Embassies & Consulates
Embassies and consulates in Spain: how to find yours
What embassies and consulates in Spain do, how to find yours, and which expat nationalities have a consulate in Málaga.
Updated: October 2026
Sooner or later most foreigners in Spain need their own country’s embassy or consulate – to renew a passport, register a birth or get help after an accident or arrest. This guide explains what embassies and consulates actually do, how to find the right office, and which major expat nationalities have a consulate in Málaga or on the Costa del Sol.
Embassy, consulate or honorary consul – what is the difference?
Spain hosts well over a hundred foreign embassies, and almost all of them are in Madrid. On top of that, many countries run consulates in other cities, and a large network of honorary consuls covers the coasts and islands.
- Embassy: the main diplomatic mission, led by the ambassador. It handles relations with the Spanish government and usually has a consular section for citizens.
- Consulate or consulate general: a career office staffed by diplomats or civil servants from your country. It deals with citizens’ affairs: passports, civil registry, notarial services and help in emergencies.
- Honorary consulate: run by a local representative, often part-time. Services are limited and vary by country – typically advice, help in emergencies, contact with local authorities and sometimes collecting documents or issuing emergency travel documents.
- Consular agency: a small outpost (the USA uses this model) with a narrow list of services, usually by appointment.
Most offices now work by appointment only, and many services (passport renewals in particular) are handled online or centrally, even if you live next door to a consulate.
What your consulate can and cannot do
Typical services
- New or replacement passports and emergency travel documents
- Registering births, marriages and deaths with your home country
- Notarial services, such as certifying documents or signatures
- Help if you are seriously ill, injured, the victim of a crime or arrested – including contact with family and lists of local lawyers and doctors
- Voting from abroad and registration as a resident overseas, depending on the country
What they will not do
A consulate cannot get you out of prison, pay your bills, give legal advice, interfere in Spanish court cases or sort out Spanish paperwork such as your NIE, TIE or residence card. Those go through Spanish offices – see our guide to becoming a resident in Spain. Visa questions for foreigners wanting to visit your home country also usually go to a separate visa service, not the consulate.
How to find your embassy or consulate
- Start with your own foreign ministry’s website. It lists the embassy in Madrid, every consulate and honorary consulate in Spain, opening hours and how to book.
- Check the official Spanish list. Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes the Lista Consular (PDF), a full list of foreign consular offices in Spain by country and city, updated several times a year.
- Save the emergency number. Most embassies run a 24-hour line for genuine emergencies. In any immediate danger in Spain, call 112 first.
- Book before you travel. Turning up without an appointment rarely works, and offices close on both Spanish local holidays and your home country’s holidays.
Major expat nationalities: embassy and Costa del Sol consulate
The table covers the nationalities we hear from most. All embassies are in Madrid. The right-hand column shows whether there is an office in Málaga province, based on official sources checked in October 2026.
| Country | Embassy | Consulate in Málaga / Costa del Sol |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Madrid | Yes – British Consulate Málaga (career consulate, covers Andalucía, Ceuta and Melilla; by appointment) |
| Ireland | Madrid | Yes – new Consulate General in Málaga announced in May 2026; check which services are running before you go |
| Germany | Madrid | Yes – Consulate in Málaga |
| Netherlands | Madrid | Not confirmed – check the Dutch embassy’s website for the nearest honorary consul |
| Denmark | Madrid | Yes – honorary consulate in Málaga city |
| Sweden | Madrid | Yes – honorary consulate in Málaga city |
| Norway | Madrid | Yes – honorary consulate in Málaga city (moved from Fuengirola in December 2025) |
| Finland | Madrid | Yes – honorary consulate in Málaga city |
| USA | Madrid (plus Consulate General in Barcelona) | Yes – consular agency in Fuengirola |
For British citizens, passport renewals are done online through HM Passport Office rather than at the consulate – the British Consulate Málaga page explains what the office handles. Ireland’s new Málaga post was announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs, with consular services due to start during 2026.
Scandinavian and Nordic consulates
Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland each have an embassy in Madrid and a wide network of honorary consulates, reflecting the large Nordic communities on the coasts and islands. Denmark alone lists honorary offices in cities such as Alicante, Almería, Barcelona, Bilbao, Málaga, Palma, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Valencia, while Finland has honorary consuls in places including Barcelona, Las Palmas, Málaga and Torrevieja.
On the Costa del Sol, the Nordic honorary consulates are now gathered in the same office building on Calle Córdoba in central Málaga. Norway’s office moved there from Fuengirola and reopened on 22 December 2025, according to the Norwegian embassy. Honorary consuls have limited powers, so passport applications are usually handled by the embassy in Madrid or online – always ask before you travel.
Tips for dealing with consulates in Spain
- Register with your country: many countries let residents abroad register online so they can be contacted in a crisis.
- Keep copies: store a scan of your passport, TIE and driving licence – it speeds things up if documents are lost or stolen. Report a theft to the Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil first and keep the report.
- Allow time: passport renewals can take weeks in busy periods, which matters if your TIE renewal or a trip depends on it.
- Know which office covers you: consular districts follow provinces, so a consulate in Seville or Alicante may cover you even if Málaga is closer.
Useful links
- Lista Consular – foreign consulates in Spain (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PDF)
- British Consulate Málaga (GOV.UK)
- Norwegian honorary consulate in Málaga (norway.no)
- How to become a resident in Spain
- Immigration rules in Spain 2026
- Exchanging your driving licence in Spain
FAQ: embassies and consulates
Are all embassies in Spain located in Madrid?
Yes, practically all foreign embassies are in Madrid, the capital. Consulates and honorary consulates are spread across cities such as Barcelona, Málaga, Alicante, Valencia, Seville and the Balearic and Canary Islands.
Can an honorary consul issue a new passport?
Usually not. Honorary consuls can advise, help in emergencies and sometimes issue emergency travel documents, but regular passports are normally handled by the embassy or online. Check your country’s rules.
What should I do if I lose my passport in Spain?
Report the loss or theft to the Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil and get a copy of the report. Then contact your embassy or consulate for a replacement or an emergency travel document.
Can my consulate help with my Spanish residence card?
No. NIE, TIE and residence applications are handled by Spanish immigration offices and the police. Your consulate can only supply documents from your home country, such as a passport or certificates.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only. Consular offices open, close and move, and services and opening hours change – always check your own country’s official website before you travel.
