Registration in Spain or “Empadronamiento”

All those who plan to spend longer than 90 days in Spain
will need to apply for residency status (residencia)

And the only way to get a residencia status is by registering in Spain (“padrón” or “empadronamiento”).

From the 28th March 2007, Royal Decree 240/07 requires that all EU citizens planning to reside in Spain for more than 3 months should register in person at the Oficina de Extranjeros in their province of residence or at the designated Police stations. You will be issued an A4 printed Residence Certificate stating your name, address, nationality, NIE number (Número de Identificación Extranjeros) and date of registration.

“Empadronamiento or “padrón” is a municipal registry that consists in an  administrative record list of all of the people who live in a given municipality and acts as proof of exactly where people reside. In Spain, everyone is obliged by law to register their name with the municipal registry in their place of residence.

Is it compulsory?

Most times it is. A Certificate of Residence for Foreigners is compulsory if you are any of the following:

– A pensioner retiring to Spain (who has never worked there)
– A person of independent means (i.e. not employed or self-employed)
– A non-EU national dependant of an EU or Spanish national Residence cards (as distinct from the Certificate of Residence for Foreigners) are no longer required for EU citizens although they are available if desired.

How do I Register in Spain?

To do this, you must register yourself at the Central Register for Foreign Nationals (known as the Registro Central de Extranjeros), which is usually done at the local police station or Ayuntamiento. They will issue you with a Registration Certificate, which not only certifies your residence, but also holds important personal information, so you will need to provide the authorities with:

• Your full name
• Proof of identity (such as a passport)
• NIE number if you have one (if not, registering as a resident will also generate an NIE number, so you can effectively kill two birds with one stone by doing this)
• A signed EX18 application form, which can be downloaded here – https://www.spain-help.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ex18.pdf (can be filled with your computer – in Spanish)
• You are advised to register within three months of your arrival in Spain.

Why should I apply for residency status?

It is required by Spanish law to enlist on the padrón at the Town Hall where you periodically live, yet numerous foreigners ex-pats still have yet to do so. Maybe some view the padrón as a method for cautiousness by the state, in ‘huge sibling’ form. In any case, essentially it is a way for the town hall to know the number of people who live in their general vicinity, without going into examinations as to a man’s authentic living arrangement status or monetary undertakings.

ADVANTAGES OF EMPADRONAMIENTO ENLISTMENT

Once you’ve finished the straightforward procedure, you can start to appreciate every one of the favorable circumstances that being on the padrón offers, for example.

Better open administrations

Focal governments give cash to the different regions according to the number of people registered on the padrón. This means that if you are not listed, your town hall is losing cash for the arrangement of wellbeing focuses, cops, fire contenders and schools.

Access to advantages and social care

You should be on the padrón for a specific time if your end goal is to get some salary related advantages and to access different parts of social care that the social administrations in your town hall provide.

A decrease in charges

Depending on the town hall , the enrollment on the padrón could mean decreases in certain group charges and legacy assess. Moreover, those on the padrón can likewise frequently benefit from reduced courses, recreation and social exercises that are keep running by the town hall.

Reduced travel

A current ‘Cerificado de Empadronamiento’ can allow the residents of the Spanish islands to get discounts of up to half on air tolls and ship tickets between the islands and the mainland.

Voting rights

Keeping in mind the end goal to enroll to vote in neighborhood or European races, you should first be enlisted on the padrón.

A less demanding life

You’ll see you require your padrón to do different managerial undertakings, for example, register for medicinal services, register your vehicle with Spanish number plates or enroll your kids in school.

What if I change address?

Unfortunately you are required to renew this if you change your address at any time.