Lanzarote Relocation

Every municipality (much like a county in the UK) holds a “padron” at its Ayuntamiento (Town Hall). This is a list of the municipalities occupants, much like an electoral roll.

Why do I need one?
If you are buying a car, gettng finance, or having certain other legal things carried out, this is a document that will certainly help you. Many schools also give priority to children that have been registered… Add to that the heavily discounted travel available within Spain too.

Is it law to have one?
No, it isn’t compulsory. We’ve already listed the benefits to you, as above… but there are also benefits to the municipality. They receive funding based on the number of people living in the area. This is to provide essential services such as health clinics, post office services and staff, street cleaning and maintenance, as well as policing. Many foreign residents do not bother to register, and this can have a real impact in the area’s funding.

How do I get one?

To be included on the Empadronamiento, visit your local Ayuntamiento, with the following documents:

• Proof of ID – Passport
• Proof of address – rental contract or utility bill
• A completed registration form

The turnaround for this was around three weeks for us when we first did it – and about 15 minutes when we changed our address a couple of years later, but this may vary between Ayuntamientos. The cost was negligible too – just the price of a stamp.