Lawyers in Canary Islands

Legal help in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands (Canarias) are a Spanish autonomous community in the Atlantic, made up of seven main islands — Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro — in two provinces, Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The capital is shared by Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The lawyers on this page have their offices on Gran Canaria, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Maspalomas; the page of the province of Las Palmas and the cities Telde and San Bartolomé de Tirajana show who is within reach of each.

What is specific to the Canary Islands

• Indirect tax — the islands have their own economic and tax regime: the general indirect Canary tax (IGIC) is charged instead of VAT (IVA), with its own rates, and some incentives for businesses apply only here.
• Civil law — there is no regional civil law; the Spanish Civil Code applies.
• Property taxes — the transfer tax and stamp duty on a purchase, and the inheritance and gift tax reliefs, follow the rules the community sets.
• Courts — the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (Tribunal Superior de Justicia) sits in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with a chamber in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

What people usually need a lawyer for in the Canary Islands

• Property — buying or selling a home and the taxes that apply here: Property Purchase, Property Sale and Property Law.
• Residence — the NIE, the Non-Lucrative Visa and the Digital Nomad Visa: Immigration.
• Business — setting up as self-employed or a company under the island regime: Business Set-Up and Business Services.
• Inheritance — a will and settling an estate with property in the islands: Probate Law.

Questions and answers

Is VAT charged in the Canary Islands?

No: the islands have their own indirect tax, the IGIC, with rates different from Spanish VAT. Which one applies to a purchase or a service depends on where it is supplied — ask your lawyer or adviser.

Can a lawyer on Gran Canaria act for me on another island?

Often, yes. Many matters are handled by phone, e-mail and video, and a lawyer can act for you in person under a power of attorney. Say in the chat where the property or the matter is, so that the lawyer can tell you how it would be handled.