Note
Land registry fees when buying property in Spain
Quick answer
Registrars charge by a state-approved scale, and the fee is paid by the person who asks for registration, normally the buyer. Registration makes you the recognised owner against the seller’s creditors. Ask for the itemised note. We print no amounts, because we have not verified the current scale.
Applies toBuyers who want to understand the cost and the value of registration. It does not cover the taxes that must be paid before the registry accepts the deed.
This area of Spanish law is complex. We could not open the legal text behind the point below in full on the official site, so we state it as it is generally understood and have not checked it word for word. Before you rely on it, ask an independent Spanish lawyer who acts for you to confirm it for your case.
- On a sale of real estate the costs of granting the deed fall on the seller and those of the first copy and later documents on the buyer, unless the parties agree otherwise (art. 1455 Código Civil).
On this page: 7 sections
§ 1What the registry does
The land registry records who owns a property and what charges weigh on it. Registration makes the buyer the recognised owner against the seller's creditors and against hidden charges, which is why registrars describe it as the step that protects the purchase. It comes after the deed and after the taxes have been dealt with. For the tax that must be settled first, see the transfer tax and stamp duty pages in this section.
§ 2A fee set by scale
Property registrars charge by a scale approved by the state, the Arancel de los Registradores de la Propiedad. As with the notary, the scale applies to everyone, so a foreign buyer pays on the same basis as a Spanish one. The amount depends mainly on the value of the property in the deed, and extras such as certificates, marginal notes and additional entries add to it. We do not print the scale because we have not verified the current amounts.
§ 3Who pays
The registration costs fall on the party who requests the registration, which is almost always the buyer, and the contract may say so expressly. The civil code's default for the deed is different, because it divides the costs of granting the deed and of the copies, as explained in what the notary charges. Read the clause on expenses and ask what it means for the registry.
§ 4The nota simple and the certificate
Before you buy, ask for a nota simple, the informative extract from the registry. It is informative only. A certificate of ownership and charges is a public document that can be used in court. Both cost a fee under the scale, and both are cheap compared with the risk of buying a property with a hidden charge. For the checks that surround them, the registrars advise reviewing the registry entry, the last property tax receipt, community fees and the energy and habitability certificates before signing.
§ 5What happens after the deed
Once the taxes have been settled, the deed is presented to the registry, which examines it and records the new owner. The time it takes varies, and the registry issues an itemised note when it finishes. If a defect is found, the registrar notifies you, and the entry waits until it is corrected. This is the moment in which a lawyer or gestor earns their fee, because a correction needs the right documents in the right form.
§ 6What to ask for
Ask the lawyer or gestor whether the registry fee is included in their quote, ask for the registry's itemised note, and keep it with the deed. Ask what happens if the registry finds a defect, who pays for the correction and how long you should allow. If you are using a gestor, the cost of a gestor explains what they usually do on the registry side, and for the lawyer's part see how lawyers charge.
§ 7Where this fits
The registry fee is one of several professional costs. The full picture, with the notary, lawyer and gestor, is in the full chapter on fees.
FAQRelated questions
Is registration compulsory?
The law treats registration as the step that makes your ownership recognised against third parties, and the registrars’ guide explains why it protects you. In practice every buyer should register, and a lender will require it.
Who pays the registry?
The person who asks for the registration pays, which is normally the buyer. The contract may say otherwise, so check the clause on expenses and confirm with your lawyer before you sign.
Can I save money by doing it myself?
You can present the deed yourself, but the taxes must be settled first and mistakes delay the entry. The saving is small against the risk, so many buyers prefer to let a lawyer or gestor handle it.
Sources
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Real Decreto 1426/1989 por el que se aprueba el Arancel de los Notarios (official source, opens in a new window), Article 1 and annexesLast checked 17 October 2026
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Real Decreto 1427/1989 por el que se aprueba el Arancel de los Registradores de la Propiedad (official source, opens in a new window), Article 1 and annexesLast checked 17 October 2026
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Código Civil (BOE-A-1889-4763) (official source, opens in a new window), Article 1455: costs of the deed of saleLast checked 17 October 2026
- Consejo General del Notariado: Houses and real estate properties (official source, opens in a new window), Steps, documents and the notary's roleLast checked 17 October 2026
- Colegio de Registradores de España: Cómo comprar una vivienda en España (edición revisada, February 2020) (official source, opens in a new window), The five steps, nota simple, taxes and costsLast checked 17 October 2026
Tax note. Rates depend on the region, the type of property and the buyer, and they change. Figures here are dated and sourced; examples are illustrative and show their assumptions. Confirm yours with the regional tax agency or a tax adviser.