Yes. In Spain a purchase is finalised by a public deed (escritura publica) before a Spanish notary, and the buyer pays the notary’s fee. Budget roughly 600 to 1,200 euros or more depending on the price, plus a separate land registry fee of about 400 to 1,000 euros (idealista, January 2026).
Spain, like Belgium, is a civil-law country where a notary gives legal certainty to property transfers. The escritura publica de compraventa is the notarial deed that records the sale, and it is the notary who verifies the parties’ identities, confirms the seller’s title, and formalises the transfer. You cannot skip this step: there is no valid transfer of ownership to a third party without it, and the buyer normally bears the notary’s fee.
The Spanish notary’s tariff is set by regulation and scales with the property value, which is why the range is stated rather than a single number: expect roughly 600 to 1,200 euros or more (idealista, January 2026). Do not confuse the notary fee with the land registry fee. After the deed, the purchase is entered in the Registro de la Propiedad (land registry) to make your ownership enforceable against third parties, and that registration costs a further 400 to 1,000 euros or so (idealista, January 2026).
Here is the part that differs from Belgium and often surprises buyers: in Spain, the notary’s fee is a relatively small slice of the total. The heavy cost is the tax, either ITP of 4% to 10% on a resale or IVA of 10% plus AJD stamp duty on a new build (idealista, January 2026). So while the notary is unavoidable, it is not where most of your money goes. A gestor or lawyer usually handles the registration and tax filing on your behalf for a few hundred euros more.
Easyhome coordinates the appointment, makes sure the documents are in order, and, where you cannot attend in person, helps arrange representation by power of attorney so the deed can be signed without you flying out.
At a glance
- Notary is mandatory: the sale is finalised by the escritura publica before a Spanish notary.
- Who pays: the buyer normally pays the notary fee.
- Notary fee: roughly 600 to 1,200 euros or more, scaling with price (idealista, January 2026).
- Land registry: a separate 400 to 1,000 euros or more to register your title (idealista, January 2026).
- Bigger cost is tax: ITP 4% to 10% (resale) or IVA 10% plus AJD (new build) (idealista, January 2026).
- Remote signing: possible by power of attorney; Easyhome helps arrange it.