Administrative judicial review in Spain: complete guide 2026

What is the contencioso-administrativo?

Administrative judicial review under LJCA 29/1998 challenges the legality of government acts, regulations, inaction and de facto administrative actions before Spain's administrative courts.

Prior administrative route (mandatory)

Recurso de alzada (1 month, hierarchically superior body) for acts not ending the administrative route; optional recurso de reposición (1 month, same body) for acts that do end it. Silence after the statutory period = deemed rejection.

Critical deadlines (caducidad: not interrupted by correspondence)

• Express acts: 2 months from notification.
• Administrative silence: 6 months (but once silence occurs, action may be filed at any time while inactivity persists, no caducidad).
• Regulations: 2 months from BOE publication.

Court jurisdiction

Tribunales de Instancia de lo C-A → local/regional first-instance; TSJ Salas → regional government acts; Audiencia Nacional → national AGE acts; TS Sala 3ª → Ministerial acts and cassation.

Interim measures and enforcement

Suspensión and positive measures available on fumus boni iuris + periculum in mora. Administration must execute judgment within 2 months; non-compliance triggers coercive fines and subsidiary enforcement.

Lexiel helps administrative lawyers calculate judicial review deadlines, find updated Sala 3ª and TSJ case law on the challenged act, and draft litigation briefs.