Nearly 55,000 Poles currently live in Spain, according to the latest data from Spain's Statista registry. The Iberian Peninsula last year was the second most popular destination for our compatriots to move to, as confirmed by the data of the most recent “Removals 2024” report compiled by Clicktrans. Poles are also increasingly willing to set up their businesses in this part of Europe.
Our compatriots are not only eager to invest in real estate on the Iberian Peninsula, but are also moving there permanently. This is confirmed by the data of the most recent report “Moving 2024” Clicktrans, which shows that Spain last year became the second most popular country (just behind Germany) to which Poles were most likely to move. The Iberian Peninsula's share of moving orders increased by 4.5 percentage points, thus reaching 15.4 percent. More than 54,800 Poles now live on the Iberian Peninsula, according to data for 2024 collected by the Spanish registry Statista. Most of the Polish population is settled on the coasts and in large cities.
The number of Spanish properties bought by Poles has been growing steadily for five years, and there are no signs of reversing this trend. What is modifying is the profile of the buyer. While a dozen or so years ago our clients were mainly people around retirement age, for the past few years Polish investors have been people in the prime of life. Often they are very professionally active people with pre-school or school-age children, who are not at all disturbed by their plans to change their country of residence
— Tatiana Pękala, owner of Dream Property Marbella, a Polish real estate agency in Spain, explains.
Spanish cities are renowned for their friendliness toward expats. This year's Forbes ranking singled out 25 such cities, with several Spanish cities in the top spot. On the podium were: Valencia, Málaga and Alicante, while Madrid ranked seventh.
In search of sunshine, life satisfaction and... security
Poles appreciate Spain's freedom and joie de vivre. They are also attracted to the Iberian Peninsula by its guaranteed sunny weather for 320 days a year, a relatively short flight from Poland, attractive prices and a wide range of properties. More and more people are making the decision to move because of security and greater distance from Russia, in case the conflict escalates across Poland's eastern border. It's also a result of the post-pandemic job market, where many people perform their duties fully remotely, and those with experience in running their own businesses see no obstacles to setting up a business in Spain.
Polish business in Spain - it's possible
Immigrants are increasingly setting up their businesses on the Iberian Peninsula. Entrepreneurship of our compatriots is also supported by Spanish regulations, which are similar to Polish ones. Since joining the European Union, Polish citizens do not have to apply for a residence or business permit. The only obligation is to obtain an NIE, or tax identification number (Spanish: Número de Identificación de Extranjero), before starting a business, and to register the business of a natural person. Importantly, registration with the Spanish tax authority also applies to those who plan to work as a freelancer. Poles are also eager to set up limited liability companies, which are sometimes a better option for tax reasons. Our compatriots are already in now have a business presence in almost all sectors of the Spanish economy.
Dream Property Marbella is a Polish real estate agency on the Costa del Sol in Spain. For more than 15 years, it has been helping to fulfill the dream of living the vacation life, in a place that offers almost 320 sunny days a year. Dream Property Marbella guarantees excellent knowledge of the local market and access to a wide portfolio of top quality apartments and houses in Marbella, Puerto Banus, Estepona, Benahavis, Sotogrande and many other attractive locations. A team of experienced advisors supports clients in selecting the best offer for their investment, guides them comprehensively through the buying and selling process and assists them in optimal property management.
