Step-by-step guide to getting your empadronamiento in Málaga, from the documents you need to the ways you can register.
One of the first things you need to complete after moving to Málaga is your registration at the municipality. This will get you you Spanish certificado de empadronamiento (padrón). To help you navigate the bureaucratic waters, we’ve collected all of the information you need to complete the process.
The certificado de empadronamiento includes details of your living conditions such as where you live, with whom, for how long and whether you own or rent the property. Everyone who plans on living in Spain for over 6 months needs to get this certificate by registering at the local municipality.
Whether you plan on studying or working in Málaga, having a padrón is important for many reasons. First, getting a certificado de empadronamiento will allow you to get your NIE number or TIE card, public health insurance, set up utilities, etc. Basically, it’s the first step towards building a life in Málaga.
Second, registering in Málaga will help the Spanish government plan administrative processes based on the number of citizens living in the city. Examples include determining the allocation of funds or the number of representatives in the Congress.
Having all your documents ready is essential for registering at the municipality. Generally, in Málaga you need:
If you’re renting a room in shared housing, you can bring a signed autorización expresa by your roommate and a copy of their ID as proof of address.
You can register at Málaga’s municipality in 3 ways.
Make an appointment and visit your nearest town hall or Gestión Tributaria (tax management) office. Bring all of the necessary documents and receive your certificado de empadronamiento immediately.
Call the Municipal Information Telephone (010). Give them your personal details (ID, date of birth, phone number and email) and the reason for registering. You can expect to receive your certificado de empadronamiento in a few days via mail.
There’re 2 ways you can get your padrón online depending on whether you have a digital certificate (certificado digital) (your digital signature). 1. Without a digital certificate: enter the required personal information, select the type of certificate you want, and expect it in the mail in the next few days. 2. With a digital certificate: your personal information is already in the system so you can just fill in the required information (date of birth, type of document you need, and the reason for your request). Your certificado de empadronamiento will open in a new window as a PDF.
Keep in mind that registering process will probably be done in Spanish so brush up on your Spanish skills.
If your preference is to complete the process in person, we have good news for you. As Málaga is a big city divided into 11 districts, you can register at the town hall in your neighbourhood:
Your certificado de empadronamiento is valid only for 3 months after the issue date. You can request a new one only in-person at the nearest town hall. Luckily, getting your padrón is completely free of charge.
Yes. Generally, if there’s a significant change in your living conditions (e.g. you got married) you have to update your empadronamiento.
Otherwise, for EU citizens, the padrón is valid for 5 years and non-EU citizens have to renew it every 2 years.
So there you have it, everything you need to get your certificado de empadronamiento. Now you can complete your registration without a hitch and look forward to many of the wonderful things to do in Málaga.
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