Roadmap · stage 5 of 12

Registration: padró in Barcelona and neighbouring municipalities

How to register your address in Barcelona without an NIE or residence permit, what differs in seven neighbouring towns and how to get volant certificates.

This stage was prepared by the ReloVictory team from primary sources; it has not yet been checked by a lawyer, and each item is marked with the date it was verified.

In brief

Padró in Barcelona is free and can be done online, by phone on 010 or at an OAC by appointment; a passport is enough
Online, confirmation arrives in about 7 days; at an OAC you are registered on the day of the appointment; without housing documents the check takes up to 3 months
The volant de residència is issued from age 16 and the volant de convivència from 18; both are free
For non-EU citizens without larga duración, the registration is renewed every two years (article 16.1 Ley 7/1985)

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Item 84

What is the padró, and does it prove that you live in Spain legally?

The Padró municipal d'habitants is the register of a municipality’s residents under Ley 7/1985 (LBRL): article 15 requires everyone who lives in Spain to register where they usually live and, if they live in several places, where they spend most of the year [1]. Article 18.2 adds that registering a foreign national in the padró does not prove legal residence and gives no rights that the law does not provide [1]. It records your address; it is not an immigration status.

Understand the rule: register where you actually live

Online
In person
Free

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: The ajuntament of the municipality where you live
Cost: free
Source: BOE: Ley 7/1985 reguladora de las Bases del Régimen Local, articles 15, 16 and 18

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 85

Can you register on the Barcelona padró without an NIE or a residence permit?

For identification, the Ajuntament de Barcelona accepts a TIE or a passport from non-EU nationals; a residence permit is not among the registration conditions [1]. The conditions on the city’s page are: being of age, living in Barcelona and not having a current entry in the city register [1]. Foreign documents must be in Catalan or Spanish, or come with a translation by a sworn translator or a Spanish consulate [1].

Online
By phone
In person
Free
Barcelona only

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Oficina Virtual de Tràmits, phone 010 or OAC
How to book: For an OAC, book through the Oficina Virtual or 010
Documents: passport (or TIE, if you already have one)
housing document or the owner’s authorisation
Cost: free
Period: at an OAC, on the day of the appointment; online, confirmation in about 7 days
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Registration in the municipal register of residents

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 86

How do you book empadronamiento in Barcelona?

For the padró, the Ajuntament de Barcelona offers three channels: online through the Oficina Virtual de Tràmits with electronic identification, by phone on 010 with forms sent by post, and in person at an Oficina d'Atenció Ciutadana (OAC) by appointment [1]. OAC appointments are booked through the Oficina Virtual, on 010 or at the office itself [2]. The number for calls from outside the metropolitan area is given on the service page [3]. The procedure is free whichever channel you use [1].

Choose a channel: Oficina Virtual de Tràmits, phone 010 or OAC by appointment

Online
By phone
In person
Free
Barcelona only

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Oficina Virtual, phone 010, district OACs
How to book: Cita prèvia through the Oficina Virtual de Tràmits, on 010 or at the OAC desk
Documents: identity document
proof of your right to use the home
Cost: free
Period: OAC appointment subject to availability; the registration itself is done on the spot
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Registration in the municipal register of residents · Ajuntament de Barcelona: Cita prèvia a les OAC, document informatiu (PDF) · Ajuntament de Barcelona: Servei d'atenció ciutadana, phone 010

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 87

How do you register on the padró in Barcelona online, and how long does confirmation take?

Online registration in the Oficina Virtual de Tràmits of the Ajuntament de Barcelona requires logging in with idCAT Mòbil, Cl@ve, DNIe or an FNMT-RCM certificate and signing the application and attached documents electronically [1]. If everything is in order, confirmation arrives by email in about 7 days, and from then on you can order certificates at your new address [1]. This channel suits people who already have digital access; everyone else has 010 and the OAC.

Apply in the Oficina Virtual with idCAT Mòbil, Cl@ve, FNMT or DNIe

Online
Free
Barcelona only

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Oficina Virtual de Tràmits, seuelectronica.ajuntament.barcelona.cat
How to book: No appointment needed
Documents: scans of your identity document
scan of the contract or the owner’s authorisation
means of identification: idCAT Mòbil, Cl@ve, FNMT or DNIe
Cost: free
Period: confirmation by email in about 7 calendar days
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Registration in the municipal register of residents (online)

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 88

How does padró registration in Barcelona work by phone on 010?

Through 010, the Ajuntament de Barcelona sends the instructions, the form and details of the documents required by ordinary post to the address you are registering; you post the signed form and documents back within a month of receiving the instructions, and the registration document also arrives by post [1]. Support on 010 is in Catalan, Spanish, English and French [1]. Whatever the channel, the city has a maximum of three months to decide [1].

Call 010, receive the forms by post and return them signed within a month

By phone
By post
Free
Barcelona only

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament de Barcelona phone line 010
How to book: No appointment needed, call 010
Documents: the signed form from the letter
copies of your identity document and housing papers
Cost: free
Period: the form goes back by post within a month of receiving the instructions; a maximum of three months for the decision
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Registration in the municipal register of residents (by telephone)

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 89

How do you register on the padró in person at a Barcelona OAC?

At an Oficina d'Atenció Ciutadana (OAC) of the Ajuntament de Barcelona, the padró is done by appointment: you bring paper originals, the registration is done on the spot and you get a document confirming it, up to two copies [1]. You book through the Oficina Virtual, on 010 or at the office; without an appointment, an OAC guarantees information, document registration, padró for a newborn and urgent matters [2]. The Monumental office also serves people in English and French [1].

Book an OAC appointment and bring paper originals

In person
Free
Barcelona only

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Any Barcelona OAC: district offices, Monumental, plaça Sant Miquel
How to book: Cita prèvia through the Oficina Virtual de Tràmits, on 010 or at the OAC itself
Documents: original passport or TIE
original housing documents for your role: owner, tenant or occupant
for a family: your partner’s and children’s documents
Cost: free
Period: registration on the day of the appointment
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Registration in the municipal register of residents (in person) · Ajuntament de Barcelona: Cita prèvia a les OAC, document informatiu (PDF)

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 90

Which housing documents does Barcelona accept for the padró?

The Ajuntament de Barcelona lists housing documents by your role [1]. An owner listed as the IBI payer needs no documents. For a tenant, a current fixed-term contract of three months or more, or an extended one with a note of the extension, is enough, with nothing attached. A rent receipt for 2 months and a utility bill for 3 months are listed as attachments to a contract that has expired and been extended without an explicit clause, and to an open-ended contract of 4 years or more. Everyone else needs the owner’s authorisation; without housing documents, the city checks the address within up to 3 months [1].

Gather the housing document for your role: owner, tenant, occupant

Online
In person
Free
Barcelona only

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament de Barcelona, any filing channel
Documents: owner: IBI in your name (the city checks it itself) or escritura, purchase contract, land registry extract no older than a year
tenant: current fixed-term contract of 3 months or more, or an extended one with a note of the extension
tenant whose expired contract was extended without an explicit clause, or with an open-ended contract of 4 years or more: with the contract, a rent receipt for 2 months, an electricity, water or gas bill for 3 months with proof of payment, a bank transfer showing the rental details; internet and mobile phone bills are not accepted
occupant: authorisation from the owner, the tenant or a registered occupant, with an original signature and a copy of their ID
without housing documents: application, address verification form, the city’s answer within up to 3 months
Cost: free
Period: before you apply
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Registration in the municipal register of residents (documents)

More: full article · glossary term · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 91

Can you register in Barcelona without a rental contract or the owner’s authorisation?

Yes. The Ajuntament de Barcelona allows registration without documents proving your right to use the home: you file a general application, the address verification form and the other documents, and the city then checks that you usually live at that address [1]. If the result is positive, you are registered and certificates are issued; such an application is processed within 3 months of filing [1]. For a collective address, such as a hotel, you need an authorisation from the establishment’s representative with signature, stamp and details [1].

File the application and the address verification form if you have no housing documents

In person
Free
Barcelona only

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament de Barcelona OAC, by appointment
How to book: Cita prèvia at the OAC
Documents: registration application
address verification form
identity document
Cost: free
Period: up to 3 months from the application date
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Registration in the municipal register of residents (without documents)

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 92

Can you register your whole family on the Barcelona padró in one application?

The Ajuntament de Barcelona lets you register yourself and your family unit (your partner and your children together) in one application if you are all moving from the same municipality [1]. For children you submit the birth certificate or libro de familia and the passport; children over 14 also need a TIE if they have one; documents not in Catalan or Spanish need a sworn translation [1]. Other adults register themselves or with an authorisation valid for one month from the date of the document [1].

Online
In person
Free
Barcelona only

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament de Barcelona, OAC or Oficina Virtual
How to book: One cita prèvia for the whole family
Documents: passports of all family members
children’s birth certificates or libro de familia with a sworn translation
a signed authorisation from each adult if one person files
Cost: free
Period: on the day of the appointment if you apply in person
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Registration in the municipal register of residents (family, minors)

More: full article · route card: family · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 93

How do you get a volant de residència or volant de convivència in Barcelona?

The volant de residència confirms your entry on the Barcelona padró and is issued from age 16; the volant de convivència shows the address and the people registered with you, from age 18; both are free [1]. Online in the Oficina Virtual with idCAT, FNMT-RCM, Cl@ve PIN or DNIe, the PDF downloads straight away; at an OAC by appointment, on the day; the Punt BCN kiosk issues only the residència one; through 010 by post in about seven working days [1].

Order a volant online, at an OAC, at a Punt BCN kiosk or through 010

Online
In person
By phone
Free
Barcelona only

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Oficina Virtual de Tràmits, any OAC, Punt BCN kiosk, phone 010
How to book: An OAC needs an appointment; online and the kiosk do not
Documents: TIE or passport
for a certificate for another adult: their authorisation (valid for a month) and a copy of their ID
Cost: free
Period: online at once; at an OAC on the day of the appointment; by post about 7 working days; by email within 24 hours
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Volant de convivència and volant de residència

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 94

How do you register on the padró in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat?

The Seu electrònica of the Ajuntament de L'Hospitalet de Llobregat describes two channels: online, signed by the applicant through the VÀLid system, with a maximum processing time of 3 months; and in person at an Oficina d'Atenció Ciutadana, which sees people with or without an appointment depending on demand, and registers you on the spot [1]. For a tenant, the page lists a current rental contract for a permanent home and the latest receipt or proof of payment; for a non-EU foreign national, a residence card or passport [1].

In L'Hospitalet, apply online or go to an OAC with or without an appointment

Online
In person

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament de L'Hospitalet: Oficines d'Atenció Ciutadana or seu electrònica
How to book: Book through the link on the city’s page; the office also sees people without an appointment, depending on demand
Documents: passport or TIE
current rental contract
latest rent receipt or proof of payment
Cost: check the amount on seuelectronica.l-h.cat
Period: in person, registered on the spot; online, up to 3 months
Source: Ajuntament de L'Hospitalet, seu electrònica: Alta al Padró Municipal d'Habitants

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 95

Which documents do you need for the padró in Badalona?

The Seu electrònica of the Ajuntament de Badalona requires originals of valid documents: for a foreign national, a residence card or passport; for children, the libro de familia or birth certificate with a translation [1]. It lists a receipt or bank document showing rent payment no older than 3 months, and proof of the fianza for a recent rental; without a right to the home, you file a comprovació de residència request [1]. To apply through another person: forms F0212 and F0213 [1]. Check the filing channels and appointments on the city’s page.

In Badalona, bring originals: your identity document and proof of the lease with payment

In person

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament de Badalona, citizen service offices
How to book: Check how to book an appointment on seu.badalona.cat
Documents: original passport or TIE
rent payment receipt no older than 3 months
proof that the fianza was paid, for a new lease
for children: birth certificate with a translation
Cost: check the amount on seu.badalona.cat
Source: Ajuntament de Badalona, seu electrònica: alta al padró d'habitants

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 96

How do you register in the padró in Castelldefels?

The Seu electrònica of the Ajuntament de Castelldefels accepts applications online with a digital certificate and Autofirma or through the VÀLid system (idCAT Mòbil, Cl@ve PIN); if you have no certificate, the page says you must go in person with a prior appointment [1]. You need your DNI, NIE or passport (both sides) and the acreditació de la direcció padronal; the decision takes up to three months, and no reply from the administration means approval [1].

In Castelldefels, apply online or in person with an appointment

Online
In person

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament de Castelldefels, Oficina d'Atenció Ciutadana or seu electrònica
How to book: Cita prèvia through the link on the town’s website
Documents: DNI, NIE or passport (both sides)
proof of address (acreditació direcció padronal)
the owner’s authorisation: digitally signed if you apply online, or the original in person
Cost: check the amount on seu.castelldefels.org
Period: up to 3 months, silenci positiu
Source: Ajuntament de Castelldefels, seu electrònica: alta al padró municipal

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 97

How do you register in the padró in Sant Cugat del Vallès?

The Ajuntament de Sant Cugat del Vallès states that for immediate registration in the padró everyone over 16 must come in person to any Oficina d'Atenció Ciutadana (OAC); if one of them does not come, the town may start a check of actual residence [1]. Appointments: the link and phone numbers are on the town’s page; for Valldoreix you call first [1]. Documents: form Doc. 591 signed by everyone over 16, an identity document for each person and proof of address. The procedure is free [1].

In Sant Cugat, everyone over 16 goes to the OAC

In person
Online
Free

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: OAC Ajuntament de Sant Cugat del Vallès
How to book: Cita prèvia through the link on the town’s page or by calling 010; for Valldoreix call first, the number is on the town’s page
Documents: form Doc. 591 signed by everyone over 16
identity document of everyone being registered
escriptura, a lease with the latest receipt, or an authorisation to live at the address
Cost: free
Period: if everyone over 16 comes in person, registration is immediate; otherwise the address may be checked
Source: Ajuntament de Sant Cugat, seu electrònica: Alta o canvi de domicili al Padró d'habitants

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 98

How do you register in the padró in Sitges?

The Ajuntament de Sitges says registration in the padró is completely free: you need originals of your identity document (DNI, NIE or passport) and proof that you live in Sitges, either a título de propietat or a lease with the latest receipt [1]. An appointment is recommended but not required: the form on the town’s website, the self-service terminal at the OAC, or a phone call to the number given in the town’s news item [1]. Sitges states that registering there automatically triggers a baixa in your previous municipality [1].

In Sitges, go to the OAC with your identity document, escriptura or lease and the latest receipt

In person
Online
Free

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Oficina d'Atenció Ciutadana Ajuntament de Sitges
How to book: Recommended: the form on sitges.cat, the OAC terminal or a call to the number in the town’s news item
Documents: DNI, NIE or passport
escriptura or lease
latest rent receipt
Cost: free
Source: Ajuntament de Sitges: Funcions del padró municipal d'habitants i com donar-se d'alta

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 99

How do you register in the padró in Terrassa?

As of 03.10.2026, the Ajuntament de Terrassa has temporarily switched off alta al padró applications through its seu electrònica: the procedure is only in person at any Oficina d'Atenció Ciutadana with a prior appointment [1]. Documents: the original identity document, an escriptura or lease in the applicant’s name, or an authorisation from the owner or tenant with their identity document; without a title, an inspection is carried out [1]. The promised time is 50 working days and the legal limit is 3 months; no reply means approval; free of charge [1].

In Terrassa, book an appointment at the OAC: the online channel is temporarily off

In person
Free

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: OAC Ajuntament de Terrassa: plaça Didó and district offices
How to book: Cita prèvia through the link on aoberta.terrassa.cat or by calling 010 Terrassa
Documents: original DNI, TIE or passport
escriptura or lease in your name
or an authorisation from the owner or tenant with a copy of their identity document
Cost: free
Period: promised time 50 working days; legal limit 3 months, silenci positiu
Source: Ajuntament de Terrassa, Administració Oberta: Alta al Padró Municipal d'Habitants

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 100

How do you register in the padró in Sabadell?

The Ajuntament de Sabadell handles alta al padró at the Sabadell Atenció Ciutadana (SAC) offices; you can book through the link on the town’s page or by calling 010 [1]. For tenants, the page lists a current lease for permanent residence with the latest receipt, plus the latest paid electricity, water or gas bill in the tenant’s name; for owners, the escriptura, the purchase contract or a nota del Registre [1]. It is free; if the town checks the details, it can take up to 3 months with silenci positiu [1].

In Sabadell, book a SAC office appointment on 010 and bring the lease, the receipt and an electricity, water or gas bill

In person
Free

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Oficines SAC Ajuntament de Sabadell
How to book: Through the link on the town’s page or by calling 010
Documents: identity document
lease with the latest receipt
latest paid electricity, water or gas bill in the tenant’s name
or an authorisation from the owner or the named tenant
Cost: free
Period: at the appointment if your file is complete; up to 3 months if checked
Source: Ajuntament de Sabadell, seu electrònica: alta al padró municipal d'habitants

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 101

How do you find out the padró procedure in another municipality in Catalonia?

The padró is kept by the ayuntamiento (article 17 of Ley 7/1985) [1], and each one describes its channels, appointments and documents differently on its seu electrònica [2][3]. Look for the tràmit “Alta al Padró Municipal d'Habitants” on your town’s website.

Find the tràmit “Alta al Padró Municipal d'Habitants” on your ajuntament’s seu electrònica

Online
Free

Checked on 03.10.2026

Item 102

Do you need to deregister in your old town when you move within Spain?

No. Under the INE instructions for ayuntamientos (Resolución of 17.02.2020, point 5.2.1), the INE sends notice of your alta in the new municipality to the previous one, which must remove you from its register with no further action on your part; a baja is not processed at the person’s own request, except for foreign nationals leaving Spain [1]. The Ajuntament de Sitges says the same [2]. Register where you now live.

When you move to another town, register in the new one: the baja in the old one follows from the INE notice

Online
In person
Free

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament of your new place of residence
Cost: free
Period: the baja comes through the INE’s monthly files, not on the day of the alta
Source: BOE-A-2020-4784: Resolución INE y DG de Cooperación Autonómica y Local de 17.02.2020, instrucciones técnicas sobre la gestión del Padrón (5.2.1, bajas por cambio de residencia) · Ajuntament de Sitges: Funcions del padró municipal d'habitants (baixa automàtica)

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 103

Why keep proof of your padró registration?

The date of your padró registration matters for the CatSalut TSI (certificat no older than three months) [1], for the informe d'integració issued where you are registered [2] and for your residence history for arraigo. Keep the registration document.

Keep the registration document showing the date

Online
Free

Checked 03.10.2026 more in the article

Item 104

What do you do with your padró when you move to another address within Barcelona?

A change of address within Barcelona (canvi de domicili al padró) uses the same channels as the first registration: Oficina Virtual, 010 or an OAC with an appointment; in the list of OAC procedures where an appointment is recommended, it appears next to alta and volants [1]. The Ajuntament issues certificates for the new address only after the new entry is confirmed [2]. You need your identity document and papers for the new home, under the same rules as for an alta.

Apply for a canvi de domicili every time you move within the city

Online
By phone
In person
Free
Barcelona only

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Oficina Virtual, 010 or OAC
How to book: An appointment is recommended for the OAC
Documents: identity document
lease or authorisation for the new address
Cost: free
Period: in person on the day of the appointment; online, confirmation in about 7 days
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Cita prèvia a les OAC, document informatiu (canvi de domicili) · Ajuntament de Barcelona: Registration in the municipal register of residents

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 105

How often does a foreign national need to renew their padró registration?

Article 16.1 of Ley 7/1985 requires a foreign national from outside the EU without a larga duración permit to renew their entry every two years; if it is not renewed, the entry can be declared expired (caducidad) without a prior hearing [1]. The INE instructions for ayuntamientos place in this group all non-EU nationals except holders of larga duración and of the EU-regime card (family of an EU citizen), which includes holders of a temporary residence permit [2]. The Ajuntament de Barcelona repeats the rule [3].

Set a reminder: renew your padró after two years

Online
In person
Free

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament where you are registered
How to book: Through the same channels as registration
Documents: identity document
a current document for your home
Cost: free
Period: every two years from the registration date
Source: BOE: Ley 7/1985, article 16.1 (renovación periódica cada dos años) · BOE-A-2020-4784: Resolución INE de 17.02.2020, instrucciones técnicas sobre el Padrón (apartado 6, renovación y caducidad) · Ajuntament de Barcelona: Registration in the municipal register of residents (renewal)

In detail: full article · route card: renewal

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 106

How long is a volant de empadronamiento valid?

The Ajuntament de Barcelona says the volant de residència and volant de convivència do not expire, but how long they are accepted depends on the procedure they were requested for [1]. The receiving body sets its own limit: for the TSI, CatSalut asks for a certificat d'empadronament issued no more than three months earlier if your ajuntament does not share the data online [2]. So order the certificate for a specific application, not in advance.

Order the volant for a specific procedure shortly before you apply

Online
In person
By phone
Free
Barcelona only

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Oficina Virtual, OAC, Punt BCN or 010, Ajuntament de Barcelona
How to book: Online with no appointment; at the OAC with an appointment
Documents: TIE or passport
Cost: free
Period: online straight away; how long the certificate is accepted is set by the receiving body
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Volant de convivència and volant de residència (validity) · CatSalut: Obtenció de la TSI, certificat d'empadronament inferior a tres mesos

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 107

How do you get a volant històric d'empadronament for arraigo?

For the informe d'integració for arraigo, the Generalitat lists the volant d'empadronament històric among the documents that prove 2 years of continuous residence in Spain [1]. On 03.10.2026 we did not find a separate Ajuntament de Barcelona page about the volant històric: the page on volants only describes residència and convivència [2]. Request your registration history through the Oficina Virtual or at an OAC, and ask 010 which procedure issues it.

Order a volant històric (registration history) from the ajuntament

Online
In person
Barcelona only
Lawyer needed

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Oficina Virtual or OAC
How to book: At the OAC with an appointment; check the procedure on 010
Documents: TIE or passport
Cost: check the fee and timing in the Ajuntament de Barcelona Oficina Virtual
Period: not confirmed
Source: Generalitat, tràmits: Informe d'integració social (volant d'empadronament històric) · Ajuntament de Barcelona: Volant de convivència and volant de residència

In detail: full article · route card: arraigo

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 108

Why is it risky to register at an address where you don’t live?

The Ajuntament de Barcelona checks that the applicant lives permanently at the address given [1]. An entry that does not match reality goes against article 15 of Ley 7/1985: you must register where you live permanently [2].

Don’t register at someone else’s address and don’t buy a “registration”

Free
Barcelona only

Checked 03.10.2026 more in the article

Item 109

What documents do you need to register a child in the Barcelona padró?

The Ajuntament de Barcelona calls the padró a required step for children’s access to public healthcare and basic education [1]. For a foreign child under 14, you submit the libro de familia or birth record, or a parent’s passport showing the child’s details, plus the child’s TIE or passport if they have one; over 14, a TIE or passport and a document about the parents [1]. Foreign documents need a translation by a sworn translator or a Spanish consulate [1].

Online
In person
Free
Barcelona only

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament de Barcelona, OAC or Oficina Virtual
How to book: Together with the parents’ registration, on the same appointment
Documents: child’s passport
birth certificate or libro de familia with a sworn translation
both parents’ documents
Cost: free
Period: on the day of the appointment if you apply in person
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Registration in the municipal register of residents (minors)

More: full article · route card: family

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 110

How do you register a child in the padró if the other parent stayed in another country?

To register a child with one parent, the Ajuntament de Barcelona asks for a joint statement with the original signatures of both parents agreeing to the address, plus signed copies of their documents; with sole custody by court order, you submit that order; if there is no agreement, a statement about the address and proof that you have gone to court [1]. For the same situation, Badalona uses form F0212 with both parents’ consent [2]. Prepare for differences in surnames and get translations done in advance.

Prepare the other parent’s consent or a court order to register a child with one parent

In person
Free
Barcelona only
Lawyer needed

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: OAC Ajuntament de Barcelona with an appointment; in other towns, your own ajuntament
How to book: Cita prèvia at the OAC
Documents: joint statement from the parents with original signatures
signed copies of both parents’ documents
or a court custody order with a sworn translation
Cost: free
Period: on the day of the appointment if the file is complete
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona: Registration in the municipal register of residents (representing minors) · Ajuntament de Badalona, seu electrònica: alta al padró (model F0212)

More: full article · route card: family

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 111

Where do you apply for the informe d'integració, and what has the padró got to do with it?

The Generalitat de Catalunya says applications for the informe d'integració social are mainly made to the ajuntament where the applicant is registered in the padró [1]. The report is needed for arraigo social and socioformatiu and for renewing temporary residence when a condition is not met; for arraigo you attach proof of 2 years of continuous residence, such as a volant històric [1]. So your padró address at the time of applying must match where you really live.

Online
In person
Free
Lawyer needed

Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe

Where: Ajuntament where you are registered in the padró (in Barcelona, the Ajuntament de Barcelona)
How to book: The ajuntament sets the appointment procedure
Documents: identity document
volant d'empadronament històric or other proof of 2 years’ residence
for renewal: a permit within the renewal window (2 months before or 3 after expiry)
Cost: free
Source: Generalitat, tràmits: Informe d'integració social per renovar o modificar la residència temporal

In detail: full article · route card: arraigo · route card: renewal

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

What you can do yourself and what we take on

You can complete every item of this stage on your own: each one says where to go, how to book and what to bring. Where going ahead without a lawyer is risky, there is a separate panel with options for help, including free ones. ReloVictory prepares the document set, accompanies the filing and handles the case: 15 minutes free, a full consultation €121 for 45 minutes, case handling priced by quote, fees and translations extra. Book a consultation

Frequently asked questions

Do you need an NIE or a residence permit for empadronamiento in Barcelona?

No. Ley 7/1985 requires everyone living in a municipality to register, and the Ajuntament de Barcelona accepts a passport as identification; you submit a TIE if you have one. Registration in the padró does not prove lawful stay and gives no rights beyond those in the law (article 18.2). You only need an identity document and proof of the right to use the home; without it, the town will check the address.

How long does padró registration take in Barcelona?

According to the Ajuntament de Barcelona page, an online application is confirmed by email in about 7 calendar days; if you go to an OAC in person, you are registered on the spot; by phone on 010, the forms are sent by ordinary post and you return them within a month. The maximum time for a decision is three months, and a check takes as long when there are no documents for the home.

Are the padró rules the same in Barcelona and in L'Hospitalet, Badalona or Terrassa?

No. Ley 7/1985 sets the general rules, but each ajuntament decides its own list of documents, channels and appointments. Terrassa is temporarily accepting applications only in person with an appointment, Sabadell asks for a receipt with the lease plus an electricity, water or gas bill, and in Sant Cugat everyone over 16 must come in person for immediate registration. For a town not on our list, open the “Alta al Padró” tràmit on your ajuntament’s seu electrònica.

How do you get a volant de empadronamiento in Barcelona?

In three ways, all free: online in the Oficina Virtual with idCAT, an FNMT certificate, Cl@ve PIN or DNIe, with an instant PDF; in person at any OAC with an appointment, issued on the day, or at a Punt BCN kiosk (volant de residència only); by phone on 010, delivered by post in about seven working days. To get the certificate, you must already be registered in the padró.

How often should a foreign national renew their padró registration?

A national of a non-EU country without a larga duración permit must renew every two years: article 16.1 of Ley 7/1985 allows the entry to be declared expired without a hearing if it is not renewed. The Ajuntament de Barcelona and Sitges repeat this rule on their pages. Set a reminder a month before the deadline and update your entry each time you move within the city.

How does this apply to your situation?

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