Expat services in Madrid

Common questions about living in Madrid

How do I register for empadronamiento in Madrid?

File the procedure «Empadronamiento (altas y cambios de domicilio)» online at sede.madrid.es or in person with a mandatory cita previa at an Oficina de Atención a la Ciudadanía Línea Madrid. When booking, choose the category «Padrón» and the service «Altas, Bajas y Cambio de domicilio en Padrón». The application uses the form «Solicitud de empadronamiento – Hoja Padronal»; the site offers an Asistente de Documentación that lists the documents needed for registrations of up to two adults. Everyone living in Spain must register in the padrón of the municipality where they habitually live. Official source

Where is the Oficina de Extranjería in Madrid and how do I get a cita previa?

The Oficina de Extranjería in Madrid has four sites: Sede 1 at Calle Silva, 19 (metro Santo Domingo/Callao), Sede 2 at Calle García de Paredes, 65 (registry and duplicate collection only), Sede 3 at Calle San Nicasio, 31 in Leganés and Sede 4 at Avenida Plaza de Toros, 14 (metro Vista Alegre); the information line is 91 272 95 00. Book the cita previa for filing applications via the «Cita previa para presentar solicitudes» link on the Delegación page; police procedures (trámites Policía) are listed separately. Check your file status at sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/infoext2/ or by SMS to 600 124 377. Official source

How do I get the tarjeta sanitaria in Madrid?

Request the tarjeta sanitaria at your assigned centro de salud during public hours (8:30 to 20:30) or online on the Comunidad de Madrid portal with a digital certificate or DNI electrónico. You need a DNI/NIE or valid residence permit (TIE), a volante de empadronamiento issued by your ayuntamiento within the last 90 days (residents of Madrid city can authorise a padrón check instead), and the INSS document proving your healthcare entitlement. The entitlement itself is recognised by the INSS. Once issued, you can carry it on your phone as the Tarjeta Sanitaria Virtual. Official source

How do I get the Tarjeta Transporte Público (Abono) in Madrid?

The personal Tarjeta Transporte Público (TTP) is issued for the first time only with a cita previa at a CRTM Oficina de Gestión; book at webttp.comunidad.madrid or by calling 012. Bring a recent colour passport-size photo, your DNI, passport or residence permit, and a certificado or volante de empadronamiento; the card is handed over on the spot, and works with every fare zone and abono. If you prefer an anonymous card, the Tarjeta Multi is sold at Metro machines and estancos and holds up to three non-personal tickets. Official source

Where can Ukrainians with temporary protection get help in Madrid?

The main entry point is the Centro de Recepción, Atención y Derivación at Carretera de Carabanchel a Aravaca, 91 (Pozuelo de Alarcón): the police process protección temporal paperwork there, asylum information is given and housing requests are taken; book by calling 666 80 01 94. The free information line 900 822 833 offers Ukrainian-language support seven days a week. To enrol children in school, go to the Dirección de Área Territorial for your zone (for Madrid city, C/ Vitruvio, 2, tel. 91 720 30 10), which offers remote interpretation in Ukrainian; for the health card with your protección temporal receipt, go to the Dirección General de Aseguramiento at C/ Sagasta, 6. Official source