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Costs of buying property in Spain as a foreigner: complete breakdown
The purchase price is just the beginning. Foreign buyers in Spain should budget an additional 12-15% of the property price: a resident's purchase costs plus a lawyer, sworn translations and the NIE; it is the figure CaixaBank (HolaBank) publishes for its non-resident mortgage. This guide breaks down every cost so there are no surprises.
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Taxes: the biggest cost after the property itself
The tax you pay depends on whether the property is new (from a developer) or resale (from a private seller).
| Tax | New build | Resale | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITP (Transfer Tax) | — | 4-13% | Varies by autonomous community |
| VAT (IVA) | 10% | — | 10% for homes (IGIC 7% in the Canary Islands) |
| AJD (Stamp Duty) | 0-1.5% | — | Only on new builds, varies by region |
ITP (Transfer Tax)
—
4-13%
Varies by autonomous community
VAT (IVA)
10%
—
10% for homes (IGIC 7% in the Canary Islands)
AJD (Stamp Duty)
0-1.5%
—
Only on new builds, varies by region
ITP varies significantly by regionCatalonia charges 10-13%, Andalucía 7%, Madrid 6%, Valencia 9-11%. The difference between Catalonia and Madrid on a €300,000 property is €12,000. Check the rates for your specific region with our ITP calculator.
Professional fees
These fees cover the legal and administrative professionals involved in the transaction:
| Service | Typical cost | Mandatory? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notary (notario) | €565-€766 | Yes | Official fee scale, €150,000-€500,000 home, VAT included |
| Land Registry (registro) | €197-€318 | Yes | Official fee scale; registers your ownership |
| Lawyer (abogado) | Set by each lawyer | No | Advisable for foreign buyers: ask for a quote |
| Tax representative (gestoría) | About €300 | Recommended | Handles tax filings; no official tariff |
| Property valuation | About €350 (hipotecas.me estimate) | Yes (for mortgage) | Required by the bank; no official tariff |
Notary (notario)
€565-€766
Yes
Official fee scale, €150,000-€500,000 home, VAT included
Land Registry (registro)
€197-€318
Yes
Official fee scale; registers your ownership
Lawyer (abogado)
Set by each lawyer
No
Advisable for foreign buyers: ask for a quote
Tax representative (gestoría)
About €300
Recommended
Handles tax filings; no official tariff
Property valuation
About €350 (hipotecas.me estimate)
Yes (for mortgage)
Required by the bank; no official tariff
Additional costs specific to foreign buyers
These are costs that Spanish buyers don't face:
- •NIE application: €9.84 police fee (tasa 790 código 012, 2026), plus the agency's fee if you use one
- •Sworn translations: no official tariff, so ask for quotes. You'll need translations of payslips, tax returns, credit reports, bank statements
- •Power of attorney (poder notarial): charged on the notary's fee scale, if you cannot attend the signing in person
- •International bank transfers: each bank and currency service sets its own fees and exchange margin: compare before you send
- •Travel costs: At least one trip to Spain for viewings, plus potentially a second for the notary signing
Complete cost example: €250,000 resale apartment in Málaga
Here is the breakdown for a foreign buyer purchasing a resale property in Andalucía, with the tax and the notary and registry fees calculated from the official rates and fee scales:
| Item | Amount | % of price |
|---|---|---|
| Property price | €250,000 | — |
| ITP (Andalucía: 7%) | €17,500 | 7.0% |
| Notary (fee scale) | €622 | 0.2% |
| Land Registry (fee scale) | €231 | 0.1% |
| Gestoría (our working figure) | €300 | 0.1% |
| Valuation (hipotecas.me estimate) | €350 | 0.1% |
| Lawyer, translations, NIE | Ask for quotes | — |
| TOTAL COSTS ABOVE | €19,003 | 7.6% |
| TOTAL (property + costs above) | €269,003 | — |
Property price
€250,000
—
ITP (Andalucía: 7%)
€17,500
7.0%
Notary (fee scale)
€622
0.2%
Land Registry (fee scale)
€231
0.1%
Gestoría (our working figure)
€300
0.1%
Valuation (hipotecas.me estimate)
€350
0.1%
Lawyer, translations, NIE
Ask for quotes
—
TOTAL COSTS ABOVE
€19,003
7.6%
TOTAL (property + costs above)
€269,003
—
Don't forget ongoing costsAfter purchase, you'll pay annual IBI (property tax, set by the town hall on the cadastral value), non-resident income tax (IRNR, even if you don't rent it out), and community fees if applicable. Ask the seller for the latest receipts to budget them.
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Frequently asked questions
Who pays the notary and registry fees — buyer or seller?
Can I deduct any of these costs from my taxes?
Are costs different for new-build properties?
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About this content
Mortgage Content Editor
Published: March 2026
Last updated: October 2026
This page is informational and editorial in nature. It explains how the described mortgage conditions typically work and what to review, without guaranteeing results or replacing a lender’s assessment.