Registering your address, "empadronamiento" in Spanish, is an administrative requirement that confirms a person's habitual residence. This certificate often sparks debate and raises questions about its connection to actual residence.
Is it possible to be registered at one address while living elsewhere? This issue has led to legal concerns and controversies, as registration is frequently tied to rights and benefits.
Can you be registered in one place and live in another?
According to the law, it is not legal to live in one place while being registered at another. Failing to update your registration may result in financial penalties or even imprisonment.
Habitual residence and registration
Registration is a mandatory administrative procedure, and proof of residence provided by the municipal register is required for various official processes.
Similarly, anyone residing in Spain must register in the municipality where they live. If they move, they must submit a written request to update their registration in the new municipality's census. While habitual residence and registration are different administrative concepts, they should not be separate in practice.
How much is the fine for false registration?
Royal Decree 1690/1986 imposes penalties for falsifying or omitting census data, with fines ranging from €3 to €150, depending on the municipality or city.
In municipalities with between:
- 5,001 and 20,000 registered residents: a €3 fine
- 20,001 and 50,000 registered residents: a €60 fine
- 50,001 and 500,000 registered residents: a €90 fine
- With more than 500,000 registered residents: a €150 fine
If a person convicted of this offence has a criminal record or has used this malpractice for financial gain, they may face a prison sentence of six months to three years under Article 392 of the Penal Code.
Consequences of not being registered at your place of residence
These are some of the disadvantages of not being registered at your usual residence:
- Limitations on public services: Healthcare, for example, is a public service, and you must visit the doctor in the municipality where you are registered. Therefore, you should be registered at your actual place of residence to avoid unnecessary travel for medical appointments. Similarly, public schools require registration in the local census, as access to school services depends on being officially registered in the area.
- Traveling to vote: This can create another issue. Your census card will be sent to your registered address, meaning you will be assigned a polling station in that municipality, regardless of where you actually live.
- Difficulty claiming rent deductions and applying for grants: To receive tax benefits, such as rent deductions on your income tax return, you must be registered in your city. Registration is also essential – and mandatory – when applying for certain types of financial aid, such as scholarships or mobility grants.
- You won't receive certain notifications: This may seem like the most obvious issue, but if you're not registered in the municipal registry, the autonomous communities or local councils won't be able to send you important notices or notifications. As a result, you'll have to stay on top of any updates yourself.
Can you be registered in two places?
Being registered in two places at the same time can lead to administrative irregularities. So, if you're wondering what double registration is and whether it's allowed, the answer is no.
Those who live in more than one municipality must register in the one where they reside for the longest period of the year.
Under Spanish law, a person must be registered at their primary place of residence and can only be registered at one address.
In legal terms, double registration is considered an administrative offence. Municipalities have the authority to carry out checks, and if duplication is detected, they can initiate a procedure to rectify the situation, which may result in removal from the register in one of the two municipalities.
Can you be registered in one place and have a doctor in another?
Yes, thanks to the right to freely choose a doctor within the primary care services of the Spanish health system. However, in practice, exercising this right can be complicated depending on the town or autonomous community where you live.
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