Krakow's Main Market Square at night with the Cloth Hall lit up
Guide Poland → Spain · moving · checked 1 Nov 2026

Moving from Poland to Spain

A plain checklist: what to sort before you go, and your first weeks in Spain.

Photo: Pexels
First, the good news

No visa, inside the EU

Poland and Spain are both in the EU, so you can live and work in Spain without a visa or work permit. A valid ID card or passport is enough.

The key step: if you stay longer than 3 months, register as an EU citizen (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la UE) within 3 months of arriving. You get an NIE number, needed for work, a bank account and contracts. Also register at the town hall (empadronamiento).

Before you go

Your checklist in Poland

  1. A valid ID card or passport.
  2. Documents in one folder: birth and marriage certificates, diplomas, work references, driving licence.
  3. Money for the start: a deposit (1 month's rent by law; the landlord may ask for an extra guarantee of at most 2 months' rent), the first rent and a few weeks of living costs.
  4. Tell your Polish bank you are moving and keep the app working, so you can pay bills at home.
  5. Set up Polish TV before you go, so it works from day one (how to watch Polish TV in Spain).
A cosy living room in the evening with a TV and warm shelf lights
Day one in Spain

Polish TV, ready from day one

The first weeks abroad are the hardest. The news from home, your series and the kids' cartoons in Polish make the new flat feel like home faster.

How to watch Polish TV in Spain →
Advertisement: almost 400 Polish channels live with VOLTIX →
Photo: Pexels
Your first weeks

Your checklist in Spain

  1. EU registration and your NIE number: apply within 3 months of arriving if you stay longer.
  2. Register at the town hall (empadronamiento).
  3. Social security number (Seguridad Social): needed to work.
  4. Bank account: with your ID or passport and your NIE.
  5. TV fee: Spain has none.
  6. Driving: a Polish licence is valid in Spain.
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Do I need a visa to work in Spain?

No. As an EU citizen you can live and work in Spain without a visa or work permit.

What is an NIE?

Your foreigner's identity number in Spain. You need it for work, a bank account, a rental contract and taxes.

How big is a rent deposit in Spain?

1 month's rent by law; the landlord may ask for an extra guarantee of at most 2 months' rent.

Can I watch Polish TV in Spain?

Yes. Our Polish TV in Spain guide shows every option, from the free TVP Polonia channel to all-in-one subscriptions.

More for Polish people in Spain

Guides for you

Polish TV in SpainEvery Polish channel, live, and how the official apps compare.The Polish community in SpainHow many, where people live, Polish Mass and schools, and where people meet online.Moving from Poland to SpainA plain checklist: before you go and your first weeks.
Sources