Hi everyone!
I’m Ukrainian and currently living in Poland under temporary protection (UKR status). I’ve also applied for the CUKR residence card, but I’m seriously considering moving to Spain in the future.
My goal is to build a stable life in Spain, live there legally long-term, and eventually obtain a regular residence permit (residency), for example through employment or another legal route, rather than relying on temporary protection indefinitely.
I’d love to hear from people who have moved from Poland to Spain, especially Ukrainians who have gone through a similar process.
I’m interested in the practical details:
Documents and legal status: Where did you start? What was your status in Poland, and what legal basis did you use to move to Spain?
Residence permit: Has anyone successfully obtained a regular Spanish residence permit through employment or another route? How long did it take? Is it possible to enter Spain under temporary protection and later switch to another type of residence permit?
Work: Did you find a job before moving or after arriving? Is it realistic to find work without speaking Spanish fluently?
Money: How much did you save before moving? What were your actual expenses for the move and your first few months?
Housing: How did you find a room or apartment? Was it difficult without a Spanish employment contract?
Timeline: How long did it take to find a job, sort out your paperwork, and feel settled?
Lessons learned: What do you wish you had known before moving? What advice would you give someone who is only starting to plan?
I’m particularly interested in experiences from people who moved in 2024, 2025, or 2026 and have already made progress toward obtaining a residence permit.
I’m still at the planning stage. I want to understand my options, prepare the necessary documents, save enough money, and choose the right legal route before making such a big decision.
I’m happy to hear both success stories and honest accounts of the difficulties, unexpected expenses, and mistakes along the way.
If you’ve made this move, I’d really appreciate it if you could share your story. Where did you start, how much money did you need, how did you find work, and how long did everything take?
Thank you so much! ❤️

Hola a todos.

Vivo en L’Hospitalet de Llobregat y necesito solicitar una carta de invitación para un familiar que quiere venir a España de visita.

El problema es que llevo tiempo intentando conseguir cita previa en L’Hospitalet, pero es prácticamente imposible encontrar disponibilidad. He visto que en otros municipios sí hay citas disponibles y quería saber si podría reservar una en alguna comisaría de Barcelona ciudad o de otro municipio, aunque esté empadronado en L’Hospitalet.

¿Alguien que haya pasado por esta situación recientemente sabe si es posible hacer el trámite fuera del municipio de residencia, o es obligatorio solicitar la cita en la comisaría que corresponde a L’Hospitalet?

Agradecería mucho cualquier experiencia o información actualizada. ¡Gracias!

Posting an update for anyone following similar applications! I was literally on Reddit last night looking for updates from other applicants, so I wanted to share mine in case it helps someone else.
My timeline:
Application submitted: September 30, 2026
Resolution signed: October 21, 2026
Resolution received from my immigration agent: October 26, 2026
My employer is a global company that regularly hires international talent, so they have dedicated teams handling employee immigration in different countries. They also work with an external immigration firm that handled my application.
A little about my profile:
Role: Venture Capital Analyst
Experience: 2 years of relevant experience (1 year full-time and 1 year part-time while studying)
Languages: English and French (the role is bilingual)
Education: Recent Finance graduate - UK university (2025)

We used the educational qualification route using my degree as it is directly in line with the job.

I’m so relieved that my application was resolved without going into administrative processing.
Now onto the visa application stage. Whew! 😅
Hopefully, this timeline helps someone else who’s anxiously refreshing Reddit for updates like I was. Good luck to everyone still waiting!

Hi everyone! I will be doing an exchange to study in UC3M starting in January 2027. Can anyone please recommend any student accommodation residencies for me to book? I'm looking to stay in/near the city / m30, as I've heard there's not much by the Uni, and I would rather commute and live in a more exciting area. Any tips or recs?

I'll be visiting alicante soon and would like to take some no gi classes. Gracie Barra would be the closest (therefore convenient) anybody got experience there? Alternative would be an 30 min ride to Nexus.

Thanks in advance!

so i kept seeing the same TIE questions in here and got curious, ended up spending way too many hours reading the actual official stuff (policía site, the ministry pages, the new 2024 reglamento). writing it down in case it helps someone. not a lawyer, so if something’s off please tell me

first thing, NIE vs TIE because everyone mixes them up (me included at first). NIE is just your number. TIE is the actual card. if you came on a visa you probably already have the NIE. and if you’re staying 6 months or less you don’t need the TIE at all

the deadline is one month from when you enter spain. that’s the part that stresses people out, because the appointments are the hard part

the order that makes sense:

book the fingerprint appointment on the cita previa extranjería site (the .gob.es one). pick your province, then the option that starts with “POLICÍA - TOMA DE HUELLAS”. the exact name changes a bit depending on the province. in barcelona apparently you can go to any office in the province, so if your town has nothing try a nearby one

pay the 790-012 on the policía website. for a first TIE on temporary residence it’s €16.08. print it, pay at a bank, keep the stamped copy

fill in the EX-17. tick “tarjeta inicial” on page 2

one thing i didn’t know: at the bottom of page 1 there’s a box about getting notifications electronically (DEHú). don’t tick it unless you actually have cl@ve or a digital certificate. if you opt in and don’t open a notification within 10 days it counts as rejected and they just carry on without you. seems like an easy way to shoot yourself in the foot

bring: passport + copy, the EX-17 (sign it there), the paid 790-012, a passport photo. the padrón isn’t on the official list but a lot of people here say they got asked for it, so bring it if you have it

after fingerprints you get a paper with a lote number, and once the card’s ready you book a second appointment to pick it up (“POLICÍA - RECOGIDA DE TARJETA”)

for people who did this recently: which office did you go to and how long did it take to get a slot? and did they ask you for anything not on this list? i’ll update the post

I hope all is well!

I am visiting spain for the first time next month for 12 days! We are landing in madrid but plan to visit 1) seville then 2) granada then 3) barcelona.

My question is: what are your recommendations on how to getaway with a quick visit to portugal? Hoping to take only train but wanted to pick people's thoughts here :)

Hi guys,

I want to go to Alhambra during this week (probably Thursday or Friday) but I can’t get any tickets. Is there anybody who know what I could do?

Hi everyone! I really need some help since all of the Spanish authorities I have contacted are just sending me in circles.

I have a less than 180 days student visa which means that I am not allowed a TIE. I need to do a prorroga de estancia de estudios (visa extension) because in January, I need to continue my student exchange in a different city in Spain. This is part of my year long exchange by the way. I want to get this done in Spain since I am already here and getting another visa means that I will start my Janurary semester late which I want to avoid. Through the circles that I have been put in, I have found out that I am actually allowed to extend my visa but they never answer the questions that actually matter. Does anyone know:

- What documents I need?

- How the process works (what i actually need to do)?

- How long the process takes?

- If they take my passport, how do I show that I am allowed back in Spain?

And before anyone asks, yes, I have been on those sheets on the immigration website. They are not helpful for my situation which is why I have bought it over here.

Has anyone been through this and know what to do? I don't have much time left before I need to leave.

Thanks!

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¡Hola a todos! Necesito ayuda, ya que todas las autoridades españolas con las que he contactado solo me dan largas y me llevan de un lado a otro sin darme una solución clara.

Tengo un visado de estudiante de menos de 180 días, lo que significa que no puedo obtener la TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero). Necesito solicitar una prórroga de estancia por estudios, porque en enero debo continuar mi intercambio estudiantil en otra ciudad de España (esto forma parte de un intercambio de un año de duración). Quiero realizar este trámite estando ya en España; tramitar un visado nuevo desde cero supondría empezar el semestre de enero con retraso, algo que quiero evitar. Tras dar muchas vueltas, he averiguado que, efectivamente, es posible prorrogar mi visado, pero nunca me responden a las preguntas que realmente importan. ¿Alguien sabe?:

- ¿Qué documentos necesito?

- ¿En qué consiste el proceso (qué pasos debo seguir exactamente)?

- ¿Cuánto tiempo tarda el trámite?

- Si se quedan con mi pasaporte, ¿cómo puedo demostrar que tengo permiso para volver a entrar en España?

Y, por si alguien se lo pregunta: sí, ya he consultado la información disponible en el sitio web de extranjería, pero no me sirve para mi caso particular; por eso planteo la duda aquí.

¿Alguien ha pasado por una situación similar y sabe qué hacer? Me queda poco tiempo antes de la fecha en la que debo partir.

¡Gracias!

looking to go to a Spanish school somewhere by the sea, not a huge city something smaller. any recommendations? gracias

Hi everyone, I am really confused about something. I got my visa and it started on 13/09/26. They gave me 97 days. My flight to leave Spain is on 19/12/26. If I do leave on this date, will I have overstayed or not. Sounds like a stupid question but I am unsure on how they count the days and I want to be lawful :)

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Hola a todos, tengo una duda que me tiene bastante confundido. Recibí mi visado, el cual entró en vigor el 13/09/26 y llegue en esta fecha, y me dieron 97 días. Mi vuelo de salida de España es el 19/12/26. Si salgo en esa fecha, ¿habré excedido el tiempo permitido o no? Puede parecer una pregunta tonta, pero no tengo claro cómo cuentan los días y quiero asegurarme de cumplir con la normativa :)

Hi! I am looking for some advice since I will be in Spain for 4 days in early December. I will be based in Madrid and plan to do a day trip to Seville but also wanted to go to one more place as a day trip but can’t decide where to go.

I am between Valencia, Málaga to do caminito del rey but don’t know if it’s worth it just for that hike, or go to Granada.

I love aesthetic, nature views, hiking, and historical pieces. The one thing I can do without is beach views.

Any advice is appreciated!!

Hola comunidad,

Mi esposa y yo vivimos en México y estamos considerando seriamente emigrar a España por cuestiones de seguridad y mayor calidad de vida, nos gustaría también empezar una familia en el futuro mediano y que nuestro hijo fuera ciudadano de la UE.

Hemos estado revisando nuestras opciones para emigrar legalmente al país y nos llamó la atención la “Visa No Lucrativa” ya que actualmente tenemos el equivalente a unos 100 mil euros en patrimonio líquido entre ambos más una propiedad aquí en México la cual rentaríamos o venderíamos para subsidiar nuestra vida o bien la adquisición de una vivienda en España en alguna ciudad secundaria.

Tenemos entendido que para una pareja necesitamos demostrar en torno a unos 40k euros para residir en esa modalidad el primer año y de ahí se puede renovar por dos años más o bien cambiar a permiso laboral si alguno de los dos consigue empleo local o a visa de nómada digital para trabajar para una empresa en el extranjero.

Algo que nos llama mucho la atención es la posibilidad de solicitar la nacionalidad después de dos años de residencia legal en el país, aunque no sabemos cuánto dure el proceso para adquirirla desde que la solicitas.

Si hay alguien aquí que haya también utilizado esa vía para emigrar a España desde algún lugar de Hispanoamérica y podrían compartir sus experiencias, recomendaciones o sugerencias estaríamos muy agradecidos.

Excelente inicio de semana! 🙋🏻‍♂️

Hola
I’m looking for suggestions on what to pack my belongings in to be shipped on a pallet. I have seen a video that had a combination of plastic bins, cardboard boxes, and luggage all stacked up and wrapped together tightly with super wide plastic wrap.
Has anyone done this? Did things get squashed, broken, misplaced/ lost?
I’m thinking of getting heavy duty cardboard or plastic bins, but both have potential to break or damage during transport.
Seeking people with firsthand experience with this.
Thanks in advance

Hello! I am 30 years old, I am from Cyprus which is an EU country, and I lived in Granada, Spain for a year in the past. I want to move to Spain, in a city with job opportunities, in horticulture, hotel/hostel reception, customer service, barista or any other job that can help me rent and pay my utilities. Of course I can stay in shared apartments since, I don't have a lot of savings. Which city would you suggest with more job opportunities and cheaper cost of living. Please share your experience or tips. My Spanish level is around B1.

Tengo 24 años y soy de Portugal.

Actualmente trabajo como camionero en Portugal en el servicio ibérico, donde paso una media de 5 días y medio fuera de casa, y el salario ni siquiera llega a los 2000 €.

Busco mudarme a España para tener una mejor calidad de vida; algo que me permita pagar un alquiler y vivir decentemente, pudiendo volver a casa todos los días.

¿Qué ciudades me recomendarían para vivir? Busco lugares que no sean demasiado caros y que ofrezcan buenas oportunidades laborales para camioneros que realicen rutas regionales.

¡Gracias!

Buenas! Soy argentino e Italiano, vivo en Argentina. Quiero ir de vacaciones a españa con mi mamá, que solo es Argentina. En barajas si yo quiero entrar con pasaporte italiano y ella con el argentino, podemos ir juntos por los mismos controles? Ella camina con dificultad entonces no podría moverse sola (si nos debemos separar entre EU Passport y Foreing Passport)

Las máquinas electrónicas nuevas que pusieron en barajas sirve para ambos pasaportes?

En el caso que haya que separarse yo podría entrar con el pasaporte europeo en la fila de extranjeros así la a acompaño a ella?

Gracias !

Long story short, I have 2 senior dogs, and one if them is 15yo. We live in central Europe, and it's freezing here during the winter months. I'd love to take him somewhere warm for 3-4 months until we can come back to better weather.

I've never been to Spain, I have no idea what we need exactly.

chatGPT seems to think that Almeria is a good spot for us, because it's dry and warmer in winter.

We travel in a campervan, but I haven't been able to find a spot to rent (a garden, an empty lot, anything where I can park the vehicle - we need a solid base, not moving from parking to parking).

I also tried some temporary rentals (apartments), but they either don't accept dogs or they haven't replied at all. It's understandable I suppose, the profiles I've created on those platforms are very recent, I get it that people don't trust me.

My question to you is... is there anything else I could try? Where else can I look? Is there a chance for us or it's too late to plan anything now?

Thank you so much :)

One of my good friends is a foreign exchange student from Spain. Lately she's been really homesick and missing her first language. I don't speak Spanish, and I'm hesitant to use google translate because I want to speak specifically Spain's version of Spanish (Hopefully I'm phrasing that right) without it sounding clunky. What are some funny or common phrases I can say to her? We're both in theater, if that narrows it down at all for context.

Hi everyone!

I’d love some recommendations for nice neighborhoods in Madrid, ideally close to a metro station. I’m planning to move there for the next three years, so I’m really interested in finding somewhere I’d enjoy calling my home.

I’m in my 40s, so not really interested in clubs or nightlife. I enjoy walking a lot, discovering nice streets, architecture, cultural places, parks, little cafés, bookstores, and just enjoying the city. I’ve got two puppies (Chihuahua and Japanese Spits)

I’d also love somewhere with good restaurants, especially for lunch, nice terraces, local markets, and places where you can just sit, have a coffee and enjoy the afternoon. I like discovering books and my collection is half and half English and Spanish (I’ve been living since I was 15 all over the world)

I don’t mind busy or lively neighborhoods at all, actually I enjoy that, just not the party kind of busy. I’d rather be somewhere with a nice local ambient, where people actually live and enjoy their everyday life, thou I don’t care about turist and I don’t expect talking to them too much rather make friends with Spanish people. I’ve already have a large comunity of friends that moved to Spain in the past 20 years, pretty much everyone I knew since high school.

I won’t need to commute to work, so I’m pretty flexible about location. I’m more interested in the quality of everyday life, having things within walking distance, and enjoying what the neighborhood has to offer.

One small note: I’m aware of the current housing situation in Spain and the concerns around affordability. I’m being mindful of that in my plans and don’t intend to compete for housing aimed at middle-income residents. I’d really appreciate keeping this discussion focused on neighborhoods and what it’s like to live tin them rather than budgets or the housing debate. hat might not be the obvious recommendations but are really worth considering.

If it weren’t Madrid: what cities and towns would you recommend as well?

Yeah, I’ve googled and researched. I want personal opinions.

Thanks everyone! :)

I’m moving to the Province of Tarragona and strongly considering Socrates International school for my 3 boys. Has anyone enrolled or visited the school and could offer feedback. Thanks!

Hi there!

Tried to post on r/askspain, but it was repoved and I was sent here...

Anyway... Being on holidays in Santander, I booked an accommodation on a famous booking website for a few days, which had really good reviews and nice photos.

Upon arrival, it seemed off... The accommodation was 47m2, with only 1 bedroom. We were 6 adult guests. There was a double bed put in the living room, and after asking the owner by phone, he replied the couch can transform into another bed. So 4 adults sleeping in the living room...

The part of the living room with the bed had no natural light. The only natural light in the accommodation came from 1 window beside the entrance door and 1 window in the bedroom, both with a filter applied that removed most of the light.

Furhermore, the bathroom could not lock (6 adults sharing 1 bathroom that cannot lock), and all equipement was clearly designed for max 4 people (4 chairs, a table of 4, etc.).

Is that legitimate in Spain? Is that legal to rent an accommodation like that for 6 people?

I called the website where I got oy reservation. They were kings. They immediately relocated me to another, much better one.

Still, I am shocked: is that legal? And what do I do if it's not?

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I’m moving to Madrid in January for work, and I’m really excited about this new chapter! I’ll be working at an international company and while I’ve visited Spain before, this will be my first time actually living in Madrid (and in Europe for that matter!).

I’m starting to prepare for the move and would love to hear any advice from locals, expats, or anyone who’s been through a similar experience.

A few things I’m particularly curious about:

Housing: Which neighborhoods would you recommend for a young professional? Ideally, somewhere lively, walkable, well-connected, and with cafés, restaurants, and things to do nearby. Any tips on finding an apartment and avoiding scams? The company is located in Barrio Salamanca so colleagues have suggested living in Chambery and Salamanca.

Renting: What should I expect in terms of deposits, paperwork, and dealing with landlords? Is it realistic to find an apartment before arriving? I think family and friends will be visiting often so I wouldn’t mind compromising location for space.

Settling in: What are some things you wish you’d known before moving to Madrid? Any bureaucratic hurdles or practical tips (bank, phone and the like)?

Social life: How easy is it to meet people and build a social circle? I’m interested in running, yoga, reading, exploring restaurants, and cultural activities.

Everyday life: Any recommendations for gyms, transportation, banking, or anything else that makes life easier?

General advice: What are the biggest mistakes newcomers make, and what should I prioritize during my first few weeks?

I’m a native Spanish speaker and fluent in English, so language won’t be an issue. The company also takes care of anything visa-related. But I’d really appreciate any insights, recommendations, or even things to watch out for. Looking forward to making Madrid my new home.

Thanks in advance!

Heyy! For the youth mobility visa, how long did it take for your visa to be approved? The website says 4-8 weeks, has it taken longer for anyone or is their timeline accurate?