Registration in the municipal register of residents of the city of Barcelona

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Information of interest

What do you need to know?

The municipal register of residents (padró d'habitants) is a list registering all the people habitually living in a town or city (municipality) and who form part of its population. Registering on this list (empadronar-se) gives the registrant the status of local resident.

VERY IMPORTANT:

Registering in the municipal register of residents is compulsory for everyone living in Barcelona.When it is done, the document attesting to an individual's current registration in the municipal register, certifying the registration, is received.

It is an essential formality that gives access to certain rights, such as public healthcare and basic schooling for children.

It is also necessary to apply for the certificate of registration as an EU national, for people with European citizenship, or the identity card for foreign nationals (TIE), for people with non-EU citizenship.

In addition, registration is also one of the indispensable requirements to be complied with by people from the European Union, or from countries with which Spain has signed a reciprocity agreement, in order to have the right to vote in local elections.

What requirements must be met?

You must be of legal age, reside in the city of Barcelona and not already appear in the city’s register of residents at the time of registration.

How long is it valid for?

The registration does not expire, except in the case of foreigners:

  • If you are a non-EU foreign national without long-stay residence, you must renew your registration every two years.
  • If you have European citizenship (from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland), you must renew your registration every five years if you have your certificate of registration as an EU national (green NIE). If you do not appear in the register as a citizen of the European Union, you must renew your registration every two years.

Can I apply for this for my family?

Yes, you can apply to register yourself and your family unit (partner and children you have in common) if you come from the same municipality.

If the formality is completed in person, you can also apply for registration for any other individual of legal age or from a different family unit.

What do you need to do?

You can complete the formality at any time and in three different ways: in person, online or by telephone (by calling 010).

What steps must you follow?

Steps necessary for digital processing

  • Obtain digital identification:
  • To complete the online formality, you must sign using an electronic signature.
  • Log in into the Virtual Office of Procedures, fill in and sign the form. Select an option:
    • Registration in the register of residents
    • Attach documentation to an online application
  • Fill in the form and confirm the details.
  • Attach the documentation necessary for the formality.
  • Confirm the details and sign the application with an electronic signature to submit it to the online register.
  • Print the resulting document (PDF file) or save it to your computer.

Steps necessary for telephone processing

  • Gather the necessary documentation and call 010 (telephone assistance is available in Catalan, Spanish, English and French).
  • You will receive the instructions for completing the formality, the application form and information about the documentation needed by ordinary post. Post will be sent to the registration address.
  • You must send the signed application form and required documentation by ordinary post within one month of receiving the instructions.
  • Once the formality is complete, you will receive the document showing registration on the register of residents by post.

Steps necessary for in person processing

What documentation is needed?

VERY IMPORTANT:

The documentation for in-person processing must be original and in hard copy, unless indicated otherwise.

Documents are accepted in the following official languages: Catalan and Spanish. Otherwise, the original must be provided with a translation done by the Spanish consulate or by a translator qualified to do official (sworn) translations. Get more information about the legalisation and translation of documents.

If you have an authorisation to register other people of legal age or from other family units, this will only be valid for one month from the date shown on the document.

Each city council has the right to request additional documentation proving habitual residence at the address in order to check the veracity of the data contained in the municipal register of residents.

Common documentation for all three processing methods

For those of legal age:

  • Spanish nationals: DNI or passport.
  • European Union, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein nationals: EU national certificate, passport or identity document from the country of origin. If the NIE (identity number for foreign nationals) certificate is provided, it must always be accompanied by the passport or identity document from the country of origin.
  • Nationals from all other countries: identity card for foreign nationals (TIE) or passport.

For minors:

  • Spanish nationals over 14 years of age: DNI or passport.
  • Spanish nationals under 14 years of age: family book or birth certificate and DNI or passport, if they have one.
  • Foreign nationals aged over 14: identity card for foreign nationals (TIE), passport or identity document from the country of origin (the latter document is only valid if you come from the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein). If the minor’s documentation does not show all the details of the parents, the following must be provided: family book (where they exist in the country in question) or birth registration, or the parents’ passport including all the minor’s details.
  • Foreign nationals aged under 14: family book or birth registration, or the parents’ passport including all the minor’s details and, if you have one, identity card for foreign nationals (TIE), passport or identity document from the country of origin (the latter document is only valid if you come from the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein).

Documentation for authorised persons and family units:

  • Express authorisation to delegate the process, duly signed document.  In the case of family units (couple and children in common) this authorisation is also compulsory for everyone of legal age.
  • Personal identity document of the authorised person.
  • Photocopy of the personal identity document of the authorising person or persons.

Documentation for representatives:

  • Legal document accepting legal guardianship or notarially recorded power of attorney.
  • Personal identity document of the authorised person.
  • Photocopy of the personal identity document of the authorising person or persons.

Documentation for representing minors:

  • In the case of separation or divorce:
    • With a legal ruling for shared custody indicating the place of residence recorded in the municipal register, you must provide the legal ruling document.
      • With a legal ruling for shared custody not indicating the place of residence recorded in the municipal register, you must provide the legal ruling and the joint declaration on minors, with the original signature of both parents as proof of acceptance of registration, accompanied by copies of the identity documents of both parents bearing their signatures.
      • With a legal ruling granting exclusive custody, you must provide the legal ruling and a sworn statement by the parent for registration or change of address (parent granted custody of the child), signed by the petitioner, with the identity documents of the petitioner and the minor.
      • In the case of separation with no legal ruling, you must provide the joint declaration on minors, with the original signature of both parents as proof of acceptance of registration, accompanied by copies of the identity documents of both parents bearing their signatures. Exceptionally, when one parent states that they could not obtain the signature of the other, you must provide the sworn statement by the parent for registration or change of address, signed by the petitioner, with the identity documents of the petitioner and the minor.
  • Single parent families, widows/widowers, etc.: In the case of single-parent families, widowed parents or other situations in which submitting the family book or equivalent documents cannot determine the existence (or regrouping) of the family unit, you must provide the sworn statement by the parent for registration or change of address, signed by the petitioner, with copies of the identity documents of the petitioner and the minor.
  • Other situations: Legal documentation for guardianship of minors, which it is compulsory to attach to the documentation on file.

Regarding the home where registering in the register of residents:

  • Owned home:
    • If you are listed as the owner on the property tax bill (IBI), you do not need to provide any supporting document as the authority automatically checks this internally.
    • If you are not listed as the owner on the property tax bill (IBI), proof of ownership must be provided with one of the following documents:
      • Deed of ownership of the property showing you as the owner. In the case of usufruct: express, signed authorisation by the right holder. Original and photocopy of your identity document.
      • Private contract of sale, not more than one year old, showing you to be the current owner.
      • In the case of inherited homes, deed of acceptance of the inheritance. The document must not be more than one year old, from the date of death of the person bequeathing the property.
      • Land register extract, valid for three months.
  • Rented home:
    • Current tenancy agreement (not open-ended) with a minimum term of three months. If the term is less than three months, it must be an agreement extended beyond that time (the extension must be explicitly recorded).
    • Extended tenancy agreement, along with the current extension.
    • Expired tenancy agreement which is extended (with no explicitly stated extension clause)
      • Last receipt for rent, paid within the last two months, which must show full details identifying the let.
      • Last bill or bank slip for utilities (bills for electricity, water and gas are accepted, while mobile phone and Internet connection bills are not), in the name of the tenant and within the last three months. The same coding as in the tenancy agreement must be shown.
      • Bank transfer, which must show the details needed to identify the rental.
    • Open-ended agreement, as long as four years or more have elapsed since the agreement came into force:
      • Last receipt for rent, paid within the last two months, which must show full details identifying the let.
      • Last bill or bank slip for utilities (electricity, water and gas), in the name of the tenant and within the last three months. The same coding as in the tenancy agreement must be shown. Mobile phone and Internet access contracts are not accepted.
      • Bank transfer, which must show the details needed to identify the rental.
    • Open-ended agreement, with a subrogation document for an equally indefinite term, as long as four years or more have elapsed since the agreement came into force:
      • Last receipt for rent, paid within the last two months, which must show full details identifying the let.
      • Last bill or bank slip for utilities (electricity, water and gas), in the name of the tenant and within the last three months. The same coding as in the tenancy agreement must be shown. Mobile phone and Internet access contracts are not accepted.
      • Bank transfer, which must show the details needed to identify the rental.

How long does it take?

  • Online: Once the application is sent, if everything is correct, you will receive email confirmation of completion of the formality and that you are registered at the new address within one month. 

  • By telephone: once you have spoken to 010, you will receive instructions for completing the formality. You must send the signed application form and required documentation by ordinary post within one month of receiving the instructions. Once the formality is complete, you will receive the document showing registration on the register of residents by post.

  • In person: once you have arranged an appointment at the citizens information office and provided the documentation required, registration will be done on the spot. 

What does it cost?

It is free.

Want to know more?

Body responsible for the formality

Barcelona City Council (for the city of Barcelona). Check with the corresponding town hall if you live in another city.

Further information

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The procedures tend to change frequently. Therefore, only what is provided by the regulations in force at the time of carrying out the procedure in question is applicable.