Here's the state of the black market for Immigration Office appointments: up to €300 per asylum appointment

Paying 300 euros for an appointment to apply for asylum in Valencia, Madrid, or Barcelona is—unfortunately—now the norm. And it shouldn’t be, because appointments at the Immigration Office are free by law. But the black market keeps growing, and the fees have gone up. Fingerprinting for the NIE? Well, if you need an urgent appointment (within 1 to 15 days), it costs you €50. In Valencia, due to the cold snap, it goes up to €70. And in Castellón and Almería it’s the same, but there appointments are booked with a digital certificate.

The mafias have become experts. They no longer just use bots to snap up appointments in seconds, but they also bombard the phone lines that the police set up in 2023. On WhatsApp, they offer packages complete with shopping carts and everything. And all for a service that, I insist, is free. The big problem: if you don’t get an appointment in time, you lose the chance to regularize your status. And those who traffic in these appointments, of course, know this all too well.

The new Immigration Regulations, which have been in effect since May 2025, have been a boon for the business. The mafias now also offer advice on legislative changes, permit extensions, and new visa categories. And take note of this: the “RegularizaciónYA” campaign, which has gathered 700,000 signatures for a citizens’ legislative initiative that would regularize 500,000 undocumented migrants, has skyrocketed the demand for documentation. In the Valencian Community, some 50,000 undocumented migrants could benefit, including 17,000 children, according to the Human Rights Institute at the University of Valencia.

So if you’re looking for an appointment, be very careful. Don’t pay. Appointments are free—remember that. The National Police have arrested several people for selling them, but the business continues. Try to get one through official channels: the government website or the designated phone lines. If someone asks you for money, be wary. And if you’ve already paid, file a report. You’ve been warned.

If you’re having trouble with your appointment or paperwork, message us on Telegram: https://t.me/cita_extranjeria