Registration at corresponding Town Hall (Empadronamiento)

The Town Hall census is the administrative registry of all the residents in a municipality (borough). This census is proof of residency in a specific municipality.

• It is mandatory for all persons residing in Spain to register at their corresponding Town Hall.
• Your registration is the document that credits the length of your stay in Spain, regardless of your nationality and/or residency status.
• To be able to register you will need to declare your place of residence. This could be a property, a rented property or a family or friend’s residence.
• You must register at the Town Hall as soon as you have established a residence in Spain.

This document is necessary for foreigners for many transactions such as:

• To request legal residency and/or a work permit
• To request your National Health ID card (Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual – TSI) to benefit from services and assistance provided by the National Health System
• For registration at schools

Registration Certificate for EU Citizens (NIE)

Members of the European Union who are planning to stay or establish residence in Spain for longer than three months must obtain a Registration Certificate as a Community Resident - Certificado de Registro como Residente Comunitario. This document does not certify the identity of the bearer, therefore a passport or official ID must be carried at all times.

By obtaining a Registration Certificate, you are assigned a foreign ID number named Número de Identificación de Extranjeros (NIE).

Your NIE is an exclusive, personal number of sequential characters issued by the Office of Foreign Affairs - Oficina de Extranjeros. This number will be reflected in all official documents assigned to you in Spain.

The NIE number alone does not allow you to stay or reside in Spain but it is necessary for all types of transactions of financial, professional and personal nature such as opening a bank account, establishing a business, buying a property or vehicle, declaring taxes, signing a professional contract or for any administrative process pertaining to the Office of Foreign Affairs.

Registration at Social Security office (Afiliación a la Seguridad Social)

Each person who is going to initiate a professional activity must register at the Social Security office.

The Social Security General Treasury will assign each citizen a Social Security number to identify him/her within this entity. The holder’s complete name and ID number will appear on the issued document.

This registration is mandatory for all professional purposes for the number to be included in the system, thus to carry out any administrative process within the Spanish Social Security.

Registration with the Social Security is mandatory prior to beginning to render services as a professional.

Registration at corresponding Local Health Center (CAP-TSI)

The Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual - TSI is a card that identifies you as a beneficiary of the National Health System. It is a personal and non-transferable card that guarantees residents access to services and assistance provided by the Local Health Centers - Centros de Atención Primaria (CAP). Once you are registered at your Local Health Center, you will receive your personal Health ID card - Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual (TSI). The personal identification code on the card ensures quick and accurate recognition of the user. Each member of the family, regardless of age, must have their own TSI card as it is personal and non- transferable.