Register (padrón) in Málaga without a contract · 2026
Padrón is the foundation of the whole immigration process. Without a contract it's still doable — and the town hall is legally required to register you if you live in its territory.
Padrón is the first thing we ask for at AEM. It's not optional bureaucracy — it proves you live where you say. Without padrón, the two years of arraigo don't count, you can't access public healthcare, you can't enrol kids in school.
Yet it's where most people get stuck. The phrase we hear weekly: *"I have no contract, I rent a room by word of mouth."* The good news: Law 7/1985 on Local Government and the joint INE-DGCS Resolution of 17 February 2020 require town halls to register anyone living in their territory, papers or not, contract or not.
Four routes to register without a contract
1. Owner or tenant authorisation
The fastest. If you rent a room, ask the owner (or main tenant) to write a short authorisation. Attach their ID and property title or contract. Five minutes at the town hall.
2. Sworn declaration
If the landlord won't sign, the law allows a sworn declaration: you declare under civil and criminal responsibility that you live there. The town hall may do a follow-up check, but must register you.
3. Collective dwelling
Hostels, pensions, transition housing and shelters can register their guests with a certificate from the owner.
4. Padrón with no fixed address
Reserved for homeless or transient people. Lets you appear on the padrón at the municipality's social services address.
Documents you'll be asked for
- Valid original passport (+ a copy).
- Padrón form (provided at the town hall or downloadable).
- Document for the chosen route (authorisation, declaration, certificate).
- Minors: family book or birth certificate + passport for each.
- Non-EU foreigners: passport; padrón does not require NIE.
Málaga city vs Benalmádena
In Málaga city (District Office) appointments take 2–3 weeks. Benalmádena's Arroyo de la Miel office (Plaza de las Flores) is usually 7–10 days. Torremolinos tends to be fastest at 4–5 days.
Renew every two years
Non-EU citizens without permanent residence must confirm padrón every two years. Otherwise, you're removed for expiry and lose continuity. The town hall mails a reminder — set your own.
Frequently asked questions
Can the town hall refuse padrón if I have no NIE?
No. The padrón is independent of your immigration status: it records where you live, not whether you hold a residence permit. Anyone can register by presenting a valid passport, with or without papers. In fact the padrón is usually the first step towards proving the years of continuous stay that arraigo requires.
What if they refuse anyway?
Always ask for the refusal in writing. It happens very rarely, because administrations know that Law 7/1985 and the joint INE-DGCS Resolution of 17 February 2020 oblige them to register you. If it does happen, you can file a complaint with the Andalusian Ombudsman and lodge the corresponding administrative appeal.
Does padrón cost anything?
No: it is free at every town hall, including Málaga city, Benalmádena, Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Marbella. Neither the padrón form nor the certificate carries a fee. Be wary of platforms charging to «handle» it: you do the procedure yourself with your passport and the route that applies to you, and they add no real value.
How many people can register in one dwelling?
There is no strict legal limit, because the padrón reflects who actually lives at the address. That said, where a fictitious registration is suspected — twelve people in a 60 m² flat, for instance — the town hall can open a check, including a local police visit, and remove registrations that are not effective.
Want a 1:1 read of your case?
Book a 45-minute consultation. We'll map your file across the new regulation and tell you the clean route forward.