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The JuroSpain
Master Glossary

Don't let the language barrier cost you money. 80+ legal, tax, and property terms defined in plain English.

Visas & Residency Taxes & Finance Real Estate Business & Corporate Daily Life

Immigration & Visas

Terms related to the DNV, Golden Visa, and Residency processes.

Insider Tool

UGE-CE

Large Business Unit

The specialized unit in Madrid that processes DNV/HQP visas. 20-day resolution time.

Insider Tool

Silencio Administrativo

Administrative Silence

If the UGE doesn't reply in 20 days, it counts as an Automatic Approval (Positive Silence).

Insider Tool

Compromiso de Alta

Commitment to Register

Document used to bypass private health insurance by promising to join Social Security.

NIE

Foreigner ID Number

Your unique tax ID for life in Spain. Required for everything.

TIE

Foreigner Identity Card

The physical card proving residency. Contains photo and fingerprints.

Toma de Huellas

Fingerprinting

Mandatory police step to capture biometrics for your TIE card.

Resolución Favorable

Approval Letter

The PDF proving your visa is granted. Keep this safe.

Recurso de Alzada

Appeal

First appeal filed within 1 month of a visa rejection.

Renovación

Renewal

Extending your residency permit (e.g., from 3 to 5 years).

Empadronamiento

Municipal Registration

Registering your address at the Town Hall. Vital for healthcare/school.

CUE (Certificado UE)

EU Registry Certificate

The flimsy green card for EU citizens residing in Spain.

Visado

Visa

The sticker in your passport allowing entry (different from Residency).

Espacio Schengen

Schengen Area

29 countries with open borders. Spanish residency allows 90/180 days travel.

Modelo EX-15

NIE Application Form

The specific government form used to apply for an NIE number.

Modelo EX-17

TIE Application Form

The form used to apply for the physical TIE card at the police.

Tasa 790

Administrative Fee

The tax form you must pay at a bank before any immigration appointment.

Antecedentes Penales

Criminal Record Certificate

Must be clean, <6 months old, and Apostilled for visa applications.

Reagrupación Familiar

Family Reunification

Process to bring spouse/children to Spain once you are a resident.

Taxes & Finance

Hacienda, Beckham Law, and Autonomo terminology.

Tax Hack

Ley Beckham

Special Expats Regime

Flat 24% tax rate for 6 years. No wealth tax on foreign assets.

Modelo 149

Beckham Application

The specific form to apply for the Beckham Law regime.

Modelo 151

Beckham Tax Return

The annual tax return form specifically for Beckham Law holders.

Modelo 100

Standard Tax Return

Annual IRPF tax return for standard residents (progressive scale).

Modelo 720

Asset Declaration

Informative form for foreign assets >€50k. Severe fines for non-filing.

Modelo 721

Crypto Declaration

New form for declaring crypto assets >€50k held on foreign exchanges.

Essential

Certificado Digital

Digital Certificate

File in your browser allowing you to sign tax documents online.

Cl@ve PIN

Digital Key

2FA mobile app for accessing government portals.

Hacienda (AEAT)

Tax Authority

The Spanish Tax Agency.

Residencia Fiscal

Tax Residency

>183 days in Spain implies tax residency on worldwide income.

IRPF

Income Tax

Impuesto sobre la Renta de las Personas Físicas.

IRNR

Non-Resident Tax

Tax for non-residents on Spanish income (e.g. rentals).

Autónomo

Freelancer

Self-employed worker status.

RETA

Freelance Social Security

The specific social security scheme for Autónomos.

Cuota Cero

Zero Quota

Subsidy in Madrid/Andalusia refunding your first year of Social Security.

IVA

VAT

Standard rate 21%. Reduced rates 10% and 4%.

Modelo 303

Quarterly VAT

Form to declare VAT collected/paid every quarter.

Modelo 130

Quarterly Income Tax

Advance payment (20%) of profit tax for freelancers.

Gestor

Admin Agent

Handles paperwork. Good for filing, bad for strategy.

Asesor Fiscal

Tax Advisor

Strategic tax planner. Essential for high net worth.

Impuesto Patrimonio

Wealth Tax

Annual tax on net assets. Varies by region.

Impuesto Solidaridad

Solidarity Tax

National wealth tax on net assets >€3M.

Real Estate & Renting

Terms for buying, renting, and mortgages.

Loophole

Acta de Manifestación

Notarial Act

Used to prove address when landlord refuses Padrón.

Alquiler de Temporada

Seasonal Rental

11-month contracts used to bypass rent control.

Nota Simple

Registry Extract

Vital document proving ownership and debts.

Contrato de Arras

Deposit Contract

Binding contract (10% deposit). Secure the property.

Arras Penitenciales

Penitential Deposit

Allows withdrawal by losing deposit (buyer) or paying double (seller).

Plusvalía Municipal

Land Value Tax

Local tax on land value increase. Paid by seller.

ITP

Transfer Tax

Tax on resale homes (6-10%). Replaces VAT.

AJD

Stamp Duty

Tax on legal documents/mortgages (~1.5%).

IBI

Property Tax

Annual tax based on cadastral value.

Euribor

Base Rate

The EU index most Spanish variable mortgages are pegged to.

TIN

Nominal Interest

Base interest rate without fees.

TAE

APR (Real Cost)

The true cost of the mortgage including all fees/insurance.

Fianza

Rental Deposit

Legal bond (1 month rent) held by the government institute.

Cédula Habitabilidad

Habitation Cert

Proves property is legal to live in.

Vicios Ocultos

Hidden Defects

Protection against hidden faults for 6 months after buying.

Referencia Catastral

Cadastral ID

20-character ID code for the property (like a VIN number).

LPO

First Occupation License

Required for new builds to prove they match the plans.

Business & Corporate

Terms for setting up a company (S.L.) in Spain.

S.L.

Limited Company

Standard Spanish company structure. Min capital €3,000 (now €1).

NIF / CIF

Tax ID

Tax number for a company. Always starts with a letter (e.g., B-123456).

Registro Mercantil

Companies House

Public registry where all company details and accounts are filed.

Objeto Social

Business Purpose

The clause in the bylaws defining what the company does.

Administrador

Director

The legal representative of the company. Can be 'Unico' (Sole) or 'Solidario' (Joint).

Impuesto Sociedades

Corporate Tax

Tax on company profits. Standard rate is 25% (15% for new companies).

Factura

Invoice

Must contain NIF, Address, and Date to be valid for tax deduction.

Daily Bureaucracy

Words for banks, police stations, and doctors.

Cita Previa

Appointment

Mandatory booking system for government services.

Traducción Jurada

Sworn Translation

Certified translation stamped by an official translator.

Compulsa

Certified Copy

A government stamp verifying a photocopy matches the original.

Apostilla

Apostille

International stamp legalizing foreign documents.

Notario

Notary

Public official who witnesses signatures and certifies deeds.

Burofax

Certified Mail

Legally certified delivery used for formal notifications (e.g. firing tenants).

Hoja de Reclamaciones

Complaint Form

Official consumer complaint form. Powerful tool against bad service.

Justificante

Proof/Receipt

The paper proving you submitted or paid something. Never lose it.

Volante

Basic Padron Cert

A simpler version of the Padron certificate, usually valid for 3 months.

Tarjeta Sanitaria

Health Card

Your public health access card (SIP in some regions).

Certificado Titularidad

Bank Ownership Cert

Bank document proving you own the account. Required for bills.