A Gestor is a role that is unique to Spain and one for which there is no direct translation into English. Gestores fulfill the position of consultant, administrator, adviser, and accountant all rolled into one. Anyone who has spent any period of time in Spain will know that the bureaucratic processes in the country can be complicated, time-consuming, and difficult to comprehend, particularly if you’re not native to Spain. A Gestor can help to take care of many of these processes for you.
Gestores deal almost exclusively with state-related paperwork, and they operate in buildings called gestorías, which are licensed administrative offices. Hiring the service of a Gestor will provide you with the reassurance that your paperwork has been completed correctly, that no forms have been accidentally omitted, and that you won’t fall foul of the public administration system.
What Could Gestores Help You With?
When deciding whether or not retaining the services of a Gestor will be the right choice for you, you need to be clear about what they can help you with. To help you with this, here is a full list of the services a good Gestor will offer:
Spanish Residency Applications
If you are applying for residency in Spain then this is perhaps the most important matter a Gestor can help with. They can help you secure the required documents, they know the foreign office staff personally meaning they can get the appointment times you need, and many will even attend these appointments with you. From gathering your documents to presenting them on your behalf, if you are dealing with any residency issues then working wih a Gestor will make the residency process much smoother.
Fiscal matters
If you are a salaried employee with a contract from a registered company (whether big or small) then they will take care of your paperwork for you, or assist you with any paperwork you need to complete yourself. If you are self-employed, its likely you will need a Gestor to help you with the significant demands of your fiscal obligations. From payroll issues to contract disputes, tax declarations, or selling up your businesses, there are many more requirements for self-employed people in Spain than in many other countries, and a Gestor can take the pressure of this from you.
Securing Free National Health Care
If you’re finding it difficult to get a health card for your region, or do not understand what the requirements are to obtain access to free health in Spain, then a Gestor can help you with this whole process, from start to finish.
Taxes and Other Processes
Whether it’s inheritance or gift tax, capital gains, transfer tax or stamp duty, property taxes such as IBI (land value tax), vehicle tax, ownership transfer or vehicle imports, gestores can handle the processing of any tax requirements in Spain.
Other processes your gestor could help you with? Divorce, marrigage, driving issues, wills, and a whole host of other administrative needs.
What are the advantages of using a Gestor in Spain?
The main advantage of using a gestor, especially if you are an expat in Spain, is their knowledge of the Spanish system and how things work. When it comes to paperwork, for example, a gestor should know exactly how to fill in the necessary forms correctly and also the different stages in the process in order to get things done as quickly as possible.
How much does a gestor cost?
Gestores in Spain do charge you for their services and the cost will depend on the services you require and also on the gestor you use, as there is no standard rate. In any case, make sure you are fully aware of all the costs before signing anything, as well as the amount of time the process will take.
How can I find a gestor in Spain?
If you are looking for a reliable gestor who speaks English, it’s best to go by recommendations from others who have used a gestor in Spain before, including consulting online forums for expats or Facebook groups. Failing this, the Consejo General de Colegiados de Gestores Administrativos has an online database of all of its registered gestores in Spain on their website. On this website, you will be able to search for a registered gestor by location (province or postcode), or by their area of expertise (property, tax etc.).
For more information, have a look at this interesting article from Barcelona Metropolitan: https://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/living/settling-in/do-you-need-a-gestor/
For more information of legal professionals in Spain have a look at our article about Procuradores – https://buenosabogados.es/who-is-the-procurador-in-spain/
