How Do Lawyers in Spain Charge for a Visa Application, and What Should the Hoja de Encargo Say?

Spanish lawyers set out their fee in a hoja de encargo, an engagement letter. Fixed, staged or open ended depends on the case, so read it and ask. Expatronus helps you compare. Updated October 2026.

This guide is for anyone about to hire a lawyer in Spain for a visa, a residence permit or a similar filing, who has asked "how do you charge?" and been handed a one or two page document in Spanish. By the end you will know what the document is for, what the rules for lawyers say it should cover, and which questions to put to the lawyer before you sign.

What is a hoja de encargo, and do I have to sign one?

The hoja de encargo is the engagement letter: the paper where a lawyer writes down what they have been asked to do and on what terms. Think of it as the written version of the first conversation.

It is not a form the state issues. It is a document the law firm prepares, usually from a model its local bar association (the colegio de abogados) provides. The Estatuto General de la Abogacía, the statute that governs the profession, says the lawyer gives the client the information it lists "preferentemente mediante la utilización de hojas de encargo", in other words preferably through an engagement letter, and that the bar associations draw up models to make this easy. It says preferably, so a lawyer can use an equivalent means. That is the reason to ask for the paper: it turns a conversation into something both sides can read again.

A man in a burgundy apron with his arms crossed, beside the words: What a letter puts in writing. The scope of the work. How the price is set. What sits outside it. — The three things to look for first in an engagement letter.

What does the Spanish bar's code say the letter should contain?

The Código Deontológico, the professional code of the Consejo General de la Abogacía Española, has an article called Hojas de encargo. It says that if an engagement letter is signed, it should record a short list of things. In plain terms:

The object of the engagement: what exactly the lawyer has been hired to do.
The specific actions included, and ideally the ones left out, such as appeals or expert reports that are not part of the quote.
The price, set out clearly and prominently. Where an exact figure cannot be given because of the nature of the case, the letter says so and states the bases on which the price will be worked out.
Sums charged on top: suplidos, the out of pocket costs a lawyer pays on your behalf, and anything else not included in the price of the service.
When each payment falls due, and how payments are applied.
What happens if the engagement ends early, for instance when the lawyer or the client withdraws.
Other legal duties, in particular the anti money laundering law.
Arbitration if the parties agree to it for disputes, and the general contracting conditions where they apply.

That list comes from the code itself, and the Estatuto adds a second layer: the lawyer must tell you about fees and costs, and about the possible consequences of an order to pay costs if there is litigation. Two secondary sources describe the same pattern in practice. A LegalToday article on the engagement letter lists identification of both sides, scope, other professionals such as procuradores and notaries, fees by service and phase, suplidos, advance payments and taxes. The consumer organisation OCU publishes a model that follows the same structure and adds the ways to challenge a final fee note.

How do lawyers in Spain charge for a visa application: fixed fee or hourly?

The honest answer is that the Estatuto leaves the amount to be agreed freely between client and lawyer, within the professional and competition rules. So there is no single method, and this guide will not pretend there is. What the engagement letter does is show you which method your lawyer is using. Three shapes turn up, and the letter should make clear which one you are in.

A closed price for a defined piece of work. Common when the task is clear, such as preparing and filing one application. The letter should list what is inside that price.
A price by stages. The work is split into phases and each phase has its own amount and its own due date. Common when the path can branch, for example when a refusal could lead to a further step.
A price that cannot be fixed yet. The code allows for it: the letter then states the bases that will determine the amount. If you see this, ask what those bases are, in words you can follow.

A fourth element can sit beside any of them: a payment linked to the result. Some letters include a success component. It is a legitimate thing to ask about, and the letter should say plainly when it applies.

What a specialist confirms for your case: the amounts, the stages, the deadlines for each payment and what the work covers. This guide does not state any of them, because they depend on the lawyer, the route and the facts of your case.

What should I check before I sign?

Read the letter as a map of the relationship, not as a formality. These are the places where misunderstandings usually start.

A man in a navy blazer holding a dark folder, beside the words: Questions for the lawyer. What is not in the price. When each payment falls due. What if the work stops early. — Three questions that the letter should already answer.

Is the scope specific?

"Immigration assistance" is not a scope. "Preparing and filing an application for a given residence route, and following it until the authority decides" is closer. Look for a line saying that signing does not cover new matters or incidents that come up later. LegalToday describes that kind of preventive clause as a normal protection for both sides.

What sits outside the price?

Ask about the costs a lawyer passes on: official fees paid on your behalf, sworn translations, travel, and other professionals such as a notary. The code speaks of the sums that are requested as suplidos and that are not included in the price of the services. A letter that lists them gives you a fuller picture than a single headline price.

When does each payment fall due?

The code expects the letter to record the moments at which payments become due. You may also see a provisión de fondos, an advance. The code says advances can be requested before or during the matter, that the amount should fit what the case is expected to involve, and that a receipt is issued for each one. It also says that not paying can allow the lawyer to decline or stop acting, which is the reason to understand the schedule before you agree to it.

What happens if it ends early?

Cases change. You may move cities, the facts may change, or the lawyer may step back. The code lists the consequences of early termination among the things a letter should record. If the letter is silent, ask.

Who is actually acting for you?

The Estatuto says a lawyer gives the client their name, tax identification number, bar association and membership number, professional address and a way to contact them. If several lawyers in a firm will work on the matter, you are entitled to know who they are and who leads. Check that the letter or the paperwork around it names them.

How are taxes and the final invoice handled?

The Estatuto requires an invoice that itemises fees and expenses. The models published by OCU and described by LegalToday mention VAT, and withholding where it applies. Ask whether the amounts you were quoted include taxes or add them.

What if we disagree about the fee?

The OCU model states that a client who disagrees with a final fee note can take legal action or challenge it before the governing board of the bar association, and some letters mention consumer arbitration. Whether that applies to you is for the lawyer to confirm, but it is worth seeing the route written down before you need it.

A short comparison: what the letter tells you and what it does not

Scope: the letter shows what is included. It does not tell you whether the route itself is right for you. Ask the lawyer.
Price: it shows how the price is built. It does not tell you whether that price is competitive. Compare more than one.
Timing: it shows when payments fall due. It does not promise how long the authority will take.
Outcome: it does not promise a result, and it should not. The code asks the lawyer to inform you honestly about the viability of the matter.
Language: most letters are in Spanish. Ask for an English explanation or summary of each clause before you sign.

Can I compare engagement letters from several lawyers?

Yes, and it is one of the better ways to compare lawyers, because the letters show the structure behind a price. Two quotes that look different often differ in what they include. One covers the filing and the follow up, another covers the filing only and adds the rest later.

On Expatronus you describe your case once and independent, verified specialists send an estimate. The estimate is not binding and can change after the consultation, which is what the chat is for. When you accept an official offer, the case closes to other specialists and you agree the working terms with that specialist, who sets their own rates. That is a good moment to ask for the engagement letter and read it with the questions above beside you.

What do I put in front of a lawyer before the first call?

A few lines on what you need: the route or filing you think applies, and what you are unsure about.
Your timeline in words: when you plan to move and any date you are working against.
The documents you already hold, listed, not attached all at once.
The questions in this guide, printed or on your phone.
Whether you want the work in English and the lawyer to explain each clause.

Frequently asked questions

Is a hoja de encargo mandatory in Spain?

The Estatuto General de la Abogacía says the lawyer gives the client the information about fees and costs before starting, preferably through an engagement letter. It is the preferred means, not the only one. Ask your lawyer which document they use.

Does the engagement letter fix the price forever?

It records how the price is set. If the letter states bases rather than an exact amount, the final figure depends on those bases. Ask what could change it and who tells you first.

Can I negotiate the terms?

The Estatuto leaves the amount to be freely agreed between client and lawyer. Asking for a clearer scope, a different payment schedule or a plain language explanation is a normal request.

What are suplidos?

Suplidos are expenses the lawyer pays on your behalf, such as official fees or translations, which are not part of the lawyer's own fee. The code expects the letter to say which sums will be asked for on top of the price.

Do gestors use the same document?

Not necessarily. The documents described here come from the rules for lawyers. A gestor or a tax advisor may use a different form of service agreement, so ask them for their written terms in the same spirit.

Where can I read the rules myself?

The Estatuto General de la Abogacía Española was approved by Real Decreto 135/2021 and is published in the BOE. The Código Deontológico is published by the Consejo General de la Abogacía Española. Both are linked below.

Sources

Ready to compare? Describe your case once and compare estimates from independent, verified specialists, then read each engagement letter with these questions beside you.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Laws and regulations change frequently, so always verify with official sources and consult a qualified professional before making any decisions.

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Spanish lawyers set out their fee in a hoja de encargo, an engagement letter. Fixed, staged or open ended depends on the case, so read it and ask. Expatronus helps you compare. Updated October 2026.

What is a hoja de encargo, and do I have to sign one?

The hoja de encargo is the engagement letter: the paper where a lawyer writes down what they have been asked to do and on what terms. Think of it as the written version of the first conversation.

What does the Spanish bar's code say the letter should contain?

The object of the engagement: what exactly the lawyer has been hired to do.
The specific actions included, and ideally the ones left out, such as appeals or expert reports that are not part of the quote.
The price, set out clearly and prominently. Where an exact figure cannot be given because of the nature of the case, the letter says so and states the bases on which the price will be worked out.
Sums charged on top: suplidos, the out of pocket costs a lawyer pays on your behalf, and anything else not included in the price of the service.
When each payment falls due, and how payments are applied.
What happens if the engagement ends early, for instance when the lawyer or the client withdraws.
Other legal duties, in particular the anti money laundering law.
Arbitration if the parties agree to it for disputes, and the general contracting conditions where they apply.

How do lawyers in Spain charge for a visa application: fixed fee or hourly?

A closed price for a defined piece of work. Common when the task is clear, such as preparing and filing one application. The letter should list what is inside that price.
A price by stages. The work is split into phases and each phase has its own amount and its own due date. Common when the path can branch, for example when a refusal could lead to a further step.
A price that cannot be fixed yet. The code allows for it: the letter then states the bases that will determine the amount. If you see this, ask what those bases are, in words you can follow.