Do you need an immigration lawyer in Madrid? If you are dealing with Spanish immigration paperwork — a visa, a residence permit, a renewal, a family case, your NIE/TIE, or a refusal you need to appeal — you are in the right place. Lexmovea is an English-speaking immigration law firm based in Madrid, and we walk individuals, families, and professionals through the whole process with a clear, predictable method: we review your eligibility, build your document checklist, decide the filing strategy, submit, follow up, and stay with you through the steps that come after approval, including the cita previa and the TIE/huellas (fingerprint) appointment here in Madrid.
Below you will find a Madrid-specific overview of what we do, realistic timelines, the documents that tend to matter most, how we handle the appointment bottlenecks everyone runs into, and what your options are if your application is denied. If you have been searching for an immigration lawyer in Madrid, a Spain immigration lawyer, or specifically an English-speaking immigration lawyer in Madrid, our goal on this page is simple: help you understand your situation quickly and turn it into a concrete plan you can act on.
At a glance: immigration legal help in Madrid
- Who it is for: non-EU and EU nationals living in or relocating to Madrid and across Spain.
- Languages: English, Spanish, and Arabic.
- Consultation: €49, deductible if you hire us for the procedure within the next five days.
- What we cover: visas, residence and work permits, renewals, arraigo (regularization) routes, EU family member cards, Spanish nationality, and refusal appeals.
- Format: in person in Madrid or fully online, worldwide.
- Legal framework: current Spanish immigration law, including Real Decreto 1155/2024.
Lexmovea: your trusted partner for immigration procedures in Madrid
Lexmovea is a law firm focused on immigration, with its headquarters in Madrid. We offer personalized, effective legal support for whatever you are trying to achieve in Spain, and we keep the process practical and transparent from the first conversation. That means we identify the right legal route for your situation, prepare an application designed to resist a refusal, file it correctly, track the file as it moves, and guide you through the steps that catch most people off guard after approval — above all the difference between your NIE and your TIE, and the Madrid fingerprint logistics that follow.
Whether you are applying for a first permit, renewing one, bringing your family over, switching from one status to another, or responding to a denial, you will work with a team that understands how Madrid immigration actually functions in practice: where the delays happen, how to avoid them, and what evidence tends to be decisive in front of the authorities. Spanish immigration rules changed substantially with Real Decreto 1155/2024, and a great deal of the advice still circulating online reflects the old rules. Part of our job is making sure your application is built on the law as it stands today, not on outdated requirements.
Who we help
Individuals and families
We help non-EU citizens living in Madrid, or planning to move here, with visa and residence applications, renewals, family processes, EU family member cards, student stays, and regularization through the various arraigo routes — a set of residence figures, recently reshaped by Real Decreto 1155/2024, that let people who already have ties in Spain regularize their situation. We also handle the everyday Madrid realities that trip people up: securing a cita previa (the prior appointment) and completing the TIE/huellas process once your residence is granted.
Professionals and companies
We support professionals and employers in Madrid with work authorizations, highly qualified professional permits, intra-company transfers, and broader business immigration pathways. Here our focus is compliance, correct documentation, and realistic timelines, so that hiring and onboarding can happen without the avoidable delays that come from a poorly assembled file.
Our immigration services in Madrid
If you already know your route — digital nomad, non-lucrative, work permit, student stay — the list below takes you straight to the right page. If you are not sure which route fits, that is exactly what the initial eligibility assessment is for: choosing the correct path from the start is the single best way to avoid a wrong-route refusal.
- Spanish Nationality: we guide you from confirming your eligibility and shaping your document strategy through to filing and answering any request for additional documents.
- Social, Family, Sociolaboral, and Socioformativo arraigo permits: we advise on and represent arraigo applications under the current rules, focusing on eligibility, the standard of evidence, employer documentation where relevant, and filing mechanics that reduce denial risk.
- EU Family Member Residence Card: we handle obtaining and renewing the tarjeta comunitaria, including the proof your specific scenario calls for — relationship, dependency, or cohabitation — and the post-approval steps in Madrid.
- Non-Lucrative Residency: we build a compliant non-lucrative file with particular attention to financial consistency and document accuracy, the two issues that most often drive a refusal.
- Student Visa and Study Stay: applications and renewals, including proof-of-funds planning, insurance compliance, the in-Spain versus consulate decision, and the TIE steps in Madrid.
- Digital Nomad Visa: whether you work remotely as an employee or for a foreign company, we take you through eligibility, documentation, and submission strategy, and stay on the file through follow-up.
- Golden Visa: guidance on investment-based residence pathways, with clear scope and realistic expectations about what the program requires.
- Hiring from the country of origin, Highly Qualified Professionals, and Intra-Company Transfers: we advise companies and professionals on the employer-side documentation, compliance, and filing strategy that keep mobility files moving.
- Permit and card renewals: we manage the timing, the proof standards, and the risk points that matter most while a renewal is pending, especially keeping your right to travel and work intact.
- Visa denial appeals and reviews: if you have been refused, we assess the grounds, decide between reapplying and appealing, and represent you through the administrative appeal channels within the deadlines.
- Degree recognition: we guide you through the recognition of foreign degrees so you can practice or access regulated pathways in Spain.
- Expatriate and relocation services: practical and legal support for settling in Madrid, aligning your residence permit with the real-life steps — housing, registrations, administrative procedures — that come with it.
How the process works, step by step
Most “immigration lawyer Madrid” pages stop at “contact us.” Here is how we actually work, so you know exactly what happens and what you receive at each stage.
1. Eligibility assessment and strategy
We start by confirming the correct legal route — visa, residence, arraigo, EU family card, or nationality — checking the deadlines that apply to you, and surfacing risks early, from missing documents and prior refusals to criminal records, financial proof, or an employer’s solvency. Getting this right at the outset is what prevents wrong-route filings and gives your application its best chance.
2. Document checklist, translations, and legalization
You receive a checklist tailored to your exact pathway and circumstances. We tell you what has to be apostilled or legalized, what needs a sworn translation, how long each document stays valid, and which data points have to match across certificates — names, dates, and addresses — because inconsistencies there are a common, and entirely avoidable, cause of delay.
3. Filing and follow-up
We prepare a submission-ready application pack and file it through the right channel, online or in person depending on the procedure. From there we track its progress, respond to any request for further documents (a requerimiento), and keep you informed at every step.
4. After approval: NIE, TIE, fingerprints, and renewals
Madrid logistics matter. Once your application is approved, many clients still need help with what comes next: understanding the difference between the NIE and the TIE, booking the huellas (fingerprint) appointment, preparing the correct fee forms, and planning the renewal ahead of time. We guide you through that sequence so you do not lose weeks right after you have won.
Timelines in Madrid: what to expect
Processing times depend on the type of procedure, the authority handling your file, how complete your documents are, and whether a request for additional evidence is issued along the way. We give you realistic ranges during your assessment and help you plan around the dates that matter to you — a flight, a job start date, a family deadline. We will never promise instant approval, because no honest lawyer can; what we do is submit clean, coherent files that cut down on the avoidable delays.
Fees and what is included
How much does an immigration lawyer cost in Madrid? Our fees depend on the type of procedure, its complexity, how urgent it is, and whether you need a document review, full representation, or appeal handling. We explain the scope up front and separate the costs clearly:
- Our legal fees: quoted after your assessment, based on the actual route and complexity of your case.
- Government fees (tasas): the official charges that apply to certain filings and cards.
- Third-party costs: sworn translations, apostille or legalization, notary, and document issuance, where applicable.
The principle is transparency: before you commit, you will know what is included, what is not, and what you need to provide. The personalized consultation is €49, and that amount is deducted from the cost of the procedure if you hire us within the following five days.
Why choose Lexmovea as your immigration lawyers in Madrid
We specialize in Spanish immigration law and focus on getting things done, not on generic advice. Immigration matters are time-sensitive and, often, emotionally draining, so we pair legal rigor with clear communication and a process you can actually follow.
- Experience and professionalism: we handle immigration files every day, with a constant focus on evidence quality, procedural correctness, and risk prevention.
- Personalized attention: your case is treated as its own. We tailor the route, the document strategy, and the timeline to your facts.
- Clarity: we explain the requirements, the steps, and the next actions in plain English, so you always know what is happening.
- Transparent communication: you hear from us about progress, requests for documents, and what comes next.
- A real action plan: you leave the first assessment with a structured strategy and a checklist, so you can move with confidence.
We work with honesty, persistence, and transparency. We do not guarantee approval — no reputable lawyer can — but we do offer a disciplined process built to maximize your chances and minimize unnecessary delays.
Tell us about your case and we will map out your route in plain English.
Madrid-specific help: cita previa, NIE/TIE, and huellas
Madrid moves fast and runs on appointments. For a lot of people the hard part is not eligibility, it is execution: finding a cita previa, bringing exactly the right documents to it, and knowing what happens after approval.
How to book a cita previa for immigration in Madrid
Appointment availability changes by procedure and by office, and it is one of the most searched practical questions in Madrid. Our role is to get your file to a “ready-to-submit” state and walk you through the booking workflow, so that when a slot does appear you do not waste it on missing copies, the wrong form, or incorrect proof of fee payment.
Can an immigration lawyer help with NIE and TIE in Madrid?
Yes, and the confusion between the two is extremely common. The NIE is an identification number used throughout Spanish administrative life; the TIE is the physical card that proves your residence authorization as a non-EU national. We help you work out which one you need and when, and we guide you through the steps that follow approval — particularly the fingerprint (huellas) appointment and card collection in Madrid.
Frequently asked questions about immigration lawyers in Madrid
These are the questions people most often ask before hiring an immigration lawyer in Madrid — cost, whether a lawyer is necessary, how the appointments work, and what to do after a refusal.
Do I need an immigration lawyer for a Spanish residence permit?
Not always, but many people hire one to reduce refusal risk, confirm the correct route, and avoid the delays caused by missing documents or procedural mistakes. If your case is time-sensitive, involves family or employer proof, or follows a prior refusal, legal support is a strong way to lower your risk.
How much does an immigration lawyer cost in Madrid?
It depends on the procedure and its complexity. A simple filing or document review costs less than a complex family case, corporate mobility, or a refusal appeal. We avoid one-size pricing and give you a transparent quote after assessing your route, urgency, and document status. The personalized consultation is €49, deductible if you contract a procedure within five days.
How long does it take to get residency in Spain?
Timelines vary by procedure and by the workload of the authority handling your file. We give realistic ranges during your assessment and shorten the process where we can by submitting complete, coherent files that reduce requests for additional documents. Delays still happen, especially around appointment availability, but good preparation prevents the avoidable ones.
Can an immigration lawyer help with NIE and TIE in Madrid?
Yes. We clarify which document you need and when, and we guide you through the post-approval steps — the TIE and huellas appointments and the documents and fees they usually require.
What documents do I need to start a procedure?
It depends on the pathway, but a good starting point is: your passport, your current status documents (visa, resolution, NIE or TIE), proof of address in Madrid (empadronamiento), and the key documents tied to your route — a work contract, family certificates, an acceptance letter, or a refusal notice. We provide a tailored checklist after your assessment.
Can I appeal a visa refusal in Spain with a lawyer?
Yes. If your application is refused you usually have strict deadlines to respond. We assess the grounds for refusal, decide between reapplying and appealing, and prepare a structured submission that addresses the actual reason for the denial.
Do you offer online consultations, and in which languages?
Yes. Online consultations are ideal for eligibility checks, document review, and strategy, especially if you are outside Madrid or need fast clarity. Our immigration services in Madrid and across Spain are available in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
Do you work with clients outside Spain?
Yes. Our offices are based in Madrid, and we assist clients worldwide, with a particular focus on English-speaking clients relocating to Spain.
At Lexmovea, we are committed to helping you move forward in Spain with clarity and legal security. Contact us today and let us turn your situation into a structured plan with Madrid-specific execution support.
Updated June 2026 — written by Francisco Antonio Campos Notario, immigration attorney (Lexmovea, Madrid).