How to get the Registration Certificate

An explanation and step by step guide how to get your Certificado Empadronamiento (register at townhall).

What is the Certificado Empadronamiento

The Padrón Municipal is the municipal register of your town of all the residents of a municipality. 
The word Empadronarse is the act of registering on this register.

There are two actions involved

  1. Register yourself at the townhall.
  2. Get a Certificado Empadronamiento.

Costs: the registration is free, There is a small cost associated with the certificate.

When do I need a Certificado Empadronamiento?

  • If you are residing in Spain longer than 6 months, you need to register.
  • The Certificado Empadronamiento is the only way of proving (in Spain) you are really living at that specific address.
  • If your house (hopefully not) is squatted, it is much easier to evict the squatters than if you are not registered.
  • Enroll your children in school.
  • Register for social security.
  • Have access to the public health system.
  • Apply for the regularisation of a residence or work authorization.
  • Certify your driving license in Spain (for residents of countries having an agreement with Spain).
  • Have access to municipal services.
  • Apply for the NIE (Numero de Identification de Extranjeros)
  • Apply for residency (Residencia)
  • Get married
  • Vote
  • Proof to the tax office of your country of origin you really moved to Spain. 

How to register

To register on the municipal padron, you will need to go to the city hall or to the dedicated city offices. We recommend that you book an appointment (cita previa) in advance. Either by internet or by phone as it has become mandatory in some municipalities. Note: in some smaller towns phone or just popping in, is still the best way to get an appointment.

Documents to present at the appointment

  • Fill out the registration form (this is done on the same day of the appointment)
  • Identity document: 
    – For Spanish citizens, original and photocopy of the DNI or passport.
    – For citizens who are members of the European Union, original and photocopy of the valid identity card, NIE or passport.
    – For citizens coming from third countries, valid residence permit or passport.
  • Proof of your address:
    – Original of the deed of sale or simple note from the property register.
    – Original and photocopy of the rental contract with proof of the last rent.
  • Original and photocopy of your contract or last bill of water, electricity, gas or IBI (Impuesto de Bienes Inmuebles).
  • If you are requesting empadronamiento for all of your family members:
    – For minors, the DNI and the family record book.
    – If you are married: copy of the deed or family-book. 
    – For foreigners, valid residence permit or passport of each family member

Getting the certificate

The certificate is the proof of Empadronamiento. In most of the towns you are able to ask for the Certificado Empadronamiento while you are registering. Sometimes they ask you to go to another dek or come back on a specific day, because every certificate is stamped and signed for by a specific authorised person. Keep in mind that most services ask for a Certificado Empadronamiento that is no older than three months.

Renewal of Empadronamiento

If you are in one of the following situations, you will not need to periodically renew your empadronamiento:

  • Citizen of a country of the European Union
  • Citizen of a member country of the European Economic Area
  • Holder of a residence permit as a family member of a European citizen
  • Holder of a long-term residence permit

If you find yourself in another situation, you will have to renew your empadronamiento every 2 years.

Change of address

In the event that you change your main residence, you must request in writing your registration on the padron of your new municipality. This will then inform your old municipality to remove you from their register.

  • * See the page with general terms.
Certificado Padron
NIE document – example

DISCLAIMER
The information on this website is written with care and mostly from personal experience. We are not responsible for errors or actions based on this information. 

As a tourist: no. But as soon as you stay longer than three months, you need to register at town-hall. 

Not at all. The Certificado Empadronamiento just means you registered yourself as ‘living permanent or temperary-permanent at this address’. You do not need to be resident. Long term the registering at town-hall might have fiscal implications though. 

Technically it might be possible. Officially is not allowed; you can only have one official address. Having two registrations might have fiscal implications also…

Yes you do. getting your NIE is really the first step. 

Yes. Some schools are used to having children from other nationalities at school and are more flexibel in allowing you to start registering your child at the school. But there will be a moment they will start asking for it. 

Yes, it’s easy. You don’t need much Spanish. If you are in doubt if registering is fiscally or otherwise necessary or not, please use the services of a gestor* in Spain and/or an accountant in your home-country.

* See the page with general terms.