Does the address registration renewal rule (renovacion padronal) apply to you?

Terms used

• Padrón — The padrón is the town hall's register of the people who live in the municipality.
• TIE — The TIE is the foreigner identity card issued to non-EU residents.
• Cita previa — A cita previa is an appointment booked in advance to be seen at a public office.
• Cl@ve — Cl@ve is the government's electronic identification system for using public services online.
• Baja por caducidad — A baja por caducidad is the cancellation of your padrón registration because you did not renew it.

Key rules

• Who renews: Non-EU residents without permanent residence must renew; permanent and long-term residents are exempt.
• Your own date: Some town halls send no notice, so track your two-year date yourself.
• Cancellation: The registration can only be cancelled if you were notified and did not respond, and never before the two years have passed.

Does it apply to you?

It applies if you are from outside the EU and do not have a permanent residence authorisation. You must renew your padrón registration every two years.

It does not apply if you:

• hold permanent or long-term residence (including EU long-term residence), or
• are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with a registration certificate.

To check, look at your TIE or permit. Permanent or long-term residence is written on the card. Temporary permits, such as temporary residence or study, are not exempt. If you hold an EU family-member card, some town halls treat you differently, so ask yours.

When to renew

Count two years from the date you registered in the padrón, or from your last renewal, whichever is later. Each renewal starts a new two-year count.

Will you get a notice?

The town hall is supposed to write to your registered address before the two years end. Some send a letter, an SMS or an email. Some send nothing, or send it late. Do not wait for it. Note your own date and set a calendar reminder.

If you are notified and do not respond, you get a 3-month period after the notice. Cancellation can never happen before the two years have passed. Some town halls allow a little extra time, but do not count on it.

How to renew

Renewing means confirming that you still live at your address. Ask your town hall which options it offers:

• in person, usually with a prior appointment (cita previa);
• online, with an electronic certificate or Cl@ve;
• by post or email.

Bring your passport or TIE.

What happens if you miss it

If you were notified and did not respond, the town hall can cancel your registration (baja por caducidad). Losing your padrón registration can cause problems with services and paperwork that depend on it. If this happens, see the page on being removed after a missed renewal, and contact your town hall quickly.

Timeline and deadlines

• Receive the town hall notice, if one is sent: before the two years expire

• Renew by confirming your residence at the town hall: every two years, as soon as you are notified or before your own two-year date

Renewal reminder planner for your address registration

Work out your date

Your renewal date is two years after your start date. This applies if you are not an EU citizen and do not have permanent residence authorisation. Renewal is needed every two years.

Your start date is the later of these two:

1. The day you were registered in the padrón.
2. The day of your last renewal confirmation.

Follow these steps:

1. Find the date on your padrón registration certificate. If you have renewed since, use the date on the latest renewal confirmation instead.
2. Add two years to that date. The day and month stay the same.
3. Write the result down as your renewal date.

Examples:

• Registered on 15 March 2025 and never renewed: your renewal date is 15 March 2027.
• Registered in 2024, then renewed on 10 June 2026: your next renewal date is 10 June 2028.

Set your reminders

Put three reminders in your phone calendar, with alerts turned on:

• Three months before your renewal date. Check how your town hall handles renewals and what it wants you to bring.
• One month before. Book an appointment (cita previa) if your town hall needs one, or start the online process.
• Two weeks before. This is your last point to finish without rushing.

After you renew, work out the new date straight away. Start from the renewal confirmation date, add two years, and reset all three reminders.

What to do when the reminder goes off

Which way you can renew depends on your town hall. Most offer some of these:

• In person: go to your town hall, ideally with a prior appointment.
• Online: use your digital ID, if your town hall offers this.
• By post or email: send your request in writing.

Bring your passport or TIE. Check your town hall's website or phone line for the channels it accepts, as they vary.

If you get a notice

If the town hall sends you a notice and you do not respond, you get a 3-month period after the notice before the registration can be cancelled (baja por caducidad). It can never be cancelled before the two years have passed. Respond to any notice as soon as it arrives. The exact grace period varies by town hall, so ask yours.

Documents you need

• Your passport or your TIE (foreigner identity card), to confirm your identity when you renew.

• An electronic certificate or Cl@ve access, only if you renew online.

• Proof that your permit is temporary, shown on your TIE. Permanent or long-term residence means you are exempt.

Checklist

• Check your TIE or permit: a temporary permit means you must renew, permanent or long-term residence means you are exempt.

• Work out your renewal date: two years from your registration or your last renewal, whichever is later.

• Put your own reminder in your calendar, because some town halls send no notice.

• Watch your registered address for a letter, SMS or email from the town hall.

• Ask your town hall whether you can renew in person, online or by post or email.

• Confirm your residence with your passport or TIE, within the 3-month period after any notice.

What if you were removed from the register after a missed renewal?

Removal means a gap in your proof of residence

If the town hall removed you from the padrón because you missed a renewal, you lose your proof of residence until you register again. Registering again is quick, but the time you had built up may not carry over.

What you lose

• Proof of residence. Without it, you cannot show where you live for official procedures.
• Local services. Access to services that depend on being registered in your town can stop.
• Your tarjeta sanitaria, in some regions. Whether you keep it depends on your region's health service. Ask the health centre before you need care.
• Your record of time in Spain. The padrón history is what proves how long you have lived here, for arraigo, nationality or renewals. A removal breaks that history.

These consequences apply to non-EU residents without permanent residence.

How to find out if you were removed

Ask the town hall for a current certificado de empadronamiento. If it cannot issue one, you have been removed. You can also ask at the town hall counter, or call 010 if your town has that line.

How to register again

1. Book an appointment at your town hall, or go in person if it allows walk-ins.
2. Ask for a new registration (nueva alta, also called alta por cambio de residencia).
3. Bring your passport or TIE, proof of address (a lease, a deed or the owner's authorisation) and the application form.
4. Ask for a certificado de empadronamiento once you are registered, so you have proof straight away.

Will your old date count?

Usually not. The removal breaks continuity, so the new registration gets a new date. Some town halls issue a historical certificate that shows your earlier periods. Some will restore the previous date if you register again soon after the removal. This is not guaranteed, so ask your town hall which it does. The sooner you go, the better your chances.

Keep any old certificates and proof of address from the earlier period. They can help show your time in Spain if the town hall will not restore the date.

Frequently asked questions

What if I never get a letter from the town hall?

Renew anyway. Some town halls send a letter, SMS or email late, or nothing at all. Note your own two-year date and go to the town hall before it passes.

I hold an EU family-member card. Do I have to renew?

It depends on the town hall, because some apply the rule differently to these cards. Ask your town hall before assuming you are exempt.

Can I renew without going in person?

Often yes. Depending on the town hall, you can renew online with an electronic certificate or Cl@ve, or by post or email. Others require an appointment (cita previa).