Registered mail (burofax) and post office collection slips

Key rules

• Collection slip: A slip means an item is waiting for you, and the deadline printed on it is the one that counts.
• Refusal: Refusing an official notice does not stop the deadlines; they start the next day.
• Electronic notices: An electronic notice you do not open within 10 calendar days counts as rejected, so it is treated as delivered and the deadlines start running.
• Burofax: A burofax proves what was sent and when, not that the content is true.

The short version

Never ignore a collection slip. Official mail that you refuse or fail to collect can still count as delivered, and the deadlines in it can start running without you having read it. A burofax is your best proof that you sent a specific text on a specific date. It is not proof that what the text says is true.

What happens when Correos tries to deliver

Correos makes two delivery attempts at your address. They are at least three hours apart and at different times of day. If nobody answers both times, Correos leaves a collection slip (aviso de llegada) in your mailbox.

The slip tells you which post office holds the item and the exact deadline. Take the slip and your ID to that office. Items from public administrations are held in the lista for seven working days, then sent back to the sender. Ordinary registered items, such as a burofax, are usually held for 15 calendar days. The deadline printed on your slip is the one to follow, because hold periods differ by item type.

When a notice counts as delivered

• You refuse it. Refusal is recorded with the date, the notice counts as delivered, and the deadlines start the next day as if you had received it.
• You do not collect an official notice. If the hold period passes without collection, it is treated as rejected and the procedure carries on without you.
• Electronic notices. An electronic notice counts the same way if you do not open it within 10 calendar days. The exceptions are a proven technical failure that stopped you getting in, or a case where the rules require physical delivery. If you can show that, the authority must cancel the effect of the rejection.

Refusing never buys you time. If something looks wrong, collect it and then challenge it.

What a burofax proves

A burofax is a letter sent through Correos with a certificate of the exact text and an acknowledgement of receipt. Together they show:

• what text was sent, and when;
• whether it was delivered, and when, or whether delivery was attempted.

Correos keeps a copy of your text. Courts treat the certificate as documentary evidence that the message was sent and, if delivered, received.

It has limits:

• It does not prove that the content is true.
• If the recipient refuses it or never collects it, courts often still accept that it reached them. This depends on the case.
• A burofax returned as "unknown address" proves little against the recipient. Check the address before you send.
• It does not replace the official channels that some procedures require.

People commonly use a burofax to give notice of rent arrears or termination, to make a formal demand, or to interrupt a time limit. Always ask for both the certificate of the text and the acknowledgement of receipt, and keep them safe. The documents and warnings below cover the details.

What to do

1. Check your mailbox every few days, and look for slips.
2. Collect the item before the deadline on the slip.
3. If you are sending a burofax, write a short, factual text, with full names and addresses for both sides.
4. Keep the certificate, the acknowledgement and any returned envelope.

Electronic notices and who else can collect for you are covered in the quick answers below.

Timeline and deadlines

• Correos makes two delivery attempts at your address, on different times of day: the second at least 3 hours after the first

• If both attempts fail, Correos leaves a collection slip (aviso de llegada) in your mailbox: right after the second attempt

• Collect the item at the post office (lista) before it goes back to the sender: within 7 working days for official notices

• Collect ordinary registered items, such as a burofax, before they are returned: in practice, within 15 calendar days

• If you refuse the notice, it counts as delivered and the deadlines start: from the day after the refusal

Documents you need

• Certificate of the text sent (certificación de texto): Correos keeps a copy of your text and issues this certificate. It shows what you sent and on what date.

• Acknowledgement of receipt (acuse de recibo): it shows whether and when the burofax was delivered or an attempt was made. Ask for it when you send, as it is the proof of delivery.

What to watch out for

• Ignoring a collection slip: If you do not collect an official notice within the holding period, it is treated as rejected and the procedure goes on without you. The deadlines then run. Go to the post office as soon as you find the slip, with your ID, and check the deadline printed on it.

• Refusing a notice to avoid it: Refusing an official postal notice does not stop the clock. It is recorded in the file and counts as delivered, and the deadlines start the next day. Accept the letter and read it, then act within the deadline it gives.

• Not opening an electronic notice: An electronic notice you do not open within 10 calendar days counts as rejected, so it is treated as delivered. If a proven technical failure stopped you opening it, show this to the office so it cancels the effect.

• Expecting a burofax to prove everything: A burofax with certified text and acuse de recibo proves what was sent, when, and whether it was delivered. It does not prove the content is true, and one returned as unknown address proves little against the other person. Send it to the right address, ask for the certified text and the acuse de recibo, and keep both.

Quick answers about Spanish official post

Can someone else collect my registered letter from Correos?

Yes, another person can collect it if they bring the collection slip (aviso de llegada), their own original ID and a signed authorisation from you. Add a photocopy of your ID to the authorisation. For official notifications, the authorisation may need to name the person, and some items can only be handed to you personally.

What do I do with official mail addressed to a previous tenant?

Do not open it, because opening someone else's correspondence can be a crime. Write "Desconocido" or "No reside en esta dirección" on the envelope and put it back in the post box or hand it to Correos. If it needs a signature, still accept the delivery step and state that the addressee is unknown. Tell your landlord or agency too, as they may have a forwarding address.

How do I get email or SMS alerts for electronic notices?

Sign in to DEHú with an electronic certificate, DNI electrónico or Cl@ve, then add your email and mobile number in the contact data and alerts section. Carpeta Ciudadana has a similar contact setting. Some bodies, such as the tax agency or Social Security, have their own alert settings on their websites.

Is an electronic notice still valid if I never get the email or SMS alert?

Yes, the notice is still valid even if the alert never arrives, and deadlines keep running. Alerts are only a courtesy. Log in to your DEHú or agency mailbox regularly instead of waiting for a message.