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Law, engineering and architecture

You will know what a foreign-qualified lawyer, engineer or architect must add to practise in Spain.

Lawyers, engineers and architects who trained abroad need more than a recognised title to practise in Spain. Most also have to pass extra steps: a master, an exam, a registration with the professional body (the colegio), and in some cases a check on what you may sign.

7 articlesAbout 41 min of readingCredentials and regulated professions

Start with the first articleSee all 7 articles

Pick the article that fits your situation

  1. Registering as an EU-qualified lawyer (abogado comunitario)

    If you are a lawyer qualified in an EU/EEA state or Switzerland, this page explains the two ways to work in Spain: register under your home title, or later become a full Spanish abogado. It covers what each allows and how to move between them.

    6 min read

  2. The path for a foreign lawyer to practise (abogacía) in Spain

    A lawyer qualified outside the EU cannot simply start practising in Spain. This page sets out the four gates in order (degree homologation, access master, national exam, colegio), how long they take, and who may skip any of them.

    5 min read

  3. The abogacía access master and national exam

    How the abogacía access master and the national exam work, who can enter, what the exam looks like, how often it runs and where to study. For law graduates who want to practise as a lawyer in Spain.

    4 min read

  4. Procurador, notary and judge: can foreigners enter?

    Judges, prosecutors and notaries in Spain must be Spanish nationals, so foreigners cannot enter those jobs. Procurador is different: it has its own qualification and registration steps. This page is for foreign law graduates weighing legal careers in Spain.

    3 min read

  5. Recognising an engineering title and the master step

    Explains which engineering titles are regulated in Spain, when you need recognition of a foreign title, and when a Spanish master is also needed. For engineers with an EU or non-EU degree who plan to work in Spain.

    5 min read

  6. What your engineering title lets you sign in Spain

    Explains what projects your engineering title lets you sign in Spain, and when joining a colegio or getting a visado is required. For engineers with a Spanish or recognised foreign title who plan to sign technical work.

    6 min read

  7. Recognition, colegio and signing projects for architects

    How an architect from abroad gets their degree recognised in Spain, whether to join the Colegio de Arquitectos, and which projects you can sign. For EU, EEA and Swiss architects, and for architects with titles from outside the EU.

    6 min read

About this topic

This Topic is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain in one of these professions. It covers lawyers from the EU and from outside it, the other legal roles (procurador, notary and judge), engineers and what their title lets them sign, and architects. After reading it, you will know what you must add to practise in Spain.

Start with "The path for a foreign lawyer to practise (abogacía) in Spain" if you are a lawyer. It sets out the main route: recognition of your title, the access master, the national exam and the colegio. Engineers should begin with "Recognising an engineering title and the master step". Architects should begin with "Recognition, colegio and signing projects for architects".

Key rules

  • Visado: A colegio visado is mandatory only for certain works, such as residential building projects, or when the client asks for it.
  • Homologation time: The official deadline for homologating a law degree is six months, but in practice it often takes much longer.
  • Full integration: An abogado comunitario can apply to become a full Spanish abogado without an exam after three years of effective and regular practice in Spain, including Spanish law.
  • Exam sessions: The national abogacía exam is held twice a year.
  • Non-EU lawyer path: A non-EU lawyer must homologate the degree, complete the access master, pass the national exam and join a colegio.
  • Notary and judge: Notaries, judges and prosecutors must be Spanish nationals, so foreign nationals, including EU citizens, cannot enter these roles.

Law, engineering and architecture: the whole process, step by step

  • Work out your route: EU-qualified lawyer, non-EU lawyer, engineer or architect: before you start

  • EU lawyers: register with a Colegio de Abogados as an abogado comunitario, with your home-bar certificate, ID, liability insurance and the other papers the colegio asks for (see Registering as an EU-qualified lawyer (abogado comunitario)): first step; the home-bar certificate is usually issued no more than three months before

  • EU lawyers: apply to become a full Spanish abogado without an exam, with evidence of the cases you handled: after three years of effective and regular practice in Spain, including Spanish law

  • Non-EU lawyers: apply to have your law degree homologated (see The path for a foreign lawyer to practise (abogacía) in Spain): first step after arrival; the official deadline is six months, but in practice it often takes many months or over a year

  • Non-EU lawyers: complete the access master, including the practicum (see The abogacía access master and national exam): about one to two years

  • Non-EU lawyers: sit the national abogacía exam: twice a year, usually spring and autumn, with results a few months later

  • Non-EU lawyers: get your title issued and join a colegio: a few weeks to months after passing; the whole route is realistically about three to five years from arrival

  • Engineers: for an EU qualification, apply to the ministry responsible for your field; for a non-EU degree, apply for homologación (see Recognising an engineering title and the master step): EU decisions are due in about 3 to 4 months; non-EU cases often take over six months

  • Engineers: check whether your projects need a colegio visado before you sign them (see What your engineering title lets you sign in Spain): before each project; mandatory only for certain works, such as residential building projects, or when the client asks

  • Architects: apply to the Ministry of Universities for recognition, then join the colegio (see Recognition, colegio and signing projects for architects): EU cases are due in about three months from a complete application, about four months in general; non-EU cases take longer

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

Guarantees

Other documents

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Law, engineering and architecture: questions that cross several articles

Can an EU-qualified lawyer skip the exam and become a full Spanish abogado?

Yes, after three years of effective and regular practice in Spain, including Spanish law, you can apply to become a full abogado without an exam. The other route is an aptitude test. Read Registering as an EU-qualified lawyer (abogado comunitario) for registration and integration.

Does a non-EU lawyer have to homologate the law degree before the access master?

Yes, the master requires a Spanish law degree or its equivalent, so a non-EU degree must first be homologated. See The path for a foreign lawyer to practise (abogacía) in Spain.

How long does a non-EU lawyer need before joining a colegio?

Realistically about three to five years from arrival. Homologation, the master and the exam wait all add time, and failing the exam extends it.

Is a colegio visado always required for engineering and architecture projects?

No, a colegio visado is mandatory only for certain works, such as residential building projects, or when the client asks for it. Many ordinary projects do not need it. Read What your engineering title lets you sign in Spain and Recognition, colegio and signing projects for architects.

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