The Interior Ministry released the 2026 update of consular and immigration fees on 28 July, adjusting most amounts by Spain’s 3.2 % CPI and rounding to the nearest five euro-cents. The basic long-stay visa (national category D) now costs €81.35, up from €78.80, while the popular digital-nomad residence authorisation rises slightly to €76.90. Business representatives and Blue-Card applicants will pay €127.10 for initial permits, unchanged thanks to a decision to freeze fees linked to talent-attraction programmes. Although the increases are modest, timing is crucial for applicants: the new rates apply to all appointments booked from 00:00 CET on 29 July, even if the application form was generated earlier. Consulates have therefore advised applicants to bring a fresh Modelo 790-012 payment slip stamped with the updated amount, or risk being turned away. Corporate mobility teams should also note the tweak to fee waivers. Permits requested under the Start-up Law (Law 28/2022) are now exempt from the €10.72 ‘foreign documents’ surcharge, a move welcomed by Spain’s tech incubators. Meanwhile, the €3.27 fee for a replacement Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) remains unchanged, reflecting the government’s push for digital cards; a full overhaul of the TIE system, including optional mobile credentials, is still scheduled for 2027. Historically, Spain published fee tables once a year, but inflation volatility prompted a mid-year adjustment clause in 2025. Observers expect a second, smaller adjustment in December if inflation stays above 2 %. Employers sponsoring large cohorts of seasonal workers, intra-company transferees or family reunification cases should build the new costs into budgeting models immediately. Finally, the police portal now offers a beta tool that auto-populates the Modelo 790 using data from the appointment platform, reducing clerical errors that have plagued first-time applicants. The feature will be rolled out to consulates in Latin America in September.
