01How we handle a Murcia case without you travelling
An immigration application is mostly 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 throughout Spain. For clients in the Region of Murcia the process is straightforward: an initial video call to choose the 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 Murcia
The Immigration Office of the Government Delegation is not in the city centre but at Cabezo Cortado, beside the N-301 near Espinardo. According to the Delegation, it handles permits for family members of Spanish nationals, family reunification, national and EU long-term residence, student stays applied for in Spain, changes of status and residence cards for family members of EU citizens, among other procedures.
The Delegation publishes separate appointment instructions for initial applications and for renewals, plus its own booking form. When a lawyer acts for you none of that applies: the application is registered on the electronic portal and the office decides it on the digital file.
03Fingerprints and residence card: from Murcia city to Cartagena
Once your permit is granted, the foreigner identity card (TIE) is issued by the National Police, by appointment only. The Delegation states that NIE numbers, EU citizen registration certificates and re-entry authorisations are also handled by the police. The official police office finder lists TIE issuing at these locations in the region:
- Provincial Immigration and Borders Brigade: at the same Cabezo Cortado site, Calle Francisco Alfonso Hidalgo Martínez, 38, Murcia.
- Cartagena police station: Calle Menéndez y Pelayo, 6.
- Lorca police station: Plaza de la Policía Nacional, 1.
- Molina de Segura police station: Calle Canarias, 2.
- Yecla police station: Calle Rambla, 34.
04Who contacts us from the Region of Murcia
Many of our enquiries come from the coast: Cartagena, the Mar Menor towns and the Costa Cálida, home to many British and other European residents, often retired. Some were already in Spain before 2021 and need the Withdrawal Agreement TIE or its renewal; others are arriving now and look at non-lucrative residence.
EU citizens settling on the coast with a partner or children of another nationality need the residence card for family members of EU citizens. Those who have held temporary permits for years often ask about long-term residence, which brings stability without frequent renewals.
In and around Murcia city we also see professionals working remotely for companies abroad, who may qualify for international teleworking, and families planning reunification.
05Specifics of the Region of Murcia 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, and it cannot be more than six months old when the application is filed. On the coast, where many homes are holiday properties, it is worth checking beforehand that the property meets the conditions.
The Region of Murcia regulates unmarried couples in Law 7/2018 of 3 July, which creates a regional register. If you are the unmarried partner of an EU or Spanish citizen, registration is one way to evidence the relationship.
If you hold non-lucrative residence, remember that it does not by itself give access to public healthcare, provided in the region by the Murcian Health Service; private health insurance is one of the requirements and must be kept up for renewals.
06Consulates for the Region of Murcia
There is no British consulate in Murcia. According to gov.uk, the consulate in Alicante covers Alicante and Murcia, by appointment only, for British passports and documents. Your Spanish residence is a matter for the Spanish authorities, not the consulate.
US citizens have a consular agency in Valencia whose district includes Murcia, for passports and notarial services. Residence visas 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 at Cabezo Cortado 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 on the Mar Menor. Where are my TIE fingerprints taken?
The official police office finder lists TIE issuing at the Cartagena police station, as well as the Brigade in Murcia. You choose the office when booking, among those with available slots.
I am British and have lived on the coast since 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 want to retire to Cartagena or the Costa Cálida. Which route suits me?
If you will not work in Spain and have sufficient income or savings, the usual route is non-lucrative residence. The visa is applied for at the Spanish consulate in your country; we prepare the file and, once you are in Murcia, the card and renewals.
My partner is an EU citizen and we live in Murcia. Can I live here with them?
Yes, if you can evidence marriage or a registered or durable partnership. You can apply for the residence card for family members of EU citizens, which the Murcia Immigration Office handles. We review how to evidence the relationship and your partner's means.
Do you have an office in Murcia or Cartagena?
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.