Spain immigration lawyers and gestores

Spanish residency involves two sets of offices: a consulate in the US or a central immigration office that decides your visa, and the police and town hall in Spain where you get your card. A lawyer helps with both, and is most valuable before you apply, when a problem can still be fixed.

What they do

• Review your income, savings and work arrangement and tell you which visa fits.
• Check your documents against what your consulate currently asks for, including apostilles and sworn translations.
• File digital nomad and other applications that are submitted online in Spain.
• Book and attend the TIE fingerprint appointment with you.
• Handle renewals, changes from one permit to another, family members and long-term residency.
• Appeal a refusal.

Lawyer or gestor

A licensed lawyer (abogado) can advise on which route is open to you and represent you if an application is refused. A gestor is an administrative agent who handles routine filings and appointments and usually charges less.

For town hall registration, a TIE appointment or a simple renewal, a gestor is often enough. Use a lawyer for the visa application itself if any of these apply:

• You are applying for the digital nomad visa, where the work and social security questions decide the outcome.
• You are self-employed or own a business.
• You have been refused a visa before, or have anything on your criminal record.
• Your family members have different nationalities or the relationship is hard to document.

When to bring one in

Before you start collecting documents. Several of them expire within about three months, and a lawyer can set the order. A short consultation four to six months before your move costs little compared with a refused application and a second FBI check.

You will want someone ready when you land as well, because the TIE application is expected within a month of arrival.

What to ask before hiring

• Are you a practising lawyer, which bar association (colegio de abogados) are you registered with, and what is your membership number?
• How many applications of my type have you filed in the last year, and at which consulate or office?
• What is the total fee, and what is included? Are government fees, translations and apostilles extra?
• Who will actually handle my file, and how do I reach them?
• What happens, and what do I pay, if the application is refused?
• Do you also advise on tax, or work with someone who does?

Read the residency overview first so you know which questions apply to you.

Common questions

Do I need a lawyer to get a Spanish visa?

No. Many people prepare a non-lucrative visa application themselves and file it at the consulate. A lawyer is most useful for checking your documents before a consulate appointment, for digital nomad applications filed online in Spain, and for anything unusual such as self-employment, a past refusal or family members with different nationalities.

What is the difference between a lawyer and a gestor in Spain?

A lawyer (abogado) is licensed to give legal advice and to represent you in an appeal. A gestor is an administrative agent who prepares and files routine paperwork, such as TIE appointments, town hall registration and tax forms, usually for a lower fee. A gestor can't advise on the law.

How much does a Spain immigration lawyer cost?

Most charge a fixed fee per application, with more for each family member. Fees vary widely with the type of visa and the firm, so ask for a written quote that states what is included and whether government fees, translations and apostilles are extra.