Last checked against the sources: 12 November 2026, on the electronic office of the Ayuntamiento de València (city council).

In short: to register at the padrón (empadronamiento) in València you need:

  • an appointment (or the online procedure with electronic identification);
  • your valid ID document;
  • a rental contract in force of more than six months, which includes the referencia catastral (cadastral reference);
  • the latest rent receipt paid.

If you are not the contract holder, you also need a signed authorisation. The procedure is free.

What the padrón is and why it matters

The padrón municipal is the register of people living in a municipality. Registering proves where you live, and many later procedures will ask you for the volante or certificado de empadronamiento (registration slip or certificate). Registering does not depend on your residence status: the Ayuntamiento asks for identity and address, not a residence permit.

Who can apply

Any adult, or emancipated minor, who has set up their habitual residence in València. Minors who are not emancipated are registered with their parents.

Documents

Identity (original and valid):

If you are… Document
A citizen of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland Residence card, passport or ID document from your country. The EU registration certificate must be accompanied by the passport or national document.
From another country (including the United Kingdom) Residence card or passport
An asylum seeker Application receipt, or documents EX148 or EX148 bis

Documents that are not in Spanish or Valencian need a sworn translation. Public documents from outside the EU need legalisation or an apostille.

Address (if you rent):

  • A rental contract in force, signed by everyone named in it, of more than six months. The Ayuntamiento says contracts that renew month by month do not prove that duration.
  • The cadastral reference of the property in the contract. If it does not appear, add another document that shows it, such as the IBI receipt (annual property tax) or a note from the Land Registry.
  • The latest rent receipt or transfer, from the last two months, showing landlord, tenant, month and address.
  • If you rent a room, the contract must state the total number of rooms and which one is yours.

If you are not the contract holder: the form «Autorización de inscripción en una vivienda ajena» (authorisation to register at another person’s home), signed, with the ID documents of the tenant holding the contract and of the owner. If there are several holders, a majority is enough.

Why a tourist flat will not do

The Ayuntamiento accepts a contract of more than six months as proof of address. A tourist booking or a month-by-month contract does not meet that requirement. If you arrive in temporary accommodation, plan your padrón registration for when you sign your housing contract.

How to do it, step by step

  1. Book an appointment on the city website or by phone (010, 963 100 010 or 962 081 104). It is one appointment per person, except for family units.
  2. Or do it online from the electronic office («Hacer en web»), if you have electronic identification and signature.
  3. Bring originals and, just in case, copies. In person you can go to the Oficina del Padrón (plaza del Ayuntamiento) or to the Juntas Municipales de Distrito (district offices), always by appointment.
  4. Follow the status in the Carpeta Ciudadana (citizen folder): registrations are not automatic.
  5. Ask for the volante or certificate once you are registered: you will be asked for it in other procedures.

Maximum time to resolve: 3 months. If there is no reply, the application is considered approved.

Before signing the contract, check this

  • The contract lasts more than six months.
  • It includes the cadastral reference.
  • The landlord knows that you are going to register at the padrón and, if you rent a room, the contract says which one.

We explain this in more detail in how to rent a flat in Valencia.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a NIE to register? The Ayuntamiento accepts your passport or your country’s ID document. The NIE (foreigner’s identity number) is not listed as a requirement.

How much does it cost? Nothing. «All padrón procedures are free» (original: «Todos los trámites de padrón son gratuitos»).

Does the padrón have to be renewed? Non-EU foreigners without permanent residence must confirm their registration periodically. Check the deadline the Ayuntamiento gives you.

Keep reading

Sources

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