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Compare jurisdictions, side by side.

Pick up to 4 countries and see residency, company, banking, family, and risk notes line up. No prices, no marketing packages - just the working notes.

 PL flagPoland

Europe

ES flagSpain

Europe

IT flagItaly

Europe

OverviewPoland is a large EU economy with structured routes for skilled workers, founders, and remote professionals - and a growing role as a regional hub for Eastern European operations. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Polish partners for filings.Spain offers structured EU residency routes for individuals, families, and entrepreneurs, including the digital nomad visa introduced under the Startups Law. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Spanish partners for filings.Italy offers EU residency routes for self-employed, entrepreneurs, retirees, and recently a digital nomad / remote worker route. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Italian partners for filings and tax planning.
Best for
  • Founders
  • Skilled workers
  • EU access
  • Cost-effective hub
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • EU access
  • Cost of living
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • EU access
  • Long-term residency
CurrencyPLNEUREUR
LanguagePolishSpanishItalian
Time zoneUTC+1UTC+1UTC+1
EU memberYesYesYes
SchengenYesYesYes
Residency

Polish residency routes:

  • Blue Card - high-skilled employees
  • Temporary residence via employment
  • Self-employment / entrepreneur routes
  • Family reunification
  • EU citizen-derivative routes

Permanent residence typically after 5 years.

Spanish residency routes:

  • Non-Lucrative Visa - passive income, no employment in Spain
  • Digital Nomad Visa - remote workers and self-employed (Startups Law)
  • Self-Employed Visa
  • Entrepreneur Visa
  • EU citizen-derivative routes

The Golden Visa has been phased out for real estate purchases.

Italian residency routes:

  • Elective Residency Visa - passive income, no employment in Italy
  • Self-employment visa (within quota)
  • Entrepreneur visa
  • Investor visa
  • Digital nomad / remote worker - for qualified professionals

Flat-tax regime (Article 24-bis) and impatriate regime may apply.

Company setup

Sp. z o.o. (limited liability) is the standard private entity. Online formation via S24 is possible; otherwise notary registration. Tax registration, VAT, and ZUS (social contributions) follow. CIT and the new estonian-style lump-sum CIT regime may apply.

SL (Sociedad Limitada) is the standard private company. Registration involves NIE / NIF, notary, mercantile registry, and tax registration. Spanish tax residency triggers worldwide income reporting; the Beckham Law (special tax regime) may apply to eligible relocated workers.

SRL (Limited Liability Company) and SRL Semplificata are the standard structures. Italian tax residency triggers worldwide reporting; the flat-tax regime for new residents (article 24-bis) and the impatriate regime may apply to eligible individuals.

Banking

Personal and corporate banking for residents is widely accessible. Non-resident structures take longer; documentation must be tight. Bordercase coordinates introductions where useful.

Personal banking for residents is straightforward; corporate banking depends on activity and structure. Bordercase coordinates introductions for non-standard cases.

Resident banking is straightforward; corporate banking and certain non-standard structures require coordination. Bordercase introduces banking partners where useful.

Family

Family reunification is supported on most residency routes. International schools (English, German, French) are concentrated in Warsaw, Kraków, and Wrocław.

Family reunification is supported on most residency routes after a qualifying period. Schools (public, private, international) are widely available; the public system is generally accessible to legal residents.

Family reunification is supported. Public and private schools are widely available; international schools are concentrated in major cities.

Risks

Risks Bordercase watches for in Poland:

  • Long visa processing in some voivodeships
  • CIT and ZUS planning often gets done late
  • Centre-of-interests analysis for tax residency
  • Estonian-style lump-sum CIT regime eligibility

Risks Bordercase watches for in Spain:

  • Tax residency triggers - 183 days + centre of interests
  • Beckham Law (special regime) eligibility
  • Autonomous-community tax variation
  • Hacienda audits when planning is unclear
  • Past Schengen overstays must be disclosed

Risks Bordercase watches for in Italy:

  • Tax residency triggers
  • Flat-tax regime eligibility and possible revocation
  • Regional administrative variation
  • Language and bureaucratic friction
  • Impatriate regime conditions vary
Documents

Typical Polish residency documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Proof of address
  • Employment contract or business plan
  • Health insurance
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family

Apostilled and translated to Polish.

Typical Spanish residency documents:

  • Passport
  • NIE (foreigner identification number)
  • Criminal record certificate with apostille
  • Proof of income / assets
  • Health insurance with full cover in Spain
  • Accommodation evidence
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family routes

Typical Italian residency documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Proof of income (significant for elective residency)
  • Health insurance valid in Italy
  • Accommodation evidence
  • Codice fiscale (tax number)

Apostille and certified Italian translation where required.

Country pages stay the authoritative source. This view is a side-by-side; nothing here promises a particular outcome.