Spanish · Admin & banking · Elementary

How to register at the town hall in Spain

Book a cita previa if your town hall needs one, then say “Quiero empadronarme”. Bring your passport or NIE and your rental contract: “Aquí tiene mi contrato de alquiler”. You usually leave with a volante; if a procedure needs the official version, ask “¿Dónde pido el certificado de empadronamiento?”.

Try it · about two minutes

You go to the town hall with your rental contract to register your address, which other paperwork often asks for.

Sound on: the town hall clerk speaks Spanish. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

You walk into the town hall and stop at the information desk.
You
Quiero empadronarme.
I want to register at the town hall.
Town hall clerk
¿Tiene cita?
Do you have an appointment?
You
Sí, a las nueve.
Yes, at nine.
Town hall clerk
Coja número y espere su turno.
Take a ticket and wait your turn.
You
¿Dónde se coge el número?
Where do I take a ticket?
Town hall clerk
Está ahí mismo.
It’s just there.
You
Vale, gracias.
OK, thanks.
Town hall clerk
Su pasaporte, por favor.
Your passport, please.
You
Aquí tiene.
Here you are.
Town hall clerk
Rellene este formulario, por favor.
Please fill in this form.
You
No entiendo este formulario.
I don’t understand this form.
Town hall clerk
No se preocupe, ya está. Aquí tiene su volante de empadronamiento.
Don’t worry, it’s all done. Here’s your proof of registration.
You
Perfecto, muchas gracias.
Great, thank you very much.

Key phrases

Quiero empadronarme.
I want to register at the town hall.
¿Qué oficina se encarga del empadronamiento?
Which office handles town hall registration?
Necesito pedir cita previa.
I need to book an appointment.
¿Qué documentos tengo que traer?
Which documents do I need to bring?
Aquí tiene mi contrato de alquiler.
Here’s my rental contract.
Tiene que traer una autorización del propietario del piso.
You need to bring an authorisation from the owner of the flat.
¿Dónde pido el certificado de empadronamiento?
Where do I request the registration certificate?
Le falta el certificado de empadronamiento.
You’re missing the registration certificate.
¿Empadronarse es lo mismo que registrarse?
Does empadronarse mean the same as registering?
¿Puedo empadronarme en este piso?
Can I register my address at this flat?

Good to know in Spain

How it usually goes

1
Book a cita previa, if your town hall asks for one.
I need to book an appointment.
2
Bring your passport or NIE and your rental contract.
Here’s my rental contract.
3
Fill in the form at the window.
4
Leave with a volante, or ask for the certificado if you need it.
Where do I request the registration certificate?

Why the padrón matters

The padrón is your town’s register of residents. Banks, schools and other offices often ask for proof that you’re on it.

Necesitamos su certificado de empadronamiento.

We need your certificate of registration at your address.

Not on the contract?

If you rent a room or your name isn’t on the contract, many town halls ask for the owner’s authorisation. Ask your landlord early.

Tiene que traer una autorización del propietario del piso.

You need to bring an authorisation from the owner of the flat.

More situations in Spanish

All situations in Spanish

Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.