FOR NON-RESIDENTS
Property conveyancing in Spain
Comprehensive legal advice for buying or selling a property in Spain as a non-resident — before, during and after.
Buying in Spain from abroad need not be a risk
The Spanish system has particularities in its land registry, tax and notarial practice that a foreign buyer cannot be expected to know. A mistake can cost time and money.
What can go wrong without proper advice
Hidden charges
Debts, seizures or planning irregularities that remain unseen until it is too late.
Tax surprises
Withholdings, IRNR and capital gains you did not expect as a non-resident.
Blocked procedures
An NIE, bank account or utility connections that hold up the transaction.
How I support you
A clear process in three stages.
- 01
Before
NIE, land registry and cadastral due diligence, contract review and tax planning.
- 02
During
Bank account, provision of funds, signing at the notary and payment of taxes.
- 03
After
Change of ownership, utilities, IRNR and the obligations of the non-resident.
What it includes
- Obtaining the NIE
- Land registry and cadastral due diligence
- Review of deposit and purchase contracts
- Support at the notary
- Settlement of taxes
- After-sales and utilities management
- Prior tax advice: ITP or VAT, municipal capital gains tax (plusvalía) and the non-resident seller's IRNR
- Land Registry cancellation of charges: mortgages, seizures and real encumbrances
Investors and B2B transactions
When the transaction involves commercial premises, development land or a deal between companies, the tax regime differs from that of a home sold between private individuals. I advise on the VAT reverse charge (art. 84.Uno.2.º LIVA) and on the particularities of transactions between professionals.
Commercial premises and land
Non-residential property where the treatment of VAT and Transfer Tax/Stamp Duty (ITP/AJD) depends on the use, the waiver of the exemption and the status of the transferor.
VAT reverse charge
In certain B2B transactions (art. 84.Uno.2.º LIVA), the buyer self-assesses the VAT. We identify whether it applies and avoid mistakes that lead to penalties and costly adjustments.
Transactions between professionals
Tax structuring of the transaction, tailored Land Registry due diligence and coordination with the tax advisers of both buyer and seller.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to travel to Spain to buy?
No. With a power of attorney granted in your country and apostilled, I can sign on your behalf before the notary. The entire process can be handled remotely.
How long does it take and how much does it cost to obtain the NIE?
The NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) is essential to buy, pay taxes or open an account in Spain. I obtain it for you — without you having to come over — and inform you of the timeframe depending on your country's consulate.
What taxes does a non-resident buyer pay?
On a resale: Transfer Tax (ITP), the rate of which varies by autonomous region. On a new build: VAT plus Stamp Duty (AJD). I calculate the total cost before you make any decision.
What is the 3% withholding when the seller is a non-resident?
If the seller does not reside in Spain, the buyer is obliged to withhold 3% of the price and pay it to the tax authority via Modelo 211. I handle this so the transaction is settled correctly and the seller can reclaim any excess where applicable.
Can I grant a power of attorney without coming to Spain?
Yes. The power of attorney is granted before a notary in your country, apostilled and sent to Spain. With that document I represent you at the notary, the Land Registry and any other procedure in the transaction.
SHALL WE TALK?
Tell me about your case, with no obligation
I reply to you personally, in your language. The first consultation is to get to know each other and see how I can help you.
You may also be interested in
If the property has undeclared extensions, they must be regularised before or during the sale.
Declaration of new building →After the purchase, as a foreign owner you will have annual tax obligations in Spain.
Taxes for non-residents →Keep reading
If you are buying a home in Spain and live abroad, two formalities will set the pace: the NIE and a bank account with its certificado de no residencia (certificate of non-residency). I explain, without jargon, what each one is, why the bank insists on it, and why it pays to start them before signing the arras (deposit), not after.
NIE and a bank account for non-residents: where to start before you buy →You live abroad and would rather not get on a plane just to sign before a notary. You can avoid it: you grant a power of attorney and someone signs the purchase for you. I explain how to do it properly, why within the European Union the apostille is STILL required for the power (yes, even if you are told otherwise) and what the Spanish notary checks before accepting it.
Buying a home in Spain without travelling: the poder notarial and the apostille explained →The price you agree with the seller is not what you end up paying. I explain, jargon-free and with the rates in force in 2026 on the Costa Blanca, which taxes and fees are added to a purchase — ITP or VAT, AJD, notary, registry and gestoría — and why the tax is calculated not on the price but on the reference value (valor de referencia) of the Catastro.
What buying a home in Spain really costs as a non-resident: taxes and fees →Many people buy on the Costa Blanca planning to let to tourists, but the right order is the other way round: first check whether that flat, in that municipality, can be a vivienda de uso turístico (tourist-use dwelling). I explain the layers of registration (regional and national, after the Supreme Court's recent about-turn), why the town hall has the final say, and how the rental income is taxed when you are a non-resident. No jargon, before you sign.
Buying to let: tourist rentals in the Comunitat Valenciana and their licences →