El padró, Spain’s municipal register of inhabitants, is much like a population census. It is where the official addresses of all individuals living in Spain are recorded for the purpose of allocating public funds and carrying out certain civil procedures, regardless of one’s immigration status.
Getting empadronat/-da in Catalan (empadronado/a in Spanish) means to register in the local neighborhood council where you live. Becoming empadronat/-da is required by Spanish law, but is not enforced. It makes you an official member of your district and benefits both you and the community, which receives funds for healthcare, schools, security and other services based on the number of people who are empadronats.
It’s a fairly quick procedure, is free and, more importantly, gives you access to public services that would not otherwise be available to you.
How does it benefit me as an expat?
It benefits you because you are now an official member of the community, although it has no bearing on your immigration status and should not to be confused with becoming a legal resident of Spain. (In Spain, the government officials who manage empadronament and immigration are completely separate departments. This is why it’s often hard for expats to wrap their heads around the concept initially. More on immigration below.)
Once you are empadronat, you can enjoy benefits such as reduced rates at local cultural centers for a variety of activities, among them language classes, gymnasium membership, exercise classes and art classes to name a few. You’ll also need to be empadronat to register with your local CAP (Centres d'Atenció Primària) and apply for your national health care card (the CatSalut card in Catalunya) to receive national healthcare services.
In fact, if you are living in Spain, getting empadronat is required for most administrative procedures, including to:
- Enroll your children in local schools
- Buy or sell a car
- Get a driver’s license (read our how to guide)
- Apply for a pensioner's card
- Register in a domestic partnership through pareja de hecho (which is called parella estable in Catalunya)
- Get married
- Register to vote in local elections
- Register at the Centre d’Atenció Primària (local health care center, also called CAP) and apply for a targeta sanitària individual (national health care card, also called TSI) to receive national healthcare
- Apply for residency by way of a general amnesty or arraigo
- Apply for certain visas
- Apply for a Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (the identity card for all citizens of Non-EU member countries, also called a TIE)
- Apply for número de afiliación (Social Security Number)
What if I am NOT a legal resident of Spain… Should I still get empadronat?
Yes! Becoming empadronat in the city where you live is an entirely separate administrative process from residency/visa applications made through the Spanish Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores.
There are a number of uncertainties associated with living in Spain as an undocumented foreigner. Yet there are many people who do and they are often reluctant to register with the Padró Municipal d’Habitants because they are concerned that it will alert the Spanish government to their presence and legal status. However, becoming empadronat doesn’t mean that you will be subject to tax inspections or inquiries into your legal status.
Additionally, if you are undocumented but have been living in Spain continuously for three consecutive years or more you may be eligible to apply for residency through the arraigo process but only if you were empadronat for that entire time.
How do I get empadronat?
You register either as an individual or as a family and you can do so online or in person.
Online
You can apply online by first filling out the form here. You will receive the application by mail at the address you provided along with instructions to complete the process, all of which you must submit by mail within a month. Once your documents have been processed you will receive by mail a volant de convivència that shows your registration in the Padró Municipal d’Habitants.
In Person (Recommended)
You can apply in person by making an appointment in advance online here. Once you have an appointment, make sure you make note of your appointment confirmation number, you will need it once you get to the registration office. Keep in mind that when submitting your documents in person you must provide the original, paper documents unless otherwise indicated. Once your documents have been submitted, your empadronament will be completed. (If, for any reason, they cannot issue a certificate on the same day, you will receive a temporary one (volant), which proves you are registered.)
For both application processes, you will need the following documentation to complete your padró:
- Proof of identification such as passport, targeta de residència or national ID card (if you are applying for your family members you will need their IDs as well)
- Proof that you reside in the location where you are registering through one of the following:
- - A valid rental contract in your name that extends beyond a six month period.
- - If your name is not on the lease, either the owner or leaseholder must verify your place of residence by signing an Autorización de Empadronamiento form. Note that in addition to this form you will need to bring with you a color photocopy of the owner/lease holder’s government ID that was used to register them in the Padró Municipal d’Habitants, and a copy of the lease as well.
- - A recent utility bill in your name with the address of the residence you are registering at (paid within the last three months).
The full details of both processes are outlined here on the Ajuntament de Barcelona website.
Does my padró ever need to be renewed?
Yes. Spanish nationals and EU citizens living as permanent residents of Spain should renew their registration every five years. But, if you do not renew your padró, your information will remain in the registry indefinitely.
However, if you are a non-EU national, and you do not have a permanent residence permit, you are required to renew your padró every two years. If you do not, your name will be removed from the registry. You are supposed to receive a notification in the mail reminding you to renew your padró, but this is not always the case and it is better to make note of the date you need to renew so that you don’t miss the renewal deadline.
You can renew though a similar process to the initial registration process. You will need to make an appointment online and bring to your appointment the following documents:
- Your appointment confirmation number.
- Your renewal notification letter (if you received one).
- The same ID you used to originally register your padró.
- A color photocopy of your ID.
What if I move?
A change of address must be reported to the registry. Where you live dictates, among other things, where you receive health care, where your children can enroll in public schools and where you vote.
Additionally, any change of personal information, such as a name change, new passport number, marriage, etc. must be added to the registry.