01How we handle a Málaga case without you travelling
Most of an immigration application is paperwork: obtaining certificates, having them translated, checking them against the Immigration Regulations (Royal Decree 1155/2024) and filing them in good order. None of that requires you and your lawyer to be in the same city.
We work online and act for clients across Andalusia. For Málaga the process is straightforward: an initial video call to choose the right route, a document checklist written for your situation, a review of every document before filing, and electronic filing under our professional certificate. We keep you informed of any request for further information and of the decision.
If something has to be done in person and you cannot do it yourself, we cover it through our network of collaborating professionals.
02The Immigration Office in Málaga
The Immigration Office of the Government Sub-delegation is at Calle Mauricio Moro Pareto, 13, the same street as the British Consulate. According to the Government Delegation in Andalusia, it handles non-lucrative residence, family reunification, long-term residence, work authorisations, residence cards for family members of EU citizens and appeals, among other procedures.
Lawyers are required to deal with the Spanish administration electronically, so your application does not depend on securing a counter appointment. It is registered on the electronic portal and the office decides it on the digital file.
03Fingerprints and residence card: where in the province
Once your residence is granted, the foreigner identity card (TIE) is issued by the National Police, by appointment. In Málaga province, the official police office finder lists TIE issuing at these locations:
- Provincial Immigration and Borders Brigade: Plaza Manuel Azaña, 3, Málaga.
- Marbella police station: Avenida Arias de Velasco, 25.
- Estepona police station: Calle Valle Inclán, 1.
- Fuengirola police station: Avenida Conde San Isidro, 98.
- Torremolinos-Benalmádena police station: Calle Skal, 12.
- Police stations in Vélez-Málaga, Antequera and Ronda.
04Who contacts us from Málaga
According to the Spanish National Statistics Institute's municipal register data, Málaga has for years been the province with the second largest British population in Spain, after Alicante. A large share of our Málaga enquiries therefore come from British nationals: some were resident before 2021 and need the Withdrawal Agreement card or its renewal; others are arriving now and look at non-lucrative residence.
The city also draws people working remotely for companies abroad, who may qualify for the international teleworking visa or permit, and specialists joining technology firms at the Andalusia Technology Park, for whom the highly qualified professional route through the Large Companies Unit is worth considering.
Many households combine profiles, for example one spouse with a work authorisation and children at school in Málaga. In those cases we plan family reunification or family member permits from the outset.
05Andalusian specifics worth knowing
Family reunification requires proof of adequate housing. The Regulations call for a report from the regional government or, where the region has delegated it, from the town hall. It must be issued within one month and cannot be more than six months old when the application is filed, so it pays to request it early.
If you are the unmarried partner of an EU or Spanish citizen, registration with the Andalusian Register of Unmarried Couples (Law 5/2002) is one way to evidence the relationship. Each register has its own conditions and we will tell you which one suits your case.
06Consulates on the Costa del Sol
The British Consulate in Málaga serves British nationals across Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla, by appointment only. You will need it for British passports or notarial documents, not for your Spanish residence, which is a matter for the Spanish authorities.
US citizens have a consular agency in Fuengirola for passports and notarial services. Visas to live or work in Spain are applied for at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence, not in Spain.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to go to the Immigration Office in Málaga to file my application?
No. As lawyers we file through the electronic portal, which is compulsory for professionals. You do not need a counter appointment. Your only visit in person is usually the fingerprint appointment at the police station.
I live in Marbella or Fuengirola. Do I have to go to Málaga city for fingerprints?
Usually not. The official police office finder lists TIE issuing at the Marbella, Estepona, Fuengirola and Torremolinos-Benalmádena stations, among others. You choose the office when booking, subject to availability.
I am British and moved to Málaga before 2021. Which document do I need?
If you were resident in Spain before 31 December 2020, you are entitled to the Withdrawal Agreement TIE. We check your padrón registration and earlier documents, such as the green EU registration certificate, and handle the card or its renewal.
I am moving to Málaga to work remotely. Which route suits me?
It depends on your contract, how long you have been with your employer and whether you will have Spanish clients. It may be the international teleworking route, non-lucrative residence if you will not work, or an employee permit. We assess this in the first meeting.
Do you have an office in Málaga?
No. We work online throughout Spain, by video call. If your case needs a one-off task in person, our network of collaborating professionals covers it.
Can I apply for non-lucrative residence once I am already in Málaga?
Not for the initial permit. Article 63 of the Regulations requires a visa application at the competent Spanish consulate, with the Málaga Immigration Office assessing part of the requirements and deciding. We prepare the consular file and, once you are in Málaga, the residence card, which must be requested within one month of entry, and later renewals.