The city page is in Catalan. The sentences below are our English wording of what it says, read on 2026-10-16.
What it is and who must do it
The Barcelona City Council's newcomers page says that empadronamiento is the act of registering in the municipality where one habitually lives, and it determines that the person is considered a resident of that locality. It adds that registering is both an obligation and a right. It also says that anyone who comes to live in Barcelona from another municipality in Spain or from abroad must register in the city's population register, as must people who live in the city but are not on it. The same page says that a person does not need regular residence in the country to register.
What it is used for
- Registration makes access easier to certain rights, such as public healthcare or basic schooling for minors.
- Registration is a requirement for most procedures under the immigration law, such as family reunification and social roots.
How to do it
What you need
The Barcelona City Council's newcomers page says that to register, the person must prove their identity and the availability of housing with documents. It adds that the identity document depends on the person's nationality, and the housing document depends on the type of registration.
Where to apply
It also says that people can ask about the documents and the procedure by phone on 010, in person at any citizen service office (OAC), or online through the Oficina Virtual de Tràmits.
Types of registration
Ordinary registration
- In ordinary registration the person is registered at the address where they live, whether a flat, house, rented room, premises, warehouse or plot.
- The documents to provide change depending on whether the person owns the home or rents it.
- An owner or tenant can also give express authorisation to register other people at the address.
Minors
- The registration of a minor must be handled by their legal representative.
- When a minor is registered, a foreigner over 14 shows a residence card, a passport or an identity document from their country of origin, the last only if they belong to the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
No fixed address
- Registration without a fixed address can be requested by a person who lives on the street, in temporary emergency accommodation, does not live continuously at the same address, or lives at a home where there is a risk of expulsion.
- In these cases the request must include a residence knowledge report (ICR) issued by Social Services.
- In registration without a fixed address, the person is registered at the address of a municipal centre or service, where their mail arrives.
- This type of registration is exceptional.
You will need the registration certificate for many later steps, including the immigration procedures that start with the NIE.
Source
Checked on 2026-10-16 against Barcelona City Council: Inscripció al padró d'habitants (Nova ciutadania). Rules and fees change, so read the official page again before you pay or travel.