Expat services in Barcelona

Common questions about living in Barcelona

How do I register for empadronamiento in Barcelona?

The procedure «Alta en el Padrón municipal de habitantes» is free and can be done online with digital identification (idCAT Mòbil, Cl@ve, DNIe or a certificate), by phone, or in person with a cita previa at any Oficina d'Atenció Ciutadana (OAC). People who have no document proving where they live, or no fixed address, must apply in person. Non-EU nationals need a tarjeta de residencia or passport plus proof of housing: a deed, IBI receipt or nota simple, a rental contract with proof of payment, or an authorisation from the owner or tenant. Registration for foreigners does not last indefinitely: it must be renewed or confirmed periodically. Official source

Where is the Oficina de Extranjería in Barcelona and where are the TIE and NIE handled?

The Oficina de Extranjería in Barcelona has two sites: Sede 1 at Passeig de Sant Joan, 189-193 and Sede 2 at Calle Murcia, 42; both use the phone number 935 201 410. The Tarjeta de identidad de extranjero (TIE), NIE assignment for EU nationals, the certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión and short-stay extensions are not handled there but at Cuerpo Nacional de Policía comisarías, strictly with a cita previa. Appointments for both kinds of office are booked through the national cita previa de extranjería service (sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es, icpplus section) by choosing the province of Barcelona. Official source

How do I get the targeta sanitària individual (TSI) in Barcelona?

You request the TSI online through the form on salut.gencat.cat or in person at your centre d'atenció primària (CAP); the requirement is to be empadronado in a municipality of Catalonia. For an in-person request bring an identity document (DNI, passport or NIE) and, for children, the llibre de família. The procedure is free: you first receive a provisional TSI by email with your personal CIP code, the digital card is available in La Meva Salut, and the physical card arrives by post. Official source

Which should I get in Barcelona: T-usual or T-casual?

The T-usual is a personal 30-day ticket with unlimited trips, while the T-casual is a single-person ticket for 10 trips; both are loaded onto a T-mobilitat card. The price depends on the number of zones; current prices are on the ATM page. If you travel every day the T-usual usually pays off; the other integrated tickets (T-jove, T-familiar, T-grup, T-dia) are described on the ATM «Títulos y tarifas» page. Official source

Where in Barcelona can newcomers get free help with paperwork and reception?

SAIER (Servicio de Atención a Inmigrantes, Emigrantes y Refugiados), the Barcelona City Council service at Calle Tarragona, 141, helps immigrants, applicants for international protection and returning Spaniards with extranjería paperwork, legal advice, social reception for newcomers and information on Catalan courses. Book by calling 93 153 28 00, emailing saierinfo@bcn.cat or through the trámites portal; urgent cases are seen without an appointment from 9:00 to 15:00 on weekdays. An interpreting service is available for people who have been in the country for less than two years. Official source