Finding NGO and charity offices near you

Terms used

• Cita previa — A cita previa is an appointment booked in advance, by phone, email or online, before you visit an office.
• Servicios sociales — Servicios sociales are the local public social services centres that give basic guidance and point you to other help.
• TIE — The TIE is the foreigner identity card issued to non-EU residents in Spain.
• Padrón — The padrón is the town hall register of residents, where you sign up with your address.
• Oficina de Extranjería — The Oficina de Extranjería is the state office that handles residence and work permits for foreigners.

Key rules

• Search tip: Search the organisation's name with "delegaciones" or "dónde estamos" rather than relying on a saved link.
• Appointments: Expect to book a cita previa, and phone first because waits can run to weeks.
• Permits: NGOs and town halls give guidance, but residence permits and the TIE go through state offices.
• Town hall: Your town hall's social services page is the best place to find local associations.

Start with the organisation's own office finder

Every big NGO has a list of local offices on its website. Search the organisation's name plus "delegaciones" or "dónde estamos". Page addresses change, so a search is safer than a saved link.

• Cruz Roja Española: lists its provincial and local branches by province.
• Cáritas Española: links to the Cáritas of each diocese. Each diocese runs its own parish and local services, so look for the one that covers your town.
• CEAR: lists offices under regional delegations, such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Andalucía, Canarias and Euskadi.
• Accem: lists its centres by autonomous community.
• Cepaim: lists its offices by region.

CEAR and Accem focus on refugees and migrants. Cáritas and Cruz Roja are general social-aid organisations, so they are useful whatever your situation.

Use your town hall's directory

Many town halls publish a list of local associations and social resources. Look on the social services page (servicios sociales) or the citizen participation page (participación ciudadana). Most large cities keep a register of citizen associations. Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla and Bilbao are examples.

Regional governments also publish catalogues of social services and registered entities. Some run immigration portals, for example Catalonia and the Comunidad de Madrid.

In a small town, the list may be only a page on the town hall website. Or you may need to ask at the local social services centre. Coverage and quality vary a lot from place to place.

Look for a local foreigner or reception office

Several kinds of public office serve newcomers. They do different jobs:

• Oficina de Extranjería: a state office, usually part of the government's local delegation. It handles residence and work permits.
• Policía Nacional: takes fingerprints and issues the TIE card.
• City immigration or reception offices: Madrid has a Servicio de Orientación y Atención a Inmigrantes. Barcelona has SAIER.
• Regional integration services: Catalonia, the Basque Country, Valencia and Andalucía each run their own.
• Servicios sociales: your local social services centre gives basic guidance and can point you onward.

Permit processing is a state matter. Integration help is local or regional. To find the right office, search your town hall or regional website for "inmigración" or "extranjeros". You can also ask at the padrón office when you register.

Contact the office before you go

Most NGOs work mainly by appointment (cita previa). You book by phone, email or an online form. Some offices have limited drop-in hours for first contact or information. Urgent cases get a response from emergency or reception services. Cáritas parish offices often have set reception hours.

Demand is high, so waits can run to weeks. Phone or write early, and ask about drop-in hours when you do. Practice differs by city and office, so check with the one you plan to visit.

Checklist

• Search the organisation's name with "delegaciones" or "dónde estamos" to find its local-office list.

• Pick the office for your province or region from the Cruz Roja, Cáritas, CEAR, Accem or Cepaim list.

• Check your town hall's social services page for a directory of local associations and social resources.

• Phone or email the office to book a cita previa and ask about drop-in hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do NGO offices take walk-ins or only appointments?

No, most major NGOs work mainly by appointment (cita previa), which you book by phone, email or an online form. Some offices have limited drop-in hours for first contact, and urgent cases get a response from emergency or reception services. Waiting times can run to weeks, so phone first.

Which office helps with residence permits and the TIE card?

Residence and work permits are handled by the Oficina de Extranjería, a state office usually attached to the Subdelegación or Delegación del Gobierno. The Policía Nacional takes fingerprints and issues the TIE card. NGOs and local integration offices can guide you, but they do not process permits.

Where do I find my town hall's list of local associations?

Look on your town hall's social services (servicios sociales) or citizen participation (participación ciudadana) pages. Large cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla and Bilbao keep a register of associations. In a smaller town, ask at the local social services centre.