What paperwork help costs and when it is worth paying

Terms used

• Gestor — A gestor is a licensed administrative agent who files paperwork with Spanish public offices on your behalf.
• Empadronamiento — Empadronamiento is registering your home address at your town hall.
• NIE — The NIE is the identification number Spain gives to foreigners.
• TIE — The TIE is the physical residence card for non-EU foreigners.
• Cita previa — A cita previa is an appointment you must book before visiting most public offices.
• Suplidos — Suplidos are costs a gestor pays for you, such as official fees, and passes on at cost.
• Provisión de fondos — A provisión de fondos is an advance deposit you pay up front to cover costs.
• ITP — The ITP is the transfer tax paid when buying a resale property.

Key rules

• Court appeals: Only a lawyer can file a court appeal, not a gestor.
• VAT: VAT of 21% applies to a gestor's fee but not to suplidos.
• Quotes: Ask for written quotes that say whether government fees, translations and VAT are included.
• Official fees: Government fees come on top of a lawyer's fee.

Do it yourself or pay?

Simple tasks you can usually do yourself: registering at your town hall (empadronamiento), a basic NIE, or renewing a card. Pay for help when the case is complex or a mistake would be costly.

Paying is usually worth it for:

• Visa or residence applications with many documents.
• A refusal or an appeal.
• Setting up as self-employed or setting up a company.
• Non-resident tax filings.
• Buying property or an inheritance.
• Nationality files.
• Times when you cannot get a cita previa appointment, or you do not speak Spanish.

Which professional?

A gestor handles administrative filings and is usually the cheaper choice for routine tasks. A lawyer (abogado) is the right choice for residence cases with risk, and only a lawyer can file a court appeal. A relocation firm bundles several services for you.

What they charge

Gestorías and lawyers set their own fees. The price depends on the procedure, the province and how complex your case is. Simple tasks such as NIE or TIE processing cost less than residence applications, nationality files or appeals.

Immigration lawyers usually charge a flat fee per procedure. In 2025, typical ranges were:

• €200 to €500 for a simple renewal or NIE matter.
• €300 to €800 for most first residence applications, such as family reunification, non-lucrative or arraigo.
• €1,000 to €3,000 or more for complex cases, such as digital nomad or entrepreneur visas, appeals or nationality files.

Relocation firms price packages by services and length. Basic packages cover paperwork such as NIE, empadronamiento and bank account help. Fuller packages add home search, school search, orientation days and visa support. Expect a few hundred euros for a single service and several thousand for a full package. Packages arranged through an employer cost more.

What the quote should include

Official fees are extra. A gestor bills their own fee (honorarios) separately from suplidos, which are sums paid on your behalf at cost. Suplidos include:

• Official fees (tasas), such as the residence card fee.
• Taxes such as ITP or stamp duty.
• Notary and registry charges.
• Translation and apostille costs.
• Courier costs and photocopies.

The invoice lists them separately. The gestor often asks for a provisión de fondos, an advance deposit, up front. VAT of 21% applies to the gestor's fee but not to suplidos.

How to choose

Get several written quotes. Each one should say what is included: government fees, translations and VAT. Prices vary by city and firm. The questions below cover the most common doubts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an immigration lawyer charge for a residence application?

Most initial residence applications cost about €300-€800 in lawyer fees, based on 2025 prices. A simple renewal or NIE matter is about €200-€500, and complex cases such as digital nomad or entrepreneur visas, appeals or nationality files run €1,000-€3,000 or more. Official fees are paid on top.

Does a gestor's quote include government fees and VAT?

Not always, so ask the gestor to say in writing what the quote covers. The gestor's own fee (honorarios) carries 21% VAT, but suplidos, the sums advanced at cost for official fees, taxes, notary charges, translations and couriers, do not.

Can a gestor file a court appeal for me?

No, only a lawyer (abogado) can file court appeals. If your application is refused and you want to challenge it, hire an immigration lawyer rather than a gestor.

What does a relocation firm cost compared with a gestor?

Relocation packages run from a few hundred euros for a single service to several thousand euros for full service. Basic packages cover paperwork such as NIE, empadronamiento (town hall registration) and bank account help. Fuller ones add home search, school search and orientation days. Ask several firms for current quotes.