Town halls and health services in Catalonia and Valencia

Key rules

• Your right: You can choose Spanish or the regional language when dealing with the administration, and it must answer in the one you chose.
• Defaults: Regional sites and first letters often come in Catalan or Valencian, while national sites default to Spanish.
• Health staff: Most staff in public clinics and hospitals switch to Spanish when asked, but English is limited.
• Local variation: Forms and defaults differ by town, so ask your town hall if you are unsure.

You can use Spanish

In Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearics you can deal with your town hall and public health services in Spanish. Each region's basic law gives you the right to use either official language, and the administration must answer in the one you choose. Defaults and forms differ by place, so expect some variation from town to town.

What the default language looks like

• Catalonia: Catalan is the language the regional government and town halls normally use in their own work. First letters and forms often arrive in Catalan. Ask for the Spanish version and you can get it.
• Valencia: Valencian and Spanish are both official. Administrations often use Valencian, but must use Spanish if you ask.
• Balearics: Catalan is the region's own language, and you may use either language. Many documents are bilingual. Some towns use Catalan by default.

Forms and websites

Regional and town hall websites and forms are usually available in both the regional language and Spanish, often with a language selector. Many also offer English. Regional sites tend to open in Catalan or Valencian. National government sites open in Spanish. If a page opens in the wrong language, look for the selector, usually near the top of the page.

Health services

In Catalan public clinics and hospitals, Catalan is the usual language of documents, signs, appointment apps and staff conversation. Most staff switch to Spanish when you ask. In Valencia both languages are used, and Spanish is common in many areas. Documents are often bilingual or available in either language on request. Appointment systems normally offer both languages.

Spanish is accepted everywhere. English is limited, so bring a Spanish speaker or a translation app to appointments if your Spanish is weak.

If a notice arrives only in Catalan or Valencian

Do not set it aside. Deadlines run even when you do not understand the notice. Ask the office that sent it for a Spanish version, and use the warning below as your guide.

Choosing your language

The choice below helps you decide which language to use with your town hall or health service. The FAQ covers the questions people ask most often.

Choosing between options

Which language should you use with your town hall or health service?

• Spanish: You prefer Spanish or do not speak the regional language. In Catalonia you have the right to choose, and in Valencia and the Balearics you may use either language. Ask for Spanish at the start if forms arrive in the regional language.

• Catalan or Valencian: You speak it and want to match the default of local offices, forms and clinics. Staff, documents and appointment apps use it most, especially in Catalonia.

You may choose either language, and the administration must answer in the one you chose. Choose Spanish if you want to avoid delays or misunderstandings, and ask for Spanish forms or documents when they come in the regional language.

Warning: official notices that arrive only in the regional language

Notices that arrive only in the regional language

• A notice may come without a Spanish version: Padrón (town register) papers, local taxes, traffic fines and health appointment letters from regional or local bodies can arrive only in Catalan or Valencian. The notice is still valid. Do not ignore the letter. Check the date, the office that sent it and any amount or deadline, and act at once.

• Deadlines still run: Deadlines on an official notice normally run from delivery even if it arrives only in a regional language, so ask for a Spanish version promptly and do not wait for it before acting. Ask the office that sent it for a Spanish version in writing straight away, and keep acting on the deadline while you wait. For time-critical notices such as fines or tax letters, get advice from a lawyer or gestor.

• You can ask for a Spanish translation: If you are an interested party in the procedure, you can ask for a Spanish version of a document written in a regional language, and you are not charged for it. Make the request promptly, in writing, and keep a copy. Many offices also let you choose Spanish as your language in your online profile.

Frequently asked questions

Which language will websites and forms be in?

Official websites and forms in Catalonia and Valencia are usually available in both the regional language and Spanish. Regional sites often default to Catalan or Valencian, so use the language selector. State sites default to Spanish, and many regional sites also offer English.

Will staff in public clinics and hospitals speak Spanish with me?

Yes, Spanish is accepted in public clinics and hospitals in both regions, though English is limited. In Catalonia, documents, signs and appointment apps are mostly in Catalan, but most staff switch to Spanish when you ask. In Valencia, Spanish is dominant in many areas and documents are often bilingual.

Is the Balearic Islands different from Catalonia and Valencia?

Yes, the Balearics use Catalan as their own language, but you can still use either Catalan or Spanish with the administration. Many documents are bilingual, and some towns use Catalan by default.