Escritura Spain (Notarial Deed)
The Escritura pública de compraventa is Spain's notarial deed of sale — signing it in front of the notary is the moment ownership actually transfers, after which it's registered at the land registry to make the change of ownership publicly visible. A Spanish notary (notario) is a public official, not a private lawyer for either side — their role is to verify identity and legality, not to negotiate on your behalf.
What actually happens at the notary appointment
The notary reads out the key contract terms, verifies both parties' identity (for non-residents, via the NIE) and confirms that the purchase price and conditions match what was previously agreed. Once both parties have signed before the notary, ownership has transferred under civil law — the subsequent land registry entry then makes that transfer publicly verifiable and protects against later third-party claims.
Why travelling in person isn't strictly necessary
Anyone who can't or doesn't want to travel to Spain for the notary appointment can appoint a representative through a notarised power of attorney (poder notarial) — this can be drawn up in the buyer's home country via a Spanish consulate or a local notary, followed by an apostille. That removes the concern of having to be physically present for this decisive moment.
What follows straight after the Escritura
After signing, the notary generally submits the Escritura to the land registry (Registro de la Propiedad) directly for registration — the actual registration can take a few weeks depending on the office. In parallel, the taxes due (such as ITP for a resale property) are settled, usually coordinated through the notary or an appointed law firm.
Related glossary terms
Nota Simple
The Nota Simple is the official land registry extract from the Registro de la Propiedad. It shows the owner, charges, mortgages and encumbrances on a property.
NIE Number Spain (Número de Identificación de Extranjero)
The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is the Spanish tax and identification number for foreigners. It is a prerequisite for almost every financial and property transaction in Spain, including purchase and mortgage.
Property Transfer Tax Spain (ITP)
The ITP (Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales) is the Spanish transfer tax on the purchase of a resale property. The rate is set by the respective autonomous region and therefore varies regionally.
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