Empadronamiento in Spain: registering your address for Ukrainians

Empadronamiento (municipal registration) is one of the first administrative procedures everyone faces when they come to live in Spain. Without this registration it is impossible to access healthcare, education and most public services. In this guide we will explain in detail what empadronamiento is, why you need it, which documents are required (taking into account the specifics for Ukrainians) and how to complete the procedure in Valencia.

What empadronamiento is

Empadronamiento (also known as alta en el padrón municipal) is the registration in the municipal register of residents (padrón municipal de habitantes). In essence, it is the equivalent of registering your residence — the official notification to the town hall (ayuntamiento) that you live at a specific address.

The padrón is a register kept by every municipality (Ayuntamiento) in Spain. It contains the data of all residents: name, surname, date of birth, nationality, address of residence and document number (NIE, DNI or passport).

Legal basis

Under article 15 of Ley 7/1985 de Bases del Régimen Local, every person who resides in Spain is required to register in the padrón of the municipality where they actually live. This applies both to Spanish citizens and to foreigners — regardless of their migration status.

Important: Empadronamiento is an obligation, not a discretionary right. The town hall cannot refuse you registration, even if you do not have a residence permit or your migration status is undefined. This is established by law.

Why you need empadronamiento

Empadronamiento opens access to most state and municipal services in Spain. Without a certificado de empadronamiento (proof of registration) you will not be able to:

Healthcare

• Obtain the tarjeta sanitaria (health insurance card) for free care at public health centres (centro de salud).
• Register with a family doctor (médico de cabecera).
• Access emergency care with the SIP card in Valencia.

Education

• Enrol your children in a public school (colegio público). Empadronamiento determines which school you belong to territorially.
• Enrol in language courses at the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas.
• Obtain discounts and grants tied to your place of residence.

Social services

• Turn to servicios sociales (social services) for help.
• Obtain ayudas municipales (municipal benefits).
• Arrange the abono transporte (transport pass) at a reduced price.

Administrative procedures

• Empadronamiento is often requested when obtaining the NIE (although formally it is not always mandatory).
• It is required to apply for a residence permit (residencia).
• It is needed to process arraigo social (legalisation through three years of residence).
• It is required to register a marriage in Spain.

Other situations

• Opening a bank account (some banks ask for the empadronamiento).
• Signing a long-term rental contract.
• Obtaining resident discounts at museums, gyms and swimming pools.
• Voting in elections (for EU citizens — in municipal elections).
• Proving the length of your residence in Spain for various procedures.

Tip: Get your empadronamiento as early as possible after arriving in Spain. The date of registration in the padrón serves as proof of the start of your residence in the country, which is important when applying for residency, citizenship and other statuses.

Required documents

The set of documents depends on your situation. Below are the main options.

Basic set for everyone

1. Identity document:

   • Passport (for foreigners from non-EU countries).
   • NIE/TIE, if you already have one.
   • For Ukrainians with temporary protection — the temporary protection document (tarjeta de protección temporal).

2. Application (solicitud de alta en el padrón):

   • The form is provided at the Ayuntamiento itself or can be downloaded from its website.
   • It is filled in in Spanish.

3. Document proving your address of residence (one of the options):

If you rent a dwelling

• Rental contract (contrato de alquiler). The original or a copy is accepted. The contract must be in force.
• If the contract is in another person's name (for example, your spouse), their presence or written authorisation will be required.

If you live with acquaintances or relatives

• Autorización del titular — written authorisation from the owner of the dwelling or the main tenant. Usually it is a simple free-form statement: "I, [full name], residing at [address], authorise [full name] to register at my address."
• A copy of the identity document of the person giving the authorisation.
• A copy of the rental contract or escritura (title deed) for that dwelling.
• In some cases the owner of the dwelling must be present in person.

If you own the dwelling

• Escritura (notarial title deed) or nota simple from the Registro de la Propiedad.
• The latest recibo del IBI (property tax payment receipt).

For families with children

• Libro de familia or the children's birth certificates (for minors).
• If the children are entered in the parents' passport, this may be sufficient.
• For Ukrainian documents, a sworn translation (traductor jurado) may be required.

Specifics for Ukrainians

For Ukrainians with temporary protection, registration is usually simpler:

• The temporary protection document (tarjeta de protección temporal) is accepted as the main identity document.
• An expired Ukrainian passport is accepted in most cases if you have the temporary protection document.
• If you do not have a rental contract (for example, you live in a hostel or with volunteers), some municipalities accept an informe de convivencia — a record of actual residence drawn up by the police after a check.

Important: Documents not in Spanish require translation in some cases. However, for the empadronamiento the passport and the temporary protection document are usually enough — both contain data in several languages.

Step-by-step procedure in Valencia

1. 1

   Appointment (cita previa)

   On sede.valencia.es choose 'Alta en el padrón municipal', the OAC and a date; save the PDF.

2. 2

   Prepare the documents

   Passport, TIE/status document, proof of address (rental contract/deed) and copies.

3. 3

   Visit the OAC

   Arrive 10 minutes before your appointment and submit the documents.

4. 4

   Get the certificate

   Receive the certificado/volante de empadronamiento — often on the spot.

Step 1: Appointment (cita previa)

In Valencia the empadronamiento is processed through the Oficinas de Atención al Ciudadano (OAC) of the Ayuntamiento de Valencia.

Online appointment:

1. Go to the Ayuntamiento de Valencia website: sede.valencia.es
2. Find the "Cita previa" or "Padrón municipal" section
3. Select the procedure: Alta en el padrón municipal de habitantes
4. Choose a convenient OAC and date
5. Enter your details and confirm the appointment
6. Save the PDF confirmation

By phone:

• Call the Ayuntamiento de Valencia information service: 010 (from a mobile — 963 525 478)
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 — 14:30

Tip: Free slots at the central OACs get booked up fast. Check the offices in less busy districts: Benimaclet, Campanar, Nazaret. New slots also usually appear early in the morning.

Step 2: Preparing the documents

Gather all the necessary documents (see the section above). We recommend:

• Making copies of all documents (although the OAC can usually make copies on the spot).
• Filling in the application in advance, if you downloaded the form from the website.
• If you are registering the whole family — preparing the documents for each family member.

Step 3: Visit to the OAC

On the appointed day, go to the Oficina de Atención al Ciudadano you selected:

• Arrive 10 minutes before the assigned time.
• Take a ticket (if there is an electronic queue).
• Present the cita previa confirmation and your documents.

The officer will check the documents, enter your details into the system and issue you a volante de empadronamiento (a provisional proof of registration). In some cases a full certificado de empadronamiento is issued straight away.

Step 4: Obtaining the certificado de empadronamiento

The volante de empadronamiento is the basic proof, sufficient for most procedures. It is issued free of charge and on the spot.

The certificado de empadronamiento is a more official document, with a stamp and signature. It can be requested:

• At the same OAC (sometimes issued on the spot, sometimes after a few days).
• Online through sede.valencia.es (if you have a digital certificate or Cl@ve).
• Cost: free (in Valencia).

Tip: The volante de empadronamiento is usually enough for the health card, enrolling children in school and most administrative procedures. The certificado may be required for more serious matters — a residence permit, court, notarial procedures.

Online registration

In Valencia, part of the empadronamiento procedures can be done online, but there are nuances.

What can be done online

• Download the application form from the sede.valencia.es website.
• Book a cita previa (the main method).
• Obtain a volante or certificado de empadronamiento (if you are already registered and have a digital certificate or Cl@ve).
• Report a change of address (cambio de domicilio) when moving within Valencia.

What cannot be done fully online

• The initial registration (alta) for foreigners without a digital certificate — as a rule, an in-person visit is required.
• Registration with authorisation from the property owner — presence is usually required.

Digital certificate and Cl@ve

The following are used for online procedures in Spain:

• Certificado digital — an electronic signature that can be obtained from the FNMT (Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre). You need to verify your identity in person at an Agencia Tributaria or Seguridad Social office.
• Cl@ve PIN / Cl@ve Permanente — an identification system for public services. Registration is possible online (with a NIE/DNI) or at an office.

Tip: If you plan to live in Spain for a long time, be sure to obtain a digital certificate. It will be useful for dozens of procedures: taxes, Seguridad Social, booking a doctor's appointment, obtaining certificates.

Timelines and validity

Processing times

• Cita previa: from a few days to 2–3 weeks depending on demand.
• The procedure itself: 15–30 minutes for an in-person visit.
• Issuance of the volante: immediately, the same day.
• Issuance of the certificado: usually the same day or within 1–3 business days.

Validity of the certificado

• Volante de empadronamiento: the validity is not formally limited, but many institutions require it to have been issued no more than 3 months ago.
• Certificado de empadronamiento: likewise — valid for 3 months from the date of issue.

If you need a recent proof, simply request a new one — the procedure is free.

Updating and deregistration

• Cambio de domicilio: when moving to a new address you need to update the registration. This is done similarly to the initial registration, but marked "cambio".
• Baja: if you leave Spain, formally you need to deregister (baja en el padrón). In practice, foreigners often do not do this, and after two years without an update the system removes the entry automatically.
• Renovación: foreigners from non-EU countries (including Ukrainians without EU resident status) must renew the empadronamiento every 2 years. You will receive a notice from the Ayuntamiento. If you do not renew it, you will be removed from the padrón.

Important: Losing your empadronamiento can negatively affect the count of your residence time in Spain (important for arraigo, residency and citizenship). Renew your registration on time!

Specifics for Ukrainians with temporary protection

Citizens of Ukraine who have obtained temporary protection status (protección temporal) have some particularities with the empadronamiento:

Simplified procedure

• The temporary protection document is accepted as proof of identity.
• Additional documents (NIE, visa) are usually not required — the NIE is already contained in the temporary protection document.
• Some municipalities have set up dedicated windows or designated hours for Ukrainian refugees (check with your Ayuntamiento).

Living without a rental contract

If you live in temporary accommodation (hotel, hostel, with volunteers), registration is still possible:

• Informe de convivencia: the police can draw up a record of your actual residence at a particular address. This document is accepted for the empadronamiento.
• Statement from the host: if a Spanish family has taken you in, they can write an authorisation.
• Some refugee aid organisations (Cruz Roja, CEAR, ACNUR) help with arranging the empadronamiento.

Children

• Minor children are registered together with their parents.
• If a child's birth certificate has been lost, contact the consulate of Ukraine for a certificate.
• Empadronamiento is mandatory in order to enrol children in school.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

1. Putting off the registration

Many expats are in no hurry with the empadronamiento, considering it optional. As a result they lose months of residence time and cannot obtain a health card.

Solution: Arrange it in the first days after arrival.

2. Wrong address

If you have given an address where you do not actually live, this can lead to problems — for example, during a police check or when applying for residency.

Solution: Give your real address of residence.

3. Lack of authorisation from the owner

If you live at someone's place but come without the owner's authorisation, you may be refused.

Solution: Prepare the written authorisation and a copy of the owner's document in advance.

4. Expired certificado

You obtained a certificado de empadronamiento but use it six months later. Many institutions will not accept a proof older than 3 months.

Solution: Request a new certificado right before the procedure for which you need it.

5. Forgetting to update it when moving

When changing address within Spain you need to update the empadronamiento. If you do not, the old registration remains and the new address is recorded nowhere.

Solution: Each time you move, arrange a cambio de domicilio.

6. Not renewing the empadronamiento after 2 years

For foreigners without EU resident status, the padrón is automatically cancelled after 2 years without renewal.

Solution: Keep track of the deadlines and renew the registration in good time.

7. Coming without a cita previa

In Valencia most OACs work by appointment only. Without a cita you may not be seen.

Solution: Always book in advance through the website or by phone.

Oficinas de Atención al Ciudadano (OAC) in Valencia

In Valencia there are several offices where you can arrange the empadronamiento:

| District | Address | Note | | --------------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ | | Centro | Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 1 | The busiest, long queue for an appointment | | Tabacalera | Calle Amadeo de Saboya, 11 | Often has free slots | | Quatre Carreres | Av. de la Plata, 28 | Convenient for the southern districts | | Benimaclet | Calle Dr. Vicente Zaragozá, 53 | Less busy | | Campanar | Av. del Cid, 5 | Relatively quick appointment |

Hours: as a rule, Monday to Friday, 8:30 — 14:00. Some offices also open on Thursdays until 19:00 (check on the website).

Tip: If there are no free slots in your district, check the offices in other districts. You can register at any OAC, regardless of where your address of residence is located.

Useful links

• Ayuntamiento de Valencia — Padrón municipal: sede.valencia.es ("Estadística — Padrón municipal" section)

• Cita previa OAC Valencia: sede.valencia.es → "Cita previa"

• Information service phone: 010 (landline) / 963 525 478 (mobile)

• Portal de Inmigración (information about procedures for foreigners): inclusion.gob.es/web/migraciones

• Cruz Roja España (help for Ukrainian refugees): cruzroja.es

• CEAR (Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado): cear.es

Conclusion

Empadronamiento is a simple, free and mandatory procedure that opens access to key services in Spain. For Ukrainians with temporary protection the process is as simplified as possible: the temporary protection document and proof of address are enough.

Main recommendations:

1. Get your empadronamiento right away after arrival — do not put it off
2. Book a cita previa in advance through the Ayuntamiento website
3. Prepare all the documents — passport, protection document, proof of address
4. Renew every 2 years if you do not have EU resident status
5. Keep the certificado and request a fresh one before important procedures

Empadronamiento is your first step towards a full life in Spain. Once it is done, you will gain access to free healthcare, education and social services. If you still have questions — join our community, we are always glad to help.

Disclaimer: The information is current as of March 2026. Administrative procedures may change. For the most up-to-date information, contact the Ayuntamiento de Valencia or a qualified lawyer.