Spanish Legal & Immigration Glossary

Quick-reference guide to Spanish legal, visa, and immigration terminology — explained in plain English for expats.

A

► Abogado

Lawyer or attorney. Required for property purchases and complex immigration matters. See our services

► AJD (Actos Jurídicos Documentados)

Stamp duty tax applied to legal documents like mortgages. Check related pricing

► Apostille

International certificate authenticating documents for use abroad. We handle apostille and notarisation

► Autónomo

Self-employed registration with Social Security. Learn more

► Ayuntamiento

Town hall for empadronamiento and local admin. See empadronamiento service

B

► Beckham Law (Ley Beckham)

Special tax regime for new residents paying 24% flat tax for up to 6 years.

► BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado)

Official state gazette where laws and announcements are published.

C

► Catastro

Land registry for property records. Learn about property services

► Cédula de Habitabilidad

Certificate confirming property meets habitability standards.

► Certificado de Empadronamiento

Proof of registered address. See empadronamiento support

► Certificado Digital

Digital certificate for official online business with Spanish government.

► CCSE Exam

Constitutional & sociocultural knowledge test required for permanent residency and citizenship.

► Comunidad de Propietarios

Homeowners' association managing shared areas and fees.

► Consejería

Regional government department responsible for immigration offices.

D

► DELE

Official Spanish language certificate. A2 for permanent residency; B1 for citizenship.

► Digital Nomad Visa

Permit for remote workers. See Digital Nomad Visa support

E

► Empadronamiento

► Escritura Pública

Public deed notarized for property purchase. See property services

► EX-14 / EX-15 / EX-17 Forms

Application forms for Digital Nomad Visa, NIE, and TIE.

F

► Finca

Rural property or estate.

► Foreigners' Office (Oficina de Extranjería)

Immigration office handling residence permits and renewals.

G

► Gastos de Comunidad

Community fees for apartment maintenance.

► Gestor/Gestoría

Administrative agent handling taxes, business registrations, and bureaucracy.

► Golden Visa

Former residency-by-investment program (ended April 2025).

I

► IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles)

Annual property tax paid to local municipalities.

► IPREM

Income indicator for visa eligibility and minimum income requirements.

► IRNR

Non-resident income tax. Must file if you own Spanish property.

► ITP

Transfer tax on resale property. Varies by region.

► IVA

Value-added tax. 10% for new properties.

L

► Ley de Startups

Law introducing Digital Nomad Visa and incentives for entrepreneurs.

M

► Modelo 790 Código 012

Fee payment form for NIE applications. €9.84. Paid at Spanish bank.

N

► NIE

Foreigner Identification Number, essential for banking, property, employment. See NIE support

► NIF

Tax identification number; same as NIE for foreigners.

► Non-Lucrative Visa

Permit for financially independent individuals. See Non-Lucrative Visa support

► Nota Simple

Land Registry extract showing ownership, mortgages, and charges.

► Notario

Public official who authenticates legal documents and property transactions.

O

► Obra Nueva

New-build property sold directly by a developer.

► Oficina de Extranjería

See Foreigners' Office.

P

► Padrón Municipal

Municipal register of residents. See empadronamiento support

► Permiso de Residencia

Residence permit to live legally in Spain.

► Plusvalía Municipal

Capital gains tax on land/property value increase.

R

► Registro de la Propiedad

Land Registry recording property ownership, mortgages, and charges. Learn about property services

► Residencia

Residence or residency status in Spain.

► Resguardo

Proof of submission for administrative applications.

S

► Schengen Area

26 European countries with open borders. Spanish residency allows travel here.

► Sede Electrónica

Government websites for appointments, online procedures, and document submission.

► Social Security Number

Required for employment and healthcare access. Different from NIE.

T

► TIE

Foreigner Identity Card for non-EU residents. Must carry as ID.

► Traductor Jurado

Sworn translator for certified legal document translations.

V

► Visa Nacional

National long-stay visa for work, study, non-lucrative, or digital nomad purposes.

► Volante de Empadronamiento

See Certificado de Empadronamiento.

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