Town Hall Registration "Padrón"

TOWN HALL REGISTRATION “PADRÓN”

The town hall registration (el padrón/empadronamiento) is the administrative register of residents, and the key to access public services. All those who reside in Spain have the obligation to register in the municipality where they live.

On top of that, it is an advantage for the municipalities if you register as a citizen. This again will benefit you, as towns receive funds in proportion to the number of residents. Because this reflects the amounts they receive for hospitals, police and fire department etc.

Every person residing in Spain is by law obliged to register in the municipality where they live. Because of that, the registration is key to becoming a member of your local Spanish community.

THE BENEFITS OF GETTING REGISTERED

First of all, getting registered means that you are considered an official resident of your community.

Second, the registration (Padrón) is the official process to verify your residence in Spain. Actually, it is needed for a variety of administrative procedures in Spain, such as:

to vote
to get married
to apply for certain visas
to obtain a Spanish driving license
to register your children in local schools
to apply for a local health card (SIP)

BENEFITS YOUR CITY RECEIVES WHEN YOU’RE REGISTERED (empadronado)

Based on the number of inhabitants, a city or town receives money from the government to provide services to those who live within its jurisdiction. This means that if you’re registered (empadronado), the city receives money to provide services on your behalf, regardless of your legal status. Therefore it is in the city’s best interest (and yours really, for optimum service levels) to have an accurate count of who is really living in the community using the public services. Because of this, the registration (padrón) is confidential.

HOW TO GET YOURSELF REGISTERED

To get registered all you have to do is go to your local town hall and ask for “empadronamiento”. You will then be given a simple form you need to fill out with your name, furthermore your place of birth and parent’s names, and last but not least your age, address, marital status, and studies. Finally, you hand in the form together with a:

Copy of your passport (the original must be presented).
Certificado de Residencia, or if you don’t have that, you may also need a copy of a utility bill in your own name, either gas, electricity or water.

By registering at your town hall a better estimate of local population is provided. This reflects the services the government finances in each autonomous community.

We advise you to guard this document in a separate folder, as sometimes you will be asked to show it.

* AN IMPORTANT NOTE FOR NON-EU CITIZENS IN SPAIN.

People staying in Spain illegally have nothing to fear when they register. Because the information you provide is considered confidential. In fact, it is in the city’s best interest to have an accurate count of people in their jurisdiction. You can be sure this information will not be used to prosecute illegal immigrants or those overstaying their visas.

The Costa Blanca Guide