What is an empadronamiento?

Your empadronamiento (or padron) is a census record which allows the city to keep track of its local inhabitants. You are required to register if you live in the city for more than 6 months (although you can do so before that), and it’s an important part of several other bureaucratic processes, such as

• Getting an NIE (in some offices; in others you can get your padron afterwards)
• Getting a health insurance card (allowing you to access free healthcare at the CAP)
• Getting welfare or other forms of social care and support
• Getting married
• Voting
• Registering children at school
• Buying a car, or making similarly large purchases
• Applying for VISAs

Your padron must have been registered within the last 3 months to be valid. It is not a

one-time document – you will likely have to register several times if you live in Barcelona in the long term. You must also re-register every time you move address, or every 5 years (if you are an EU citizen) Luckily, it’s actually one of the more straightforward government processes in Spain. In theory, to get your padron, you must simply go to your local town hall (ayuntamiento) with proof of your identity and proof of your address.

Where do I get my empadronamiento in Barcelona, Spain?

You can either go to the main town hall at Plaza Sant Miquel, 3, or your local office (see below).

You can get an appointment online [https://w30.bcn.cat/APPS/portaltramits/formulari/ptbcitaprevia/T128/init/es/default.html?], or simply turn up at one of the offices and wait your turn. It’s better to arrive early either way. The offices tend to open at around 8:30am and close at 5:30pm, although some may stay open as late as 8pm during parts of the year. It’s probably best to go in the morning or do your own research for the opening times of the specific office you want to visit.

Alternatively, you can apply by post by sending the required documents to the appropriate town hall. Getting your padron will take a few weeks with this method.

Required Documents

To get your padron, you need the following required documents. It’s best to bring
photocopies of everything as well.

• Proof of identity
  Could be your passport or a European ID card. If you have an NIE it’s probably worth bringing that too.
• Proof of accommodation
  If you are a tenant: a rental contract with your name, signed by the owner.If you are a tenant, but not named on the contact: either (1) a written document from the owner of the flat confirming that you live at the address, with a signed copy of their ID, or (2) an autorización expresa [https://w9.bcn.cat/tramits/padro/Autoritzaciodomicili_cas.pdf] signed by a person already registered at your address, with a signed copy of their IDIf you are a homeowner: the original copy of the title deeds
• Proof of rental payment
  If you are a tenant, you will also need a bank statement with proof that you have paid rent within the last month.
• The empadronamiento application form
  Not required in some offices – you can either get it from the office and fill it out while you wait in the queue, or you can fill it out online [https://w30.bcn.cat/APPS/portaltramits/formulari/ptbaltapadro/T06a/init/es/portal.html?]

Notes

Congratulations – getting your padron is an important step to become fully registered in Barcelona. Once you have it, it’s best to take it with you for any administrative tasks, although whether it is required varies by region, office, and perhaps even day. Remember, it is usually expected to have been registered within the last 3 months, so try to group your administrative tasks within that time period for maximum convenience.

By Christopher Drifter

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