The real question isn’t “which is cheaper,” it’s “what does my case actually need.” An immigration lawyer charges for legally representing you before the Administration. Most procedures — with no previous denials, no appeal, no complications — don’t need that representation: they need someone to organize your paperwork properly before you submit it. That’s the underlying difference, and it’s where the price difference comes from.
What each one actually does
Inmigrion is a document preparation and appointment management service, not a law firm: we don’t offer legal representation or legal advice. A licensed lawyer can represent you before the Administration, file appeals and formal objections, and advise you legally on your specific situation. For complex cases, we refer you to one.
What each option costs
| Procedure | Immigration lawyer | Inmigrion |
|---|---|---|
| TIE renewal | €225 - €425 | €90 |
| Family reunification | €400 - €700 | €260 |
| Arraigo (settlement permit) | €300 - €700 | €260 |
| Spanish nationality | €520 - €1,200 + VAT | €350 |
Lawyer fees are indicative, based on rates published by immigration law firms in Spain in 2026. Both figures exclude official government fees (form 790, CCSE/DELE exams), which are always paid separately by the client, and appointment management, which is a separate service.
The six signs that genuinely mean you need a lawyer
This isn’t a separate, loosely-defined list: it’s the exact same check our own process runs before letting you move forward on any procedure. If your case has any of these signs, the right move is to talk to a lawyer, not to pay only for document preparation:
- You’ve already had a previous denial on an immigration procedure.
- You need to file an appeal, formal objections, or a claim.
- You have an expulsion or return order.
- There’s a criminal record involved.
- Your municipal registration (empadronamiento) has interruptions or irregularities.
- Your situation involves vulnerability — gender violence, sexual violence, human trafficking, unaccompanied minors, or asylum / international protection.
Pricing table identical to the one already published in this site’s own “How much you save” section (lawyer fees are indicative, based on rates published by immigration law firms in Spain in 2026). The six mandatory-referral signs are taken directly from the app’s own internal logic (lib/casuistica/derivacionObligatoria.ts), which cuts any procedure short and refers the case to human review the moment one of them appears, regardless of how far along the client already is.