How to get empadronamiento in Barcelona

Wondering how to get empadronamiento in Barcelona? Let us show you three ways and all the requirements to get your registration certificate.

Marle

3 minute read

Updated on 20 Dec 2023

Living

After exploring homes for rent in Barcelona and moving to your dream place, your first trip should be to the city hall to register.

With the empadronamiento in Barcelona, you notify the municipality where and with whom you will be living in Spain. And much more, your empadronamiento is your ticket to set up your life in Barcelona.

Let us guide you through the steps to your empadronamiento in Barcelona.

What is the empadronamiento (padrón) in Spain?

Your empadronamiento (also called 'padrón') is your registration at the town hall to let your municipality keep a record of where and with whom you live in Spain.

With the padrón you receive a document with your registered address in Spain. And what's in it for you? You use this certificate for your immigration process and administrative tasks later on.

If you live in Spain for more than 183 days per year (or 6 months per year), you have to be registered at the local municipality.

Why do I need to get empadronamiento in Barcelona?

It's important for the municipality to stay up to date with the registration and the number of its residents. Yet it's equally valuable for you to register at the city hall in Spain.

You need your empadronamiento in Barcelona (and other Spanish cities) for these bureaucratic processes:

1. Immigration processes

To apply for the Spanish NIE number
To apply for the TIE number (for non-EU citizens)

2. Public services

To get a Spanish health insurancecard
To attend public schools

3. Administrative processes

To buy a car
To get married

By the way: For the bureaucratic processes, your empadronamiento certificate must not be older than 3 months! So if your certificate is no longer valid, you can simply ask for a copy for free at your local town hall.

What are the requirements to get your empadronamiento in Barcelona?

So, you’ve set up your appointment already? Then it's time to get your required documents together.

The good news: The requirements to register for empadronamiento in Barcelona are straightforward. You will need documents about yourself and your accommodation in Barcelona.

Collect these documents for your padrón:

ID or residence card
Registration form
- As the owner of the house: purchase contract and title deed (original + copy) of your house.
- As a tenant (not the owner): tenancy agreement. Again, the original and a copy of it.
Passport (original + copy)
NIE number (if you already have it).
An invoice that you have paid the rent (if you do not own the flat/house).
Proof of address
- As the owner of the accommodation: original copy of the title deed (escritura).
- As a tenant of the accommodation: original copy of the rental contract in Spanish/Catalan (the contract must be for more than 6 months and must have been signed within the last 5 years).
- As a tenant of the accommodation: written document from the owner of the accommodation stating that you are living at the address. As well as a signed copy of your identity card and rental contract.
- Autorización expresa - a document signed by a person who is already registered at your address (empadronado) and signed copy of identity card, as well as contract

The 3 ways to get your empadronamiento in Barcelona

One reason why getting your empadronamiento in Barcelona is a breeze? You have 3 ways to complete the registration process in no time.

Online: Get your digital identification. To do this, you have to identify yourself online on the portal using three identification methods: idCAT Mòbil, Clave Pin 24h or DNIe, Digital Certificate.
By phone: Give your data by phone. You can call in Catalan, Spanish, English or French.
In-person: Make an appointment in your neighbourhood in Barcelona. But: the appointment is only in Spanish or Catalan.

You can register in person at one of these town halls in your neighbourhood: