Certificado de Empadronamiento: Getting this essential document made easy

Certificado de Empadronamiento

Looking for a guide to getting the certificado de empadronamiento in English? Getting your certificado de empadronamiento, sometimes referred to as ‘el padron’ is an essential step for anyone who wishes to be resident in Spain. This page tells you everything you need to know.

What is a Certificado de Empadronamiento?

A certificado de empadronamiento is a document issued by your local town hall which confirms that you are resident in the town. It allows national and regional governments to allocate funding more accurately to that town, based on who is lving there. But more importantly for you, it is necessary in order to:

Get your certificado de Registro (EU/EFTA citizens who wish to become resident)
Get your TIE (non EU/EFTA citizens who wish to become resident)
Access local public services such as healthcare and schools
It may also be required for other proceses, for example in order to open some bank accounts or to prove where you live if you are obtaining the right for your dependants to move to Spain to be with you.

Who needs a Certificado de Empadronamiento?

A certificado de empadronamiento is needed by anyone who intends to live in Spain for longer than 90 consecutive days, whether they are Spanish, an EU/EFTA citizen, or from elsewhere in the world. Even if you already have a residence visa, you still need a certificado de empadronamiento.

Certificado vs Volante?

A Volante de Empadronamiento is requested in some circumstances. Think of it as a less formal ‘note’ that confirms you have a certificate, rather than an actual certificate. The main difference these days is that for some situations a Volante will do but in others only a certificado will do. However, a certificado will always be sufficient.

A volante de convivencia shows who you live with and may be required for certain processes, along with your certificado de empadronamiento.

How do I get the certificado de empadronamiento

Where to get it

In many cities and towns you can get your certificado de empadronamiento online so long as you have a certificado digital (a digital certificate you download onto your computer which proves who you are…see below)

Here are some examples:

You can also get your certificado de empadronamiento in person, at your local town hall or, if it is separate (usually in bigger towns) in the Oficina de Atencion al Ciudadano. In some towns this may still be the only way to get it.

What you need

Whether you get your certificado de empadronamiento online or in person, you will need the following documents:

Passport (and photocopy of the main page if you go in person)

Proof of address. This may take the form of:

If you own the property you are living in: The receipt from when you last paid the IBI (local property tax) or if not, then the deeds of the property (if you own it)

If you are renting: Your rental contract, which must state that the rental is for a duration of at least 3 months. Some town halls will ask for a utility receipt or a proof of payment of one of the monthly rentals in addition to the contract.

There may be some cases where you are renting but the rental is not in your name. In this situation, your local town hall will usually have a form which the property owner (or the tenant who appears on the rental contract) can sign, along with submitting their passport or national ID, which will be acceptable. Remember, it is in the interest of the town hall to get you registered as this helps increase their funding.

How much does a Certificado de Empadronamiento Cost?

There should be no charge for your certificado de empadronamiento. If you pay someone to obtain it on your behalf with power of attorney (usually a lawyer or gestor) then their service fee will apply.

Is the Certificado de Empadronamiento Valid Forever?

The certificado de empadronamiento is valid for 3 months.

You will need to obtain a new one if you need to carry out a process for which it is required, and your certificado de empadronamiento is more than 3 months old. Even if you don’t need it for any new process, you will need to renew it if:

You change your address
You are at the same address but have not renewed the certificate for 2 years (non EU/EFTA citizens on any type of visa)
You are at the same address but have not renewed for 5 years (EU/EFTA citizens & permanent residents)

How do I get a Certificado Digital?

The certificado digital allows you to get your certificado de empadronamiento online. It also allows you to carry out a wide (and increasing) range of bureaucratic processes with different ministries and departments. Even if you ask a gestor to do some of these things for you, they may need you to send them your certificado digital. To see how to get the certificado digital, visit our dedicated page here.