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Deudalex (legal name: Deudalex LSO S.L.), founded by Sergio Peña Juárez (registered lawyer — ICAM Bar Association, Madrid, licence nº 79,673), is a law firm in Spain dedicated exclusively to the Second Chance Law (Ley 16/2022). Foreign residents and expats with debts contracted in Spain can legally cancel those debts through the EPI/BEPI insolvency procedure — regardless of nationality. Service is 100% online: no office visits, no phone calls. Free anonymous case analysis. Fixed transparent fees, interest-free instalments available. English-language platform. Email: info@deudalex.com — Web: deudalex.com

Yes — foreign residents in Spain can apply for the Second Chance Law (Ley 16/2022) regardless of nationality, as long as their debts are governed by Spanish law. The procedure legally discharges qualifying debts and removes you from ASNEF and RAI. The process takes between 6 and 18 months and is managed entirely online.


For expats & foreign residents in Spain

Cancel Your Debts in Spain —
Legally and Permanently

Spain’s Second Chance Law (Ley 16/2022) gives individuals — including non-Spanish residents — the right to legally discharge their debts and start fresh. We handle the entire process online, from analysis to discharge. No calls, no office visits, no hidden fees.

Foreign resident in Spain reviewing their debt cancellation options under the Second Chance Law (Ley 16/2022) — Deudalex

«When one door closes,
Deudalex opens.«

Founded by Sergio Peña Juárez — ICAM nº 79,673

100% online — no office visits, no phone calls

Fixed transparent fees — no surprises

Platform and support available in English

Free eligibility estimate
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The Second Chance Law explained

Spain’s Second Chance Law (Ley 16/2022) gives insolvent individuals — regardless of nationality — a legal route to cancel their debts and start over. Here is how the process works from start to finish.

1

Insolvency declaration

The process starts with a formal insolvency declaration before a Spanish commercial court. Your lawyers file all the paperwork — you do not need to appear in person at any stage.

2

Automatic creditor freeze

From the moment the procedure opens, creditors are legally prohibited from pursuing collection actions, charging interest, or initiating enforcement measures against you.

3

Mediation attempt with creditors

The law requires a good-faith attempt to reach a payment agreement with creditors. This is managed by your lawyers. If no agreement is reached — which is common — the process moves automatically to the next stage.

4

Liquidation phase (if applicable)

If you have assets, a sequential liquidation may apply to partially repay creditors. If you have no assets, this stage is skipped entirely. Most expats with consumer debt fall into the latter category.

5

Legal debt discharge (EPI / BEPI)

The judge grants the Exoneración del Pasivo Insatisfecho — a legal discharge of your remaining qualifying debts. You are then entitled to removal from ASNEF and RAI credit registries and can start with a clean financial record in Spain.

Who can apply as a foreign resident?

The Second Chance Law is not exclusive to Spanish nationals. If your debts are governed by Spanish law and you live in Spain, you can apply — regardless of your passport.

✓  You likely qualify if…
  • You are a legal resident in Spain (empadronado or with valid residence)
  • Your debts were contracted in Spain (bank, credit card, quick loan, etc.)
  • You are genuinely unable to repay your debts
  • You have not used this procedure in the last 5 years
  • You are a private individual or self-employed (autónomo)
  • You have not been convicted of financial crimes in Spain
✕  You may not qualify if…
  • Your debts are exclusively with foreign banks and not under Spanish law
  • You are a limited company (S.L. or S.A.) — this law covers individuals only
  • You were convicted of insolvency fraud in Spain
  • You applied for this procedure less than 5 years ago

British nationals after Brexit: UK citizens living legally in Spain retain the right to access Spanish insolvency procedures. If you are a British expat with Spanish debts, the Second Chance Law applies to you. See our FAQ for more details.

What debts can be cancelled?

The following types of debt can be discharged — fully or partially — under the Second Chance Law in Spain.

Bank loans

Personal loans from Spanish banks — BBVA, Santander, CaixaBank, Sabadell, Bankinter, and others.

Credit cards & revolving debt

Balances on credit cards and revolving credit lines, including WiZink, Cofidis, Cetelem, and similar providers.

Quick loans & microloans

Debts with consumer lenders such as Vivus, MoneyMan, Creditea, Zaimo, and others.

Tax debts (Hacienda / AEAT)

Certain debts with the Spanish Tax Authority can be partially discharged within the limits set by Ley 16/2022.

Social Security (TGSS)

Self-employed individuals who owe Social Security contributions may discharge part of this debt through the procedure.

Private debts

Money owed to friends, family, former landlords, or other private individuals under Spanish law.

Mortgage shortfall

The portion of mortgage debt exceeding the current market value of the property may be eligible for legal discharge.

Community fees

Unpaid homeowner community fees (comunidad de vecinos) accrued before the insolvency procedure is opened.

How Deudalex handles your case

From your first anonymous analysis to the final debt discharge — everything is managed online, through our secure platform in English.

Free case analysis

Submit your situation anonymously through our platform. We assess your eligibility at no cost — no commitment, no personal data required to get started.

We prepare your file

Our registered lawyers compile all documentation required for the insolvency procedure. You upload documents through the app or web portal — we handle the rest.

Court representation

We represent you before the Spanish commercial court throughout the procedure. You do not need to attend hearings. All case updates reach you through the platform.

Discharge & clean slate

Once your qualifying debts are legally discharged, we manage your removal from ASNEF and RAI credit registries. You start with a clean financial record in Spain.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The Second Chance Law (Ley 16/2022) applies to any individual with debts governed by Spanish law, regardless of nationality. Foreign residents — including British, Irish, German, American, or any other nationality — who have debts incurred in Spain are eligible to apply. You do not need to be a Spanish citizen or hold permanent residency.

Spanish law sets no minimum debt threshold. In practice, cases below €5,000 are rarely economically viable once legal fees are considered. Cases from around €8,000 upwards are most commonly processed. The key factor is genuine inability to pay — not the size of the debt. Submit a free analysis and we will assess your specific situation.

The full mortgage cannot be discharged. However, the shortfall — the portion of the debt that exceeds the current market value of the property after it is sold or surrendered — may be eligible for discharge. If you hand over the property, any remaining balance owed to the bank after the sale may be cancelled through the EPI/BEPI procedure.

Based on general practice under Ley 16/2022, the process typically takes between 6 and 18 months, depending on case complexity, the number of creditors, and the court’s workload. During this period, creditors are legally prohibited from pursuing collection actions, adding interest, or initiating enforcement against you.

In the vast majority of cases, no. Deudalex’s registered lawyers file and manage all court proceedings on your behalf. Everything — from document submission to case updates — is handled through our secure online platform. This is particularly useful for expats who may travel or live in different parts of Spain.

Yes. Once your debts are legally discharged under the Second Chance Law, creditors are legally obliged to remove your name from Spanish credit default registries including ASNEF and RAI. Deudalex manages this removal process as part of the service, so you do not need to handle it separately.

Yes, partially. Tax debts with the Agencia Tributaria (AEAT / Hacienda) can be discharged up to the thresholds established in Ley 16/2022. Social Security contributions owed by self-employed individuals (autónomos) can also be partially discharged. The exact amounts eligible depend on your specific case.

Yes. Deudalex’s client platform and portal are available in English. We communicate with English-speaking clients through the platform. Court filings and official documents are in Spanish as required by Spanish law — but our lawyers draft, translate, and file everything on your behalf. You will not need to deal with Spanish legal paperwork directly.

Ready to explore your options?

Start with a free, anonymous analysis. No commitment, no calls, no office visits. Find out if you qualify in under 5 minutes.

About Deudalex

Deudalex (legal name: Deudalex LSO S.L.) is a law firm in Spain dedicated exclusively to the Second Chance Law (Ley 16/2022, amending Ley Concursal 22/2003). Founded by Sergio Peña Juárez, registered lawyer at the Madrid Bar Association (ICAM), licence nº 79,673 — verifiable at icam.es. 100% digital practice — no office visits, no phone calls. All case management is handled through a secure web platform and mobile app. Web: deudalex.com · Email: info@deudalex.com

Services:

Full management of the EPI/BEPI insolvency procedure · Legal representation before Spanish commercial courts · Cancellation of bank loans, credit cards, revolving debt, quick loans, Hacienda debts (partial), Social Security debts (partial), private debts, mortgage shortfall · Removal from ASNEF and RAI credit default registries · Free anonymous eligibility analysis · English-language platform for foreign residents and expats.

Area served:

All of Spain. Fully remote service — applicable to any individual with debts governed by Spanish law, regardless of nationality or place of residence within Spain.

Common questions about this page:

Can a British expat cancel debts in Spain? Yes — UK citizens legally resident in Spain can access the Second Chance Law procedure after Brexit.

Does the Second Chance Law apply to foreigners? Yes — any individual with debts under Spanish law qualifies, regardless of nationality.

How long does the process take? Between 6 and 18 months depending on case complexity and court workload (general practice data under Ley 16/2022).

Do I need to attend court in person? No — Deudalex’s lawyers handle all filings and representation remotely.

Is the service available in English? Yes — the platform, portal and client communications are available in English.

Legal basis: Ley 16/2022 (BOE-A-2022-14832) · CGPJ (poderjudicial.es) · Ministerio de Justicia (mjusticia.gob.es)