Portugal Crypto Tax: Digital Nomad Guide 2025

Is crypto tax free in Portugal? 

Before 2023, crypto transactions were tax-free in Portugal. After 2023, the country introduced taxes on short-term capital gains. 

Here’s how profits on cryptocurrency are taxed in Portugal today: 

If you sell/dispose of crypto after less than 365 days: Short-term capital gains are subject to a 28% tax. 

If you sell/dispose of crypto after more than 365 days: Long-term capital gains are tax-free. 

These tax rates make Portugal one of the most crypto-friendly countries in the western world. The United States, Canada, Australia, and most other countries tax long-term capital gains on crypto.

When will I be taxed on my cryptocurrency in Portugal? 

To better understand how cryptocurrency is taxed in Portugal, let’s take a look at three different income categories and how cryptocurrency relates to each one. 

Category G: Category G refers to capital income. Income from staking or lending cryptocurrency falls into this category and is taxed at a flat rate of 28%. 

Category E: Category E refers to yields on capital — such as dividends and rent from properties. Profits from short-term cryptocurrency disposals fall into this category and are taxed at a flat rate of 28%. 

‍Category B: Category B refers to professional income from a self-employed worker. If you trade, mine, or earn cryptocurrency professionally, your income will be taxed between 14.5% to 53% depending on your total income for the year.

Will I be considered a trader in Portugal? 

If you’re considered a ‘trader’, your income from cryptocurrency transactions will be considered Category B taxable income. 

Here are a few factors that may be considered to determine whether your trading activity rises to the level of a professional: 

• Whether cryptocurrency is your main source of income 
• How frequently you are trading cryptocurrencies 
• How long you are holding your crypto-assets 
• How many trading platforms you are using 

If you’re not sure whether you’ll be considered a trader in Portugal, you should reach out to your tax professional.

What if I own a company that holds cryptocurrency in Portugal? 

Businesses that trade or mine cryptocurrency will be required to pay income tax on their profits. 

How can I move to Portugal? 

If you’re an EU citizen, you do not need a visa to reside in Portugal. However, you will need a registration certificate if you live in Portugal for longer than 30 days. 

If you’re a non-EU citizen, you can gain Portuguese residence through a Golden Visa. This program allows you to gain Portuguese citizenship after 5 years with a minimum qualifying investment of €250,000 towards supporting artistic production or preservation of national heritage. This is one of the lowest thresholds in Europe for a Golden Visa!

What is the Portugal Non-Habitual Residence Program? 

If you wish to move to Portugal, you can benefit from the Portugal Non-Habitual Residence (NHR) Program. This program is available for EU citizens and those who’ve moved to Portugal using the Golden Visa. 

This program offers the following benefits for digital nomads: 

• Special tax treatment on earnings for 10 years
• Almost all foreign income is considered tax-free  
• 20% tax rate on Portuguese-sourced income 
• No wealth tax 

To qualify for the NHR program, you must reside in Portugal for at least 183 days in the year and own/rent property in Portugal. The program is not available for taxpayers who’ve resided in Portugal within the last 5 years. 

Do I still have to pay taxes in my home country if I move to Portugal? 

The United States and Eritrea are the only two countries that tax citizens who live abroad. 

It’s important to note that American citizens receive a tax exemption for income earned abroad to protect against double taxation. For the 2025 tax year, expats can exclude $130,000 worth of income earned abroad.

American citizens can also claim a Foreign Tax Credit, which allows you to deduct taxes paid to foreign governments. 

What other EU countries are crypto tax friendly? 

Malta and Germany are two other EU countries that are considered crypto tax havens. 

Malta has no long-term capital gains tax on cryptocurrency. However, your cryptocurrency may be taxed as income if you’re considered a ‘professional trader’. 

Germany taxes short-term capital gains and cryptocurrency income, but there is no tax for cryptocurrency disposed of after a year or more of holding. 

What other crypto tax havens are there? 

Interested in relocating to a crypto tax havens outside the EU? At this time, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Bermuda do not charge capital gains tax for individual investors.

In conclusion

Need help filing your cryptocurrency taxes? Try CoinLedger — the platform trusted by more than 500,000 investors in Portugal and across the globe. CoinLedger allows you to automatically import your transactions from hundreds of wallets and exchanges and generate a complete tax report in minutes.

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