Cita previa

Almost every Spanish administrative procedure runs on a cita previa. Slots are released in batches rather than held as a rolling queue, so an empty calendar is the normal state between releases rather than a rejection.

The appointment is free through the official channels. That fact is the whole defence against the resale market that has grown around it, where slots — and sometimes fictional slots — are sold for substantial sums.

Paying a gestor or lawyer to prepare and handle your file is a legitimate professional service and a different thing entirely. The distinction is whether the fee is for advice or for the slot.