Vacant notary positions in Catalonia 2026: positions, requirements and deadline for notaries

Key data

Active notaries who wish to transfer or access a position in Catalonia have only a 15 calendar day window to act. The Resolution of October 14, 2026, published on October 19 in the BOE and DOGC, calls a competition for the provision of vacant notary positions in Catalan territory, with positions in municipalities of high notarial demand such as Barcelona, Sabadell or Sant Cugat del Vallès.

The call is framed within the executive powers recognized to Catalonia by its Statute of Autonomy, and is coordinated with the General Directorate of Legal Security and Public Faith of the Ministry of Justice, although each administration resolves independently on its own vacancies.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution calls a competition for the provision of vacant notary positions in Catalonia under the following main conditions:

• Participants: All active notaries meeting the requirements of article 94 of the Notarial Regulation, regardless of the territory where they currently practice.
• Submission of applications: Exclusively by electronic means. Paper or in-person applications are not accepted.
• Deadline: 15 calendar days counted from publication in the BOE or DOGC (whichever date applies).
• Language requirement: Certify knowledge of Catalan at level B2 or C1, or commit to hiring staff with such certification for the notary office.
• Institutional coordination: The resolution is coordinated with the General Directorate of Legal Security and Public Faith of the Ministry of Justice, but each administration resolves independently on its vacancies.

The vacant positions called are located in the following municipalities:

Economic and operational impact

For an active notary, accessing one of these positions can mean a significant change in their professional position and in the business volume of their notary office. The municipalities called include some of the areas with the highest economic and demographic activity in Catalonia: Barcelona, L'Hospitalet and Cornellà are part of the metropolitan area with the highest density of notarial operations in the country; Sabadell, Granollers and Sant Cugat are industrial and residential centers of high dynamism.

From an operational perspective, the language requirement introduces a differentiating element: if the notary does not personally certify level B2 or C1 Catalan, they must commit to hiring staff who do. This may involve additional personnel costs or the need to plan the incorporation of a collaborator with that certification before taking office.

Exclusively electronic processing requires having a valid digital certificate and access to the corresponding electronic office before the deadline expires.

Who does it affect?

• Active notaries who wish to transfer to a notary office in Catalonia, regardless of their autonomous community of origin.
• Notaries already practicing in Catalonia who want to change positions to one of the municipalities called.
• Notaries without Catalan certification who must plan to hire staff with level B2 or C1 if awarded.
• Notarial offices and collaborators in the affected municipalities, who may see changes in the ownership of the notary office.

Practical example

An active notary currently practicing in Madrid who wishes to transfer to Sant Cugat del Vallès can participate in this competition if they meet the requirements of article 94 of the Notarial Regulation. They must submit their application exclusively by electronic means within the 15 calendar days following publication in BOE or DOGC.

If they do not have Catalan certification at level B2 or C1, they are not automatically excluded: they can participate by committing to hire staff for their notary office who do have such certification. This commitment must be formalized in the application and will be binding if they obtain the position.

The resolution of their application will be adopted by the General Directorate of Law, Legal Entities and Adequate Conflict Management of Catalonia, in a coordinated but independent manner with respect to the Ministry of Justice.

What should notaries do now?

1. Verify compliance with article 94 of the Notarial Regulation to confirm that participation requirements are met before starting the application.
2. Calculate the exact 15 calendar day deadline from the publication date in BOE or DOGC (October 19, 2026) to avoid missing the call.
3. Obtain or verify the digital certificate necessary for electronic submission of the application, as no other means is accepted.
4. Certify Catalan level B2 or C1, or identify and commit to hiring staff with such certification if you do not have it personally.
5. Submit the electronic application within the deadline, including all documentation required by the call.
6. Follow the coordinated resolution between the General Directorate of Law of Catalonia and the General Directorate of Legal Security and Public Faith of the Ministry, as each body resolves on its own vacancies.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is purely informational in nature and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-21700