Both Spain and Portugal offer Golden Visa programs with benefits such as visa-free travel within the EU, residency for families, and potential paths to citizenship. Here’s a quick comparison:

• Visa-free travel within the Schengen Zone.
• Right to live, work, and study in the respective country.
• Residency eligibility for immediate family.
• A back-up residency plan for economic or political stability.
• Simple application renewal process.

01 Application Processing Time Spain: Faster processing (~20 business days after submission). Portugal: Takes longer (12-18 months).

02 Timeline to Citizenship Spain: Requires 10 years, except for Latin Americans (5 years). Portugal: Faster citizenship path (5 years).

03 Residency Rules Spain: Minimal stay requirement (one visit per year). Portugal: Short stay requirement (7-14 days every 2 years).

04 Family Eligibility Portugal: Allows older dependent parents (55+ or 66+ based on financial dependency).

05 Investment Requirements Spain: Higher minimum (750,000 for real estate, ending in April 2025). Portugal: More diverse investment options with lower minimums.

06 Tax Advantages Spain: 24% income tax applies on earnings. Portugal: NHR tax regime offers better incentives.

07 Citizenship Ease Spain: Requires stronger residency ties and a longer period. Portugal: More accessible and faster.

Choose Spain if you want a faster processing time and low stay requirements. Choose Portugal if you prefer a quicker citizenship path, lower investment, and better tax benefits.

Portugal’s Golden Visa is the superior option for long-term European residency with a direct path to citizenship. However, Spain’s program is faster to obtain and still allows real estate investment until April 2025.