When relocating to Spain and intending to stay as a resident, the first things you need to do are processing your NIE number (for information on the NIE acquisition process, check the corresponding blog entry) and registering at the city council, known as empadronamiento. This process involves declaring your habitual residence address and obtaining a certificate indicating your residency in the province and country.
In this blog post, we will provide a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the Spanish “empadronamiento” process smoothly.
Step 1: Gather Required Documents:
- Have a rental contract and receipt of payment of the last month’s rent. The contract can be yours or someone who offers to register you at their home. If you register at someone else’s place this person will either have to go with you in person to the appointment or give you a copy of their ID and a written document stating that she or he allows you to register at their house.
- Document proving identity (passport in the case of foreigners) of all the people involved (the tenant, those who want to register and the owner of the property). Sometimes the permission of the property owner is also requested, authorizing people to register.
Step 2: Obtain the Registration Form:
- Contact your local town hall or city council to acquire the appropriate registration form. The form may vary depending on the city or town where you are registering.
Step 3: Locate the Registration Office:
- Determine the designated registration office for your location. You can check it here. Some areas may require you to schedule an appointment, while others may offer online registration with an electronic certificate.
Step 4: Complete the Registration Process:
- Visit the designated registration office in person, ensuring you have all the necessary documents (originals and copies) – or do it online if possible and if you have a digital certificate.
- Present the completed registration form along with the required documents to the appropriate personnel.
- Follow any additional instructions provided by the registration office staff.
- Note that the waiting time to obtain the certificate may vary, typically ranging from one day to two weeks, depending on the time of year and location.
If this post has provided you with valuable information and guidance, we kindly ask you to share it with others who may benefit from it. By sharing our blog posts, you can help fellow expatriates and newcomers navigate the experience of moving to Spain more easily, and you also help us reach more people. Oh, how we love a win-win at Groovy Relocation!
Thank you for reading, and we wish you a seamless and successful new life in our beloved Spain!
