Expat services in Torrevieja

Common questions about living in Torrevieja

How do I register for empadronamiento in Torrevieja and what documents are required?

The «Solicitud de Alta en el Padrón Municipal de Habitantes de Torrevieja» is filed through the Ayuntamiento's Sede Electrónica (torrevieja.sedelectronica.es), which also issues certificados de empadronamiento (the automated one in about 15 minutes). For an owned home you need the escritura, an up-to-date nota simple or the latest IBI receipt; for a rental, the full current contract, the latest rent receipt, a copy of the owner's DNI, the IBI or escritura and an electricity or water bill. Add the alta form MOD T00020 signed by all adults with copies or originals of everyone's ID; for minors both parents sign (libro de familia and, if separated, the court ruling on guarda y custodia). If someone is already registered at the address, their authorisation and ID are required. Official source

Where do I handle extranjería if I live in Torrevieja and how do I book a cita previa?

Torrevieja is in the province of Alicante, so authorisations are filed at the Oficina de Extranjería en Alicante (Calle Ebanistería, 4 y 6, Polígono de Babel, 03071 Alicante, tel. 965 019 300, open 9:00 to 14:00), while Policía Nacional procedures (TIE, fingerprints) are handled at the province's police stations. The cita previa for both types is booked on the state portal sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es under «Cita previa de extranjería», choosing the province of Alicante and the trámite. The appointment for an initial work authorisation is requested by the employer, family reunification by the reagrupante, and all other authorisations by the foreign citizen or their representative. Official source

How do I obtain the SIP tarjeta sanitaria in Torrevieja?

The SIP card is issued at your nearest centro de salud: go with your DNI/NIE and, as the Conselleria de Sanitat recommends, a current certificado de empadronamiento (within six months) and the INSS document proving your right to healthcare; the centre registers you in SIP and hands you the card. With a certificado digital or Cl@ve you can register online through the trámite «Alta de un ciudadano en el Sistema de Información Poblacional (SIP)» and then collect the card at the centro de salud. Without coverage, ask the centro de salud to refer you to the trabajador/a social sanitario/a, who assesses access to Asistencia Sanitaria Universal. Torrevieja has its own Departamento de Salud within the Conselleria network, and the SIP card is valid throughout Spain. Official source

How do I enrol my child in school in Torrevieja if we arrived outside the ordinary admission period?

Outside the ordinary admission period, late enrolment (escolarización sobrevenida) for Infantil, Primaria, ESO and Bachillerato is handled by the Concejalía de Educación: apply for a place through the Sede Electrónica (trámite EDU12 – Solicitud de plaza en centros educativos fuera de plazo) or in person at the Concejalía with a cita previa, also booked in the Sede Electrónica (Educación section). Bring the original and a copy of the DNI, NIE or passport of both parents and the pupil (if separated, the convenio or court ruling with an official translation), the libro de familia or birth certificate officially translated into Spanish, the previous year's certificate only if studied in Spain, and the mandatory certificado de empadronamiento. Concejalía de Educación: C/ Maldonado, 5, 03181 Torrevieja, educacion@torrevieja.eu, tel. 965 074 309. Official source