Volante de empadronamiento in Barcelona: how to get the certificate

What empadronamiento certificates does the Ajuntament de Barcelona issue?

For individuals, the Ajuntament offers two main certificates, and the Oficina Virtual also has a separate procedure for a certificat signed by the secretary. Most often you will be asked for one of the first two [1][4].

In everyday use, “volante de empadronamiento” in Spanish and “volant d'empadronament” in Catalan refer to all of these documents. The body receiving it will tell you which one you need: a school, a health centre, a bank or an immigration procedure. There is no need to order every version at once.

How does the certificate differ from the padrón registration itself?

The certificate is issued after registration, not instead of it. To request a volant, you must already be entered in the municipal register: this is the first condition the Ajuntament sets [1]. Registration itself is compulsory for everyone who lives in Barcelona, and no residence permit is required for it [2][3]. We covered the registration procedure and its limits in the article on empadronamiento in Barcelona.

The Ajuntament says that online registration is confirmed by email in about 7 days, and only after that can you obtain certificates for the new address [2]. If you go in person with an appointment, registration is processed on the spot and you are given a confirming document, up to two copies [2]. If you cannot prove your right to the home with documents, you can still register, but the Ajuntament will check that you really live at the address, and processing takes up to three months [2].

How do you get the certificate, step by step?

You can request the certificate at any time in three ways [1].

1. Online. Log in to the Oficina Virtual de Trámites with idCAT, an FNMT-RCM certificate, Cl@ve PIN or DNIe. The document downloads as a PDF as soon as the procedure is complete [1]. How to get an identification method is explained in the article on Cl@ve.
2. In person. Book an appointment at any OAC (oficina d'atenció ciutadana) or get the certificate at a Punt BCN kiosk. The document is issued on the day of your visit; the kiosk only provides the volant de residència [1].
3. By phone on 010. The certificate arrives by ordinary post at your registered address in about seven working days; by email it can arrive within 24 hours [1].

The service is free [1].

What documents do you need for the certificate?

For a certificate in your own name you need a valid identity document. For non-EU citizens this is the residence card (TIE) or passport; for citizens of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, the residence card, passport or national identity document, or the NIE certificate together with the passport, are accepted [1].

You can order a certificate for another adult in person if you have their written consent with an original signature, valid for one month from the date of the document, and a copy of their identity document. Separate sets of documents apply to minors and to people without legal capacity: a parent registered with the child submits the child’s document; a parent not registered with the child also submits a copy of the other parent’s document and the consent of both [1]. The volant de convivència is never issued in a minor’s name: it is issued in the name of the person requesting it [1].

How long is the certificate valid and when must you update your padrón registration?

The documents themselves have no expiry date, but the recipient decides whether they are recent enough: the Ajuntament notes that validity depends on the procedure for which the document is requested [1]. Some organisations only accept certificates issued within a certain period. Check with them before ordering, and request the certificate shortly before you submit.

Separately from the certificate, there is a rule about the registration itself: a non-EU citizen without long-term residence renews the registration every two years. EU citizens with a registration certificate renew it every five years [2]. How the padrón is used in an immigration case depends on the procedure: it is one piece of evidence, not a substitute for other documents. Check with a lawyer or gestor.

The certificate is also needed in your first steps after moving: the first weeks are described in the article first 30 days after DNV approval, and which body accepts which documents in the article which authorities accept residence permit documents in Barcelona. For the full route, see the DNV route card and the page residence permit in Barcelona.

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ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 02.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.