We get you the appointment to register on the padrón at your town hall, the essential first step for almost any procedure once you arrive in Spain.
What this covers
The padrón is the first thing we ask for when you come to AEM, and not out of bureaucratic habit: it is what proves you live where you say you live. Without it, the two years of continuous stay that arraigo requires don't count, you can't access public healthcare, and you can't enrol your children in school.
The procedure itself is free, and the town hall is obliged to register anyone living in its municipality, papers or not. The problem is not the right: it is getting the appointment. Many town halls on the Costa del Sol run closed diaries with slots that go the day they open.
That is what this solves. We find and book your appointment at whichever town hall you tell us, and send you the confirmation along with guidance on which route of proof applies to your housing situation.
Who it's for
- You have just arrived in Spain and need to register as soon as possible so the clock starts.
- You rent a room, or have no contract in your name, and don't know how it is done.
- You need the padrón for a health card or to enrol your children in school.
- Your registration is due for renewal and you don't want to lose the continuity you have built up.
How it works, step by step
- 01
Tell us your municipality
Benalmádena, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Málaga city or wherever. Each town hall runs its own diary and its own form.
- 02
We look at your housing situation
This decides the route: authorisation from the owner or named tenant, a sworn declaration if nobody will sign, collective housing, or social services.
- 03
We find and book the appointment
We locate the available slot and book it in your name.
- 04
We get you ready for the day
You receive date, time and office, plus guidance on which documents to bring for the route that applies to you.
What we need from you
- A valid passport for everyone being registered.
- The exact address where you live and the municipality.
- Whether the owner or named tenant will sign the authorisation for you.
- If registering minors, their documents and the family book or equivalent.
How long it takes
It depends on the town hall's diary, which varies a lot from one municipality to another within the same province. We book the first available slot at the one you tell us. If you have a deadline — a school enrolment, a case deadline — tell us at the start.
Mistakes we see often
- Putting the padrón off. Arraigo time counts from what you can prove, not from when you arrived: every unregistered month is a month that doesn't count.
- Believing a rental contract is required. It isn't: there is the sworn declaration, recognised in the joint INE-DGCS Resolution of 17 February 2020.
- Assuming you can't register without a NIE. The padrón is independent of your immigration status and all you need is your passport.
- Not renewing every two years as a non-EU citizen without permanent residence. You get removed for expiry and lose the continuity.
- Paying a platform to «handle the padrón» itself. The procedure is free; what you pay for here is finding and booking the appointment.
What's included
- Search for an available padrón appointment
- Booking at the relevant town hall
- Confirmation of date, time and office
- Guidance on the required documents
What's not included
- The padrón registration itself, which is free and which you do at the town hall with your documents.
- Someone accompanying you on the day.
- Drafting the sworn declaration or negotiating with your landlord.
- The padrón certificate afterwards, which is requested separately from the town hall.
Frequently asked
Why do I need to register on the padrón?
The padrón proves your address and is required for healthcare, schooling and most immigration procedures. It is also the main evidence of continuous stay, which is what an arraigo application rests on.
Does it work for any municipality?
We arrange the appointment at the town hall you tell us; just let us know your town when you start. We work regularly with Benalmádena, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Marbella and Málaga city.
Can I register without a rental contract?
Yes. The town hall must register anyone living in its municipality, contract or not. If the owner or named tenant signs an authorisation that is the fastest route; if they won't, the sworn declaration covers you.
Can they refuse the padrón because 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.
Does registering cost anything?
No, it is free at every town hall. What you pay for in this product is finding and booking the appointment, which is the part that jams. Be wary of anyone charging you for the procedure itself.
I rent a room. Can I still register?
Yes. Ask the owner, or the tenant named on the contract, for a written authorisation to register at that address, along with their ID and their title. If they won't sign, the route is the sworn declaration. Renting a room does not leave you out of the padrón.
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