What paperwork help costs and what the fee includes

Terms used

• NIE — The NIE is the foreigner identification number you need for taxes, contracts and most official procedures in Spain.
• TIE — The TIE is the foreigner identity card issued to non-EU residents in Spain.
• IVA — The IVA is Spain's value-added tax, 21% on most professional services.
• Suplidos — Suplidos are sums a helper pays to the administration on your behalf and charges back at cost, with receipts.
• Modelo 790 — The modelo 790 is the form used to pay official fees for immigration and similar procedures.
• Factura — A factura is the formal invoice a professional must give you for their services.

Key rules

• Compare scope: Compare quotes line by line, because the cheapest headline fee often leaves out the most.
• Extras: Helper fees usually exclude official fees, sworn translations, apostilles and courier costs.
• IVA: IVA of 21% applies to the professional's own fees but not to out-of-pocket sums paid for you.
• In writing: Get the price and what it covers in a written engagement letter before you pay anything.

Fees vary, so compare quotes line by line

No law sets what a gestor or lawyer charges. Prices change with the city, the firm and how complicated your case is. The headline price is rarely the full cost, so compare quotes line by line, not just the total. Fees usually exclude official fees, translations and similar costs.

What you can expect to pay

• Simple procedures such as getting or renewing an NIE, a vehicle transfer or registering as self-employed usually cost from tens of euros to a little over a hundred euros in professional fees.
• Larger filings such as an income tax return or setting up a company cost more.
• Immigration lawyers normally charge a flat fee per application. Simple filings, such as a residence renewal, cost the least. Family reunification, rooted-residence permits (arraigo), non-lucrative or digital nomad visas and student permits sit in the middle. Nationality applications and appeals against a refusal cost the most.

These are rough market ranges. Ask several firms for a current written quote. For lawyers, your local bar association (Colegio de Abogados) can help you find registered ones.

What the fee usually includes

Most fees cover reviewing your documents, completing the forms, submitting the application and following up on notifications.

What is usually extra

Helper fees usually exclude official fees, sworn translations, apostilles and courier costs. Also expect extra charges for:

• certified copies, medical certificates and criminal record certificates
• notary fees
• appeal work, which is often quoted separately

Some firms add a flat "suplidos" line. Suplidos are sums the helper pays to the administration for you and charges back at cost, with receipts.

Official fees

Official fees are paid with the modelo 790 form. Amounts depend on the procedure and are revised regularly. As a rough guide, the NIE certificate costs about €10 to €12, and a TIE card about €16 to €22. Check the exact amount on the official form before you pay.

IVA and invoices

IVA of 21% applies to the professional's own fees but not to suplidos. Your helper should give you a factura showing both of your tax IDs, the service, the taxable base, the IVA rate and the total. Suplidos appear on it as a separate line.

How the money is usually paid

Most helpers charge a fixed fee per procedure. Part is often paid upfront and the balance when they file or when the decision arrives. A deposit is normal, but get it in writing in the engagement letter. Hourly billing is mostly for consultations and open-ended advice.

How to compare

Ask at least three firms for a written quote with the same scope. Put them side by side and check what is in and out of each. The checklist below lists the questions to ask, and the warnings below show the common traps.

Documents you need

• Written quote or engagement letter (hoja de encargo) from your gestor or lawyer, listing what the fee includes and what it leaves out.

• Factura from the helper for their own fees, showing their tax ID and yours, the service, the taxable base, the IVA and the total.

• Receipts for every sum the helper paid to the administration for you (suplidos), listed separately on the invoice.

• Official fee payment form (modelo 790) for the procedure, paid by you or on your behalf.

• Sworn translation (traducción jurada) of foreign documents when the procedure needs one. It is not normally in the helper's fee.

• Apostille on foreign documents when the procedure needs one. It is not normally in the helper's fee.

Checklist

• Ask at least three gestorías or lawyers for a written quote.

• Ask for a written engagement letter (hoja de encargo) that itemises what the fee includes.

• Ask whether official fees (tasas) are in the price or paid separately by you.

• Ask who pays for sworn translations, apostilles, certified copies, courier and notary costs.

• Ask whether an appeal against a refusal is covered or quoted separately.

• Ask how much you pay upfront and when the balance is due.

• Ask whether the price includes IVA and whether out-of-pocket sums are charged at cost with receipts.

• Check the official fee for your procedure on the official fee form before you pay it.

What to watch out for

• Appeal work is often not in the price: A flat fee for an application usually does not cover an appeal if it is refused, and firms often quote the appeal stage separately. Court appeals cost the most. Ask before hiring what an appeal would cost and get that in writing.

• Paying an advance with nothing in writing: An advance (provisión de fondos) is normal, but without a written record you cannot show what you paid or what it covers. Get an engagement letter (hoja de encargo) stating the advance, the balance and when it is due, and keep the receipts.

• A low headline fee that leaves out the extras: Lawyer and gestor fees rarely include official fees, translations or apostilles, so a cheap quote can end up costing more than a dearer one that covers them. Ask each helper to list what is included and compare the quotes line by line.

Fees differ by city and firm, so confirm what each quote covers with the helper in writing.

Frequently asked questions

Will a gestor or lawyer give me a proper invoice?

Yes, a gestor or lawyer must give you a factura for their services showing their tax ID (NIF), yours, the date, the service, the taxable base, the IVA and the total. Sums they pay to the administration for you (suplidos) are listed separately, without IVA, and backed by receipts.

Is it normal to pay part of the fee upfront?

Yes, paying an advance (provisión de fondos) when you hire someone is normal, with the balance due at filing or when the case is resolved.

Is an appeal against a refusal included in a lawyer's fee?

No, an appeal against a refusal is usually not included, because firms often quote the appeal stage separately. Court appeals cost the most, so ask for the appeal price before you hire.

Which official fees do I pay myself rather than through the helper?

You pay the official fees (tasas) with form modelo 790, and the helper normally charges them separately or at cost. The NIE certificate is about €10 to €12, and the nationality application fee is €102.