MAGISTERS · INTERNATIONAL LEGAL SUPPORT
Lawyer in Spain — legal assistance in a language you understand
Residence permits and immigration, property, business, inheritance, family matters and disputes with Spanish authorities. We assess your situation, identify the appropriate legal route and agree on the necessary steps, taking account of Spanish procedures and your nationality.
Online consultations. We work with clients in Spain and abroad. Where representation in Spanish legal proceedings is required, the involvement of a professional with the appropriate authorisation to practise in Spain is agreed separately.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE TAILORED TO YOUR SITUATION
Where to start with a legal matter in Spain
When relocating or dealing with foreign documents, mistakes often happen before an application is even filed: choosing the wrong immigration status, signing a contract without proper checks, missing an official notice or confusing administrative formalities with tax obligations. The first step is therefore to determine exactly what needs to be done in your circumstances, who is legally authorised to do it and which documents establish your eligibility.
You are planning to move to Spain
We identify a lawful basis for your stay, possible visa routes and requirements concerning documents, family circumstances and income.
You already live in Spain
We assess renewals or changes of status, registration matters, official requests, transactions, employment, business activities and family issues.
You have received a refusal or face a dispute
We review the decision and appeal deadlines, assess administrative and judicial remedies and determine whether a Spanish lawyer is required.
Our role is not to offer a one-size-fits-all “turnkey visa” but to establish a sequence of legally permissible steps, agree on the cost of our work and explain which outcomes depend on public authorities.
Legal services we help coordinate in Spain
Each area involves different documents, competent authorities and deadlines. For complex matters, we first establish the applicable law and identify the professional responsible.
Residence permits, visas and immigration
Selecting a basis for residence, visa applications, work permits, renewals and changes of status, family-based routes and responses to official requests (requerimientos).
Property and rentals
Due diligence before paying a deposit, nota simple reports, reserva and arras contracts, costs, charges, notarised transactions and tenancy or ownership disputes.
Companies, autónomo and contracts
Choosing a legal business structure, registration procedures, incorporation documents, contracts and coordination with accountants, tax advisers and banks.
Inheritance and wills
Cross-border succession, Spanish property, proof of family relationships, Ukrainian documents, notarial procedures, inheritance disputes and related family matters.
Family law
Marriage and divorce with an international element, maintenance, matters involving children, recognition and use of foreign documents, and identification of the correct legal procedure.
Refusals, appeals and court proceedings
Reviewing grounds for refusal, preparing the legal position, monitoring deadlines and administrative appeals; court proceedings are handled by duly authorised professionals in Spain.
IMMIGRATION AND LAWFUL STAY
How to choose the right residence route in Spain
There is no universal sequence of “visa → NIE → residence permit”. The available route depends on nationality, lawful status and immigration history, where the application is lodged, family ties, the nature of employment and sources of income. Different arrangements are governed by different laws and administered by different authorities.
Digital Nomad / international remote work
For certain employed and self-employed professionals who work remotely and satisfy the requirements of the specific regime. We review contracts, qualifications, income and social security arrangements.
Residencia no lucrativa
Residence without undertaking employment under this authorisation. Financial resources, insurance and the consular application procedure must be checked separately.
Employment or self-employment
An employment contract, business activity or another ground permitted by law. Incorporating a company does not in itself grant permission to reside or work in Spain.
Studies and changes of immigration status
Eligible educational programmes are subject to the separate estancia por estudios regime. Employment rights and possible changes to another status require individual assessment.
Family of a Spanish or EU citizen or a foreign resident
The legal rules differ according to the family member’s circumstances. Evidence of family relationships is required and, in some cases, proof of cohabitation, income and accommodation.
Temporary protection and other exceptional grounds
A specific temporary-protection regime applies to eligible displaced persons from Ukraine. Individual asylum claims or statutory arraigo procedures may apply in other situations. These routes are not interchangeable.
If an immigration authority requests additional information or issues a refusal or notice, keep the entire document and a record of when you received it. The response or appeal deadline may depend on that date.
Learn more about assistance with immigration procedures: Spanish residence permits — requirements and applications.
DO NOT CONFUSE DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS
NIE, TIE, empadronamiento and residence rights are not the same thing
| NIE | A foreigner’s identification number. On its own it is not proof of a residence permit and does not authorise employment. |
|---|---|
| TIE | A physical foreigner’s identity card evidencing the relevant granted status. The steps for obtaining it depend on the legal basis and the authority’s decision. |
| Empadronamiento | Registration of your actual home address in the municipal register. It does not replace authorisation to stay or reside. |
| Visa / authorisation | The right to enter, stay, reside or work derives from the applicable immigration procedure. It must be distinguished from an identification number or a physical card. |
For example, a person may need an NIE for financial or administrative transactions without applying for residence. Purchasing property, regardless of its value, does not itself establish a right to a Spanish residence permit.
What MAGISTERS legal support includes
First we define the legal nature of the task, then the specific work required. The scope of services and each participant’s responsibilities are recorded in the agreed terms.
Legal strategy
We identify the legal basis, risks and sequence of steps.
Understanding your immigration status
We consider nationality, immigration history and family circumstances.
Scope of assistance
We agree on the tasks and stages before work begins.
Remote assistance
Document review and preparation can often be arranged online.
Complex cases
We examine refusals, additional-document requests, missed deadlines and disputed documents.
Keeping track of the procedure
We record submissions, official notices, deadlines and next steps.
Representation in Spanish courts, criminal defence proceedings and other work requiring an abogado colegiado or another authorised professional may be carried out only by a person with the appropriate professional status. Registration with a Spanish Bar Association must not be assumed without verification.
PROPERTY AND TRANSACTIONS
Buying property in Spain: what to check before paying a deposit
Before purchasing an apartment or house, legal due diligence should be carried out before signing a reserva or contrato de arras. Otherwise, the buyer could accept binding obligations without establishing who owns the property, which restrictions are registered or whether the property can be used as intended.
The scope of due diligence depends on the property: ownership and registered encumbrances shown in the nota simple; cadastral records and the property’s description; community charges and other liabilities insofar as records are available; deposit, cancellation, handover and liability clauses; the notarised purchase, taxes and registration of title.
A nota simple is an information extract from the land register, not a blanket guarantee that no risks exist. Some properties require additional municipal, technical or tax checks.
In inheritance matters or division of property, we separately establish the applicable law, evidence of family relationships and the parties’ authority to act.
Business, autónomo, taxes and contractual risks
Setting up an S.L. company
We review the proposed business’s objectives and structure, shareholders, corporate documents, powers of representation, accounts and the registration steps required by law.
Working as an autónomo
We consider any necessary permission to carry on the activity, Social Security and tax obligations, while keeping self-employment registration separate from immigration status.
Tax and contract strategy
We assess tax residence, the nature of income, relationships with counterparties and reporting obligations. Where needed, we involve a specialist tax adviser.
Owning a Spanish company, property or NIE does not automatically entitle you to a residence permit. Immigration residence and tax residence are determined using different legal tests.
Family matters and international inheritance
When documents and assets span two countries
For example, a family lives in Spain but married in Ukraine; an heir lives abroad while the estate includes Spanish property; or a Ukrainian certificate, court judgment or power of attorney must be presented to a Spanish authority.
We check which documents are required, whether an apostille or other certification is needed, which translations are accepted and where the relevant notarial or judicial act must take place. For inheritance matters, we also review the estate’s assets, deadlines, competent authorities and potential taxes.
Where proceedings require representation before a Spanish court, the applicable procedural rules determine whether a Spanish lawyer and, where relevant, a procurador must be involved.
What to do after a refusal or when a legal dispute arises
The most useful document for an initial assessment is the full decision, notice or contract, including the dates of receipt and signing. A summary of the alleged reason for refusal is not enough.
Residence permit refusal or request for additional documents
We establish the grounds, response deadline and the available means of correcting deficiencies or challenging the decision.
Property or contract dispute
We review signed obligations, correspondence, payments, complaint deadlines and the prospects of negotiation or court action.
Detention or criminal proceedings
Our first priority is to determine your procedural status, urgent next steps and the need for assistance from a Spanish criminal defence lawyer and an interpreter.
How we organise work on your case
Legal assistance begins with a precise understanding of the task, not with a promise that approval is guaranteed.
01
Review the facts
You explain the circumstances and provide relevant documents and notices.
02
Identify the legal basis
We clarify the applicable legal regime, competent authority, risks, deadlines and possible alternatives.
03
Agree on the services
We specify stages, professionals involved, documents, fees and third-party expenses.
04
Support the procedure
We prepare and review materials, track submissions and coordinate the agreed next steps.
What information to prepare for your first consultation
For questions about residence permits, employment or relocation
- Your nationality and country of actual residence.
- Your current status in Spain and its expiry date, if applicable.
- Your objective: employment, family, study, business or residence without employment.
- Information about income, contracts, your employer or business.
- Family members, marriage and children’s documents, previous applications and refusals.
- Dates of entry, filing and receipt of official notices.
For property, inheritance or dispute matters
- The property’s location and description, or the subject of the dispute.
- Contract, draft arras agreement, extract, correspondence and payment records.
- Certificates of family relationships, wills, powers of attorney and court decisions.
- Signed documents and correspondence from a notary, bank or public authority.
- Performance deadlines, court dates and dates when notices were received.
- Your intended outcome: advice, transaction due diligence, an application or representation.
The more complete the initial information, the more accurate the preliminary assessment. Document requirements are individual; originals, translations and certifications are not necessary for every procedure or always at the first stage.
COMPREHENSIVE RELOCATION PLANNING
Legal support for relocating to Spain: from immigration status to everyday documentation
Relocating a family or business owner rarely involves a single immigration application. Housing, an identification number, municipal registration, insurance, bank compliance checks, children’s documents, business activities and coordination with tax advisers often have to be addressed at the same time. We set out the sequence of tasks and agree which are included in our service.
Documents and legal status
A visa or other legally permitted status, NIE, necessary translations, document legalisation, filing steps and registration of your address where the requirements are met.
Family, housing and financial matters
Review of rental or purchase arrangements, family members’ documents, legal aspects of insurance and agreed assistance in dealings with banks and other institutions.
Opening a bank account, obtaining insurance, securing a school place or receiving municipal services are subject to the relevant organisations’ rules. We do not present their decisions as guaranteed outcomes of legal support.
How much legal assistance costs and how long procedures take
Fees are agreed before work begins
The price depends on the procedure, the number of people involved, document readiness, translation and notarial requirements, external advisers and any court representation. After an initial assessment, we agree on the scope of work, fees and payment stages.
Government charges, consular fees, translations, notarial and registration expenses should be distinguished from our legal service fees.
Timeframes depend on more than the legal team
Processing times depend on the procedure, the authority handling the application, appointment availability, additional document requests and any appeals. The time needed to prepare a file is not the same as the time an authority takes to decide it.
We do not promise an NIE in “one visit”, residence approval within a fixed number of days or a positive decision regardless of the supporting documents.
Legal assistance in Alicante, Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona and across Spain
You do not have to visit an office for an initial assessment: consultations and preliminary document checks can be conducted remotely. Depending on the matter, personal attendance may be required for identification, biometrics, notarisation or other formalities. Whether a power of attorney can be used is assessed case by case.
MAGISTERS is a Ukrainian law firm with a Ukrainian legal practice. Where a matter concerns Spanish law and requires a particular professional authorisation, the relevant Spanish specialist’s credentials and involvement must be verified and agreed before that work is carried out. Bar Association registration details should be provided only for a professional who is actually registered with the Colegio de Abogados.
Work involving documents from two countries is especially important for family relocation, proving family ties, transactions, inheritance and the use of Ukrainian court or registry documents in Spain.
Important changes to Spanish procedures: what to know in 2026
New immigration regulations
Real Decreto 1155/2024 has applied since 20 May 2025 and was amended in 2026 by Real Decreto 316/2026. Older rules cannot be applied indiscriminately to all new applications.
The investor Golden Visa route has closed
Since 3 April 2025, new investors can no longer obtain Spanish residence authorisations under the repealed provisions of Ley 14/2013. Buying property does not automatically confer residence rights.
Temporary protection extended to 2028
Temporary protection for eligible people displaced from Ukraine was extended until 4 March 2028 by Council Decision (EU) 2026/1912. Specific conditions apply to new applicants and require an individual assessment.
Primary sources can be checked on the official websites (addresses are provided for reference only, without external hyperlinks): boe.es — Spanish legislation; eur-lex.europa.eu — EU law; administracion.gob.es — government procedures.
ANSWERS TO PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions about lawyers and legal assistance in Spain
First a direct answer, then the important legal qualifications. We determine the appropriate procedure after reviewing your documents.
Can I receive legal assistance in Spain in a language I understand?
Yes. The initial consultation, document assessment and coordination of services can take place in a language you understand. However, court representation and the profession of abogado are regulated separately in Spain: where Spanish law requires a registered lawyer, that work must be performed by a professional with verified authorisation to practise.
Do I need a visa if I want to relocate to Spain?
Not always. This depends on nationality, the basis of stay, existing immigration status and the country where the application is lodged. Some procedures take place through a consulate; others may be available from within Spain if the legal conditions are met.
Is an NIE the same as a residence permit?
No. An NIE is a foreigner’s identification number, not an independent right to live or work in Spain. A visa, residence authorisation and TIE card must be considered separately.
Can I obtain Spanish residence simply by buying an apartment?
No. The new-investor Golden Visa route was abolished from 3 April 2025. Property ownership is not a substitute for a lawful immigration basis.
How do I apply for a Digital Nomad Visa in Spain?
You need to check whether your remote-working arrangements qualify, your professional activity documents, qualifications, income and social security requirements. The place of application and accompanying family members affect the document package.
Can I set up a company without a Spanish residence permit?
Foreign nationals may hold interests in companies subject to corporate and identification requirements, but owning a company does not itself grant the right to live or work in Spain. Immigration status must be assessed separately.
How long is temporary protection for Ukrainians valid?
Under Council Decision (EU) 2026/1912, temporary protection was extended until 4 March 2028. The rules for new applicants differ from those applying to people already benefiting continuously from protection.
Can documents be processed without travelling to Spain?
Many consultations, document checks and preparatory tasks can be arranged online. However, in-person identity checks, biometrics and certain consular, notarial or police formalities may require attendance.
What should I do if my residence application is refused?
Keep the full decision, evidence of filing and date of notification. The reasons, deadlines and available appeal options must be identified; a fresh application is not automatically the right advice.
How should I check an apartment before buying in Spain?
The checks usually cover the property register, seller’s authority, registered encumbrances, cadastral and municipal information, arras contract terms, taxes and related costs. The scope of due diligence depends on the property.
How are legal fees calculated?
After assessing the documents, we agree on the scope of work, professional fees and additional expenses. Government charges, notarial services, translation and court costs should normally be itemised separately.
Can a foreign lawyer represent me in a Spanish court?
For proceedings in which Spanish law requires professional representation, a practitioner authorised to act in Spain is needed. Some proceedings also require a procurador. The professional’s credentials and authority should be checked before entering into an engagement.
LET’S DISCUSS YOUR SITUATION
Need a lawyer or legal support in Spain?
Briefly describe your issue, the city or country where you are based, your current status and the result you seek. We will identify the documents needed for an initial assessment and what form of legal assistance is permissible.
MAGISTERS · Consultations in a language you understand · Spain and international matters. Work requiring Spanish professional registration is arranged with an appropriately authorised specialist.