Registering as a resident in Spain (empadronarse) is beneficial for carrying out administrative procedures and receiving notifications from the council where your property is located, among other aspects.
Legally, you cannot be registered in one place and live in another. "Any person living in Spain must register in the town or city where he or she usually lives. Those who live in several towns or cities must only register in the one where they live for the longest period each year", states Spanish Law 4/1996, of 10 January, published in the Official State Gazette.
So, what documents do I need to register my residency in Spain, and what requirements must I meet?
What documents do I need to register my residency?
The documents needed to register your residency depend on your local council, although in general, they are:
- ID card or passport (original and photocopy)
- Official document that proves you live at your address, such as a property contract, rental contract or bill
- Census registration form
- If you have children and you want to register them, you must present photocopies of their ID documents or the family record (libro de familia)
You may be asked for other details in some towns and cities, so check the town or city council's official website.
Requirements for registering your residency
You must meet a series of requirements if you want to register your residency, which will be requested during the process.
The main condition is that your usual residence is in the town or city where you want to apply to be on the census register (padrón). As explained by the Spanish Statistics Institute, a person is considered to be a resident of a property when he or she spends most of his or her daily rest at that property.
You cannot register in the town or city where your second residence is located, as the main condition is that you must spend at least six months a year in the same property. The other requirements are fulfilled with the documentation that you must present during the process.
How to register your residency in a town or city
There are several ways to complete this process:
- Go to your town or city hall in person
- By telephone
- Register online and receive your census registration certificate by post
Most town and city councils allow citizens to register their residency via their official website. You will need an electronic ID card or digital certificate.
You can also complete the process in person at a citizen service office by making an appointment through the designated channels, for example, by calling the telephone number on the city or town councils' official websites.
What is a census registration document for?
Once you have completed the procedure and are registered at your usual place of residence, you will be given a census registration certificate.
You can use this document to register a vehicle, apply for a school place, renew your regional health card or receive help from social services, among others.
Moreover, there are certain administrative processes for which you may be asked to present your census registration certificate, for example, to make applications to courts and tribunals; for Civil Registry Office processes, such as requesting birth, name change or death certificates; to officially declare your inheritance or recognise your dependency status, among other things.
Documents for registering your residency in Madrid: an example of what you need
The first thing you need to do to register as a resident in Madrid is make an appointment in one of the following ways:
- On the Community of Madrid official website
- Call the toll-free number 010 (if you are calling from Madrid)
- Via the social networks Twitter and Facebook's instant messenger
- Via 'Chat en línea Madrid' an online chat available on the Community of Madrid's official website
To prove where you live, you will have to present a rental contract showing your address. If you own the property, you will just need to prove such. If you are living with someone already registered, you will need to present a document signed by that person authorising that you live with them.