Immigration lawyers in Marbella
Residency, visas, Spanish citizenship, arraigo and family reunification.
We have been handling immigration cases in Marbella, Málaga and throughout Spain for more than 44 years.
Consultations from €45 · Español · English · Русский
Ask about your immigration case
Immigration law firm in Marbella
Bocanegra Lawyers is an immigration law firm in Marbella that has been handling residence permits, visas, Spanish citizenship, arraigo applications and family reunification since 1982. We act for clients in Marbella, Málaga, the Costa del Sol and the rest of Spain from our offices in Marbella and Madrid, in person or online.
The department is personally overseen by Ricardo Bocanegra, founder and a pioneer of immigration law in Andalusia, and Cristina Bocanegra, Managing Partner and practising lawyer. Every case is handled by a team whose members have more than forty years’ experience in immigration procedures.
44
years specialising in immigration
+40.000
foreign clients advised
+10.000
citizenships obtained
+30.000
residence permits handled
Bocanegra Lawyers in the media
Some of our media appearances on immigration: Onda Cero, foreign residents and the pandemic restrictions · ABC, British residents on the Costa del Sol after Brexit · Distrito TV, the extraordinary regularisation of foreign nationals.
Immigration services
Immigration procedures we handle
Choose your situation. If you are not sure which route applies to you, we will work it out together at the initial consultation.
Residency in Spain
To live in Spain legally and on a stable footing, whether or not you work. We prepare the initial application, the renewals and the move to long-term residence.
- Residence as an employee
- Residence as a self-employed worker (autónomo)
- Temporary residence and renewals
- Long-term and EU long-term residence
Spanish citizenship
We guide you from working out when you become eligible and preparing for the exams through to taking the oath. If your application has been refused, we look into an appeal.
- By residence
- By origin, option and naturalisation by letter of grant (carta de naturaleza)
- Recovery of Spanish nationality
- Appeals against refusals
The usual route is citizenship by residence: as a general rule, ten years of legal residence, reduced to two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal (Article 22 of the Spanish Civil Code).
You may also be interested in: Spanish citizenship refused for lack of integration: what can you do?
Arraigo (residence through roots)
For people already living in Spain without authorisation who can regularise their status through their social, work, family or training ties.
- Arraigo social (social ties)
- Arraigo sociolaboral (work ties)
- Arraigo socioformativo (training)
- Arraigo familiar (family ties)
- Second-chance arraigo
The Immigration Regulations (Royal Decree 1155/2024), in force since May 2025, reorganised the arraigo routes and reduced the required period of stay from three years to two for most of them.
Visas to live in Spain
For people still outside Spain who want to move here. We help you choose the right visa for your profile and prepare the paperwork for the consulate.
- Digital Nomad Visa
- Non-lucrative residence
- Highly qualified professionals
- Entrepreneurs
The Digital Nomad Visa is for people who work remotely for companies or clients outside Spain; non-lucrative residence is for those who can live on their own means without working in Spain (retirees and people of independent means).
You may also be interested in: The Digital Nomad Visa, an alternative to the Golden Visa
Family reunification and relatives of Spanish or EU citizens
To bring your family to Spain, or to regularise the partner or relatives of a Spanish or EU citizen.
- Family reunification
- Residence for relatives of Spanish nationals
- EU family member residence card
- Registered partnerships (parejas de hecho)
The route is not the same in every case: as a rule, relatives of Spanish nationals apply for a specific residence permit, while relatives of citizens of other EU countries apply for the EU family member residence card. We look at your case and tell you which route applies.
Students
To study in Spain and, once you finish, to work or stay on and live here.
- Student visa and stay for studies
- Extensions
- Work authorisation for students
- Switching from studies to residence
Work permits
For foreign workers and the businesses and families who employ them.
- Initial work permit
- Renewals
- Change of employment status
We coordinate the process with our employment department: employment advisers in Marbella.
Golden Visa: renewals
Since April 2025 Spain no longer accepts new applications for residence by investment: Organic Law 1/2025 abolished this route. If you already hold one, we handle its renewal.
If you were thinking of applying, we explain the alternatives: non-lucrative residence, the Digital Nomad Visa or residence for entrepreneurs.
You may also be interested in: The Golden Visa in Spain: how it worked
NIE, TIE and documents
We obtain the documents you need as a foreign national in Spain.
- Obtaining your NIE
- TIE: first card and renewal
- Fingerprinting and replacements
- EU registration certificate (‘green NIE’)
Appeals and refusals
If a residence permit, visa or citizenship application has been refused, or the authorities have not replied, we examine the file and lodge the appropriate appeal within the deadline.
Who we advise on immigration
Families relocating
From family reunification to school enrolment and citizenship.
Professionals and digital nomads
Working remotely from the Costa del Sol.
Retirees and people of independent means
Looking to live in Marbella with non-lucrative residence.
Investors and entrepreneurs
Setting up a business or investing in Spain. We coordinate immigration with tax advice (the Beckham Law, tax residence) and buying a home.
British nationals after Brexit
With their TIE and their residence rights. The TIE for British nationals in Spain
Clients from Russia and Eastern Europe
Advised in Russian by our dedicated department.
Businesses and employers
Hiring foreign staff, including domestic staff.
Students
Coming to study and wanting to stay on to work or live.
People already living in Spain
Needing to regularise their status, renew a permit or apply for citizenship.
How much does an immigration lawyer in Marbella cost?
The initial consultation tells you whether your case is viable, which route suits you and how much the whole procedure will cost. You can have it at our office or online.
Immigration consultation
€4530 min
- Analysis of your case and the viable route
- At our office or online
- Quote for the whole procedure
With the Managing Partner
€10060 min
- With Cristina Bocanegra, lawyer and Managing Partner
- For complex cases or those with several possible routes
- At our office or online
After the consultation we give you a fixed quote in writing before any work begins.
Why trust your case to Bocanegra Lawyers
44 years in immigration law
We started in 1982, when immigration law was not yet a recognised speciality in Spain.
Direct oversight by the partners
Ricardo and Cristina Bocanegra personally review the most complex cases.
Experience recognised by the institutions
A formal complaint by the firm led the European Commission to urge Spain to apply EU rules on residence permits correctly.
A team that speaks your language
Spanish, English, German and Russian.
Everything under one roof
Immigration, tax, buying a home and hiring staff.
A reply within 24 hours
We answer every enquiry within 24 working hours.
Shall we talk about your case?
Book your immigration consultation at our office or online, or message us on WhatsApp and we will reply within 24 working hours.
Your immigration lawyers in Marbella
The partners oversee the most complex cases, and the immigration department handles your file day to day.
Lawyer · Founder
Ricardo Bocanegra Sánchez
- Law graduate and chartered administrative agent
- A pioneer of immigration law in Andalusia since 1982
- Founder of FAECOSOL
Lawyer · Managing Partner
- NYU Law School in New York and ICADE in Madrid
- Member of the Madrid Bar Association
- Mediator listed on the Register of Mediators
Immigration department
The team that handles your file day to day.
Martín Ruiz
Immigration
Cristina Gómez Rojo
Immigration
Rocío Oliver Bernal
Immigration
Fátima Bocanegra
Residence and work permits
Malen Perurena Favale
Russia and Eastern Europe
Andrea Iancu
Immigration
José Fernández
Immigration
How we handle your case
From the initial consultation to the decision, in four steps.
Initial consultation
We analyse your situation and tell you which route is viable. Bring your passport, proof of your current status in Spain (visa, TIE or empadronamiento — town hall registration) and any decision or request you have received.
Strategy and quote
We explain in writing the steps, the documents, the estimated timescales and the cost.
Preparation and submission
We gather and check the paperwork, book appointments and submit the application to the Immigration Office, the consulate or the Civil Registry.
Follow-up until the decision
We respond to requests from the authorities, keep you updated on every development and, if necessary, lodge an appeal.
Recent immigration changes worth knowing about
April–June 2026
2026 extraordinary regularisation
The application window ran from 16 April to 30 June 2026. Those who were regularised received a one-year residence and work permit and, when it expires, must move to an ordinary permit under the Regulations. If this applies to you, we can help you prepare that step in good time.
May 2025
New Immigration Regulations
Royal Decree 1155/2024 reorganised arraigo into five types (social, sociolaboral, socioformativo, family and second-chance), reduced the required period of stay and changed the duration of several permits. If an application of yours was refused under the previous rules, it may be worth having it reviewed.
April 2025
The end of the Golden Visa
Organic Law 1/2025 abolished residence by investment: new applications are no longer accepted. Permits already granted can be renewed.
Brexit
British residents in Spain
If you were legally resident in Spain before 31 December 2020, the Withdrawal Agreement protects your right of residence and your TIE proves it; that right may also extend to some family members. If you arrived later, you can stay for up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa, but to live here you need a residence permit like any other non-EU citizen. Official information from the Spanish Foreign Ministry.
Reviews from our immigration clients
Frequently asked questions about immigration
How much does an immigration lawyer in Marbella cost?
An immigration consultation costs €45 (30 minutes), or €100 (60 minutes) with the Managing Partner, at our office or online. Afterwards we give you a fixed quote for the whole procedure, which depends on the type of case.
Do I have to hire a lawyer to apply for residency?
No. Most immigration procedures can be submitted without a lawyer. What a specialist lawyer brings is choosing the right route, submitting a complete application first time and responding to requests in time. A refusal can set everything back by months or even leave you without legal status.
How long does it take to obtain Spanish citizenship?
There are two timeframes. The first is the period of legal residence required by law: ten years in general, and two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, among other cases. The second is how long the Ministry of Justice takes to decide, which is usually more than a year. We help you submit your application as soon as you are eligible and avoid requests that would delay it further.
Does the Golden Visa still exist in Spain?
Not for new applications: it was abolished in April 2025. If you already hold one, you can renew it. If you were hoping to apply, there are alternatives such as non-lucrative residence or the Digital Nomad Visa.
What can I do if my residence or citizenship application is refused?
You can appeal. Depending on the case, an administrative appeal is lodged first and then, if necessary, a court appeal. The deadlines are short, so it is best to seek advice as soon as possible. We review the decision and tell you whether an appeal has a chance of success.
What is the difference between the NIE and the TIE?
The NIE is your identification number as a foreign national in Spain — the one you use for official procedures, contracts and purchases. The TIE is the physical card that proves your residence permit and includes that number.
Do you work with clients outside Marbella or who still live abroad?
Yes. We act for clients across the Costa del Sol, Madrid and the rest of Spain, as well as people still in their home country preparing their visa. Consultations can also take place online.
Which languages do you work in?
We work in Spanish, English, German and Russian.
What should I bring to the initial consultation?
Your passport, any document showing your status in Spain if you have one (visa, TIE, empadronamiento) and any decision, request or notification you have received. With that we can give you a concrete answer from day one.
Immigration lawyers in Marbella: where to find us
Our law firm in Marbella, on Marbella’s Golden Mile, has more than 44 years’ experience in immigration, tax and property law for international clients.
We are open Monday to Thursday, 9:00–18:00, and on Fridays, 9:00–15:00.
Content reviewed and verified by
Lawyer and Managing Partner of Bocanegra Lawyers. Member no. 133,761 of the Madrid Bar Association, trained at NYU Law School in New York and ICADE in Madrid, and a mediator listed on the Ministry of Justice’s Register of Mediators. She has reviewed the legal information on this page: procedures, timescales, legislation cited and prices.
Last reviewed: October 2026