How your address (catchment zone) changes your school options

Terms used

• Padrón — The padrón is your town hall's register of residents, and its certificate is the usual proof of your home address.
• Autónomo — An autónomo is a self-employed worker registered with the Spanish authorities.
• Concertado — A concertado school is privately run but publicly funded, and uses the same admission points system.
• DNI — The DNI is the Spanish national identity card for citizens, showing your address.
• NIE — The NIE is the identification number given to foreigners in Spain.

Key rules

• Points, not a place: Living in the catchment zone adds points but does not guarantee admission.
• One address: You choose either the home address or a parent's work address for proximity points, not both.
• Default proof: The padrón certificate is the main proof of address in most regions.
• Region decides: Zones, accepted documents and cut-off dates are set in your region's yearly admission call.

Your address gives points, not a guaranteed place

Living inside a school's catchment zone (área de influencia) earns you points. It does not guarantee a place. Places go to the applicants with the most total points, so families in the zone usually do better but are not automatically admitted.

Who draws the zones

Each region sets its own zones, or leaves it to a local commission. They are not the same size everywhere:

• Madrid: the whole municipality counts as one zone.
• Catalonia: zones follow the municipality or district, for example Barcelona's districts and sub-zones.
• Andalusia and Valencia: zones are drawn school by school, with an area of influence and nearby areas.

Zones are published for each school and the maps are updated every year. Where zones are drawn by school, a home inside the area scores higher than one in a neighbouring area.

Home address or work address

Your registered home address is the normal basis for proximity points. In most regions, the workplace of a parent or legal guardian can count instead. Madrid, Catalonia and Andalusia all allow it. You choose either the home address or a parent's work address for proximity points, not both. Work-address points usually need a company certificate or an autónomo registration. The decision below helps you pick.

Proving your address

The padrón is the default proof in most regions. Register at your home address at your town hall and ask for a current certificate. If your padrón is missing or out of date, several regions accept other proof, such as a rental contract, a property deed or recent utility bills. A DNI or NIE showing your address is also accepted in several regions.

Some regions, such as Madrid and Catalonia, check your address directly with the town hall. In that case you usually don't need to upload the certificate unless you refuse consent or your data isn't found. The exact list of accepted documents is in your region's yearly admission call. The documents list below shows what to gather.

Which date your address must be valid

Your address normally has to be valid on the date the application period opens or closes. Some regions use the date you submit. Some accept a later cut-off if you moved for a justified reason, such as a job transfer. Find the date in your region's current call before you move or register. The timeline below covers the steps.

If you have just arrived

Register in the padrón as soon as you have a home address, because a missing or outdated registration can cost you your address points. Ask the school or your regional education office whether they check your address with the town hall or need you to bring proof.

Choosing between options

Which address should you use for proximity points?

• Home address: Your padrón address is inside or near the school's zone. This is the default in most regions, proven with the padrón certificate or a direct check by the town hall.

• A parent's work address: The workplace is inside or closer to the school's zone than your home.

You choose either the home address or a parent's work address for proximity points, not both. Pick the one whose location gives more points for the school you want, since schools in the zone score higher than neighbouring areas.

Timeline and deadlines

• Make sure your address is registered and up to date: before the application period opens

• Your address must be valid for the application, on the date the call sets: when the application period opens or closes, or the day you submit, depending on the region

• Ask for a later cut-off if you changed address for a justified reason such as a job transfer: up to the later cut-off, in regions that allow it

Confirm the cut-off date in the current admission call for your region.

Documents you need

• Padrón certificate (certificado or volante de empadronamiento), issued by your town hall. It shows your registered home address and is the main proof for address points in most regions.

• DNI or NIE showing your current address, accepted in several regions as proof of the home address.

• Rental contract or property deed, accepted in several regions when the padrón is missing or outdated.

• Recent utility bills (electricity, water, gas or telephone), accepted in several regions as an alternative proof of address.

• Company certificate or autónomo (self-employed) registration, needed if you claim points for a parent's work address instead of the home address.

Checklist

• Check in your region's current admission call which documents are accepted as proof of address.

• Find the cut-off date for your address in the current call and make sure your address is valid on that date.

• Ask the school or education office whether your region checks your address with the town hall or needs you to upload the certificate.

• Gather a company certificate or autónomo registration if you will claim points for a parent's work address.

Frequently asked questions

Does living inside the catchment zone guarantee me a place?

No, living in the catchment zone does not guarantee a place, because the zone gives you points, not automatic admission. Places go to the applicants with the most total points. Families in the zone usually do better than those in neighbouring areas.

Which date must my address be valid on to count?

Your address normally has to be valid on the date the application period opens or closes, as set in the regional call. Some regions use the day you submit the application. A few accept a later change of address with a justified reason, such as a job transfer.

Are catchment zones the same size in every region?

No, zones differ by region: Madrid treats the whole municipality as one zone, while Catalonia uses municipalities or districts. Andalusia and Valencia set zones school by school, and each school's zone is published.