2 freelancer visa
- Residence authorization for independent professional activity with residence visa, Art. 89(1) · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
- AIMA work index: residence authorizations for employment, self-employment and highly qualified activity · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
- AIMA table of fees for residence and stay procedures (Portaria 307/2023 as consolidated, in force from 1 March 2026) · Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) · checked 2026-10-11
- National visa fees · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portuguese visa portal · checked 2026-10-12
- AIMA family reunification, Article 98(2) in Portugal · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
- Lei n.º 61/2025 of 22 October (amends Law 23/2007, Arts. 98-105) · Diário da República · checked 2026-10-10
- Lei n.º 23/2007 (Foreigners Law, REPSAE), consolidated text current to Lei n.º 62/2026 of 10 September 2026 · Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated legislation) · checked 2026-10-10
- Means of subsistence for long-stay visas (2026 RMMG EUR920) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (vistos.mne.gov.pt) · checked 2026-10-12
- 2026 guaranteed minimum monthly wage (RMMG) EUR920, Decreto-Lei 139/2025 · DGERT · checked 2026-10-10
- Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 of 18 May (amends the Nationality Law, Law 37/81) · Diário da República / Assembleia da República · checked 2026-10-11
Spain Self-employed permit
- Sheet 14 - Initial authorization of temporary residence and self-employment · Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration · checked 2026-10-10
- Real Decreto 1155/2024, Regulation of Ley Orgánica 4/2000: consolidated text (in force 20 May 2025) · Boletín Oficial del Estado · checked 2026-10-10
- Orden AUC/891/2024 setting the fees for processing visas · Official State Gazette (BOE) · checked 2026-10-11
- Sheet 8 - Temporary residence authorization by family reunification · Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (Spain) · checked 2026-10-10
- Código Civil, Art. 22 (Spanish nationality by residence) · Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado · checked 2026-10-11