# Register your address at the town hall

> How to register your address in the town hall register (padrón): what to bring, where to go and how long it takes.

- Page: https://autonomo.eus/steps/padron
- Part: Part B: Settle in
- For: Everyone
- Last checked: 14 October 2026

The town hall register (*padrón*) records where you live. You need it for your health card and school places, and it proves how long you have lived here.

## Before you start

- Your TIE. If you don't have one yet, your passport or EU registration certificate.
- One document that shows you live there:
  - a rental contract that is in force. In Bilbao it must last at least 6 months and be signed by everyone on it
  - written permission from the owner, or from a tenant registered there
  - a water, electricity or gas contract or bill in your name

## What it unlocks

- [Get your health card](https://autonomo.eus/steps/health-card)
- [Enrol your children in school](https://autonomo.eus/steps/school)
- Proof of how long you have lived in Euskadi

## How to do it

1. Fill in and sign the registration form (*hoja padronal*). Every adult on it signs. Bilbao and Donostia have the form online. The links are under "Where".
2. Book an appointment, or go without one where the town hall allows it. The booking links are under "Where".
3. Bring the original documents to the office.
4. Ask for proof of registration (*volante*) before you leave.

## Where

Other towns: search the web for "[your town] ayuntamiento padrón", or in Basque "[your town] udala errolda". The town hall's page tells you where to go and whether you need an appointment. If your town has the 010 phone line, call 010 and ask how to register in the padrón. See also [Find an office](https://autonomo.eus/steps/offices#contact-your-town-hall).

### Álava

**Vitoria-Gasteiz:** in person at a citizen office (*Oficina de Atención Ciudadana*) or at the San Martín municipal offices, Pintor Teodoro Dublang 25. The town hall's main address is Plaza España 1. The town hall's pages for registering in an owned or rented home list in-person offices only. Phone 010 or 945 161 100.

- [Book an appointment](https://sedeelectronica.vitoria-gasteiz.org/portal/es/cita-previa-en-las-oficinas-de-atencion-ciudadana-oac). For the padrón, choose "Oficinas municipales de San Martín". Booking online needs BakQ or a digital certificate. Without one, book by phone on 010 or 945 161 100.
- [What to bring for a rented home](https://sedeelectronica.vitoria-gasteiz.org/portal/es/w/solicitud-de-alta-en-el-padron-en-una-vivienda-alquilada-por-completo-2405539). If your contract started more than 1 year ago, also bring the receipt for your last month's rent.
- The Vitoria-Gasteiz pages have no form to download.

### Bizkaia

**Bilbao:** any citizen office (*Oficina de Atención Ciudadana*) or district office, with or without an appointment. In person only. Phone 010 or 944 010 010.

- [Book an appointment](https://www.bilbao.eus/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1273000657572&idTema=1279127425492&language=es&pageid=1273000657572&pagename=Bilbaonet/Page/BIO_ListadoTramitesEudala&perfil=ciudadano). In the list, choose "Alta y cambio de domicilio en el Padrón Municipal de Habitantes" (register or change your address).
- [Download the form](https://www.bilbao.eus/cs/BlobServer?blobkey=id&blobwhere=1274421706772&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername2=pragma&blobheadername1=Content-disposition&blobheadervalue2=public&blobheadervalue1=attachment%3B+filename%3Dhoja_padronal_2026.pdf&blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs) "Solicitud de inscripción en el Padrón de Habitantes de Bilbao" (PDF).
- [Read the procedure page](https://www.bilbao.eus/cs/Satellite?c=BIO_Tramite_FA&categoria=temas&cid=1279197837078&language=es&pageid=1279127425574&pagename=Bilbaonet%2FBIO_Tramite_FA%2FBIO_TramiteSrvTram&perfil=ciudadano&idProc=1279197831212&pestana=1).

### Gipuzkoa

**Donostia:** the Udal!nfo offices, in person, with or without an appointment. You get your *volante* on the spot. Phone 010 or 943 481 000.

- [Book an appointment](https://www.donostia.eus/es/contacto/servicio-cita-previa). Press "Solicitar cita previa" (request an appointment).
- [Download the form](https://www.donostia.eus/info/udalinfo/Tramites.nsf/95DF44FB4A9B8242C1258397004FB722/$file/Eskabidea-13757n.pdf) "Solicitud" (PDF). The town hall says you must use this form.
- [Find the Udal!nfo offices](https://donostia.eus/es/contacto#oficinas).
- [Read the procedure page](https://www.donostia.eus/es/tramites/padron-municipal-de-habitantes-alta). If your rental contract is no longer in force, it says to bring your last rent receipt too.

## Cost and time

- Cost: free. None of the three town halls lists a fee.
- Time: you are registered on the spot if your documents are complete. If not, the town hall has up to 3 months to decide. In Donostia and Vitoria-Gasteiz, no answer in 3 months means you are registered.

## Common mistakes

- Bringing a contract shorter than 6 months in Bilbao.
- Forgetting to renew. Non-EU residents without permanent residence must renew every 2 years, or the registration lapses.
- Bringing a *volante* when a procedure needs a formal certificate (*certificado*). Most procedures accept the *volante*, but the health card needs the *certificado*.

## Official sources

- [Bilbao: register or change your address](https://www.bilbao.eus/cs/Satellite?c=BIO_Tramite_FA&categoria=temas&cid=1279197837078&language=es&pageid=1279127425574&pagename=Bilbaonet%2FBIO_Tramite_FA%2FBIO_TramiteSrvTram&perfil=ciudadano&idProc=1279197831212&pestana=1)
- [Bilbao: book an appointment](https://www.bilbao.eus/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1273000657572&idTema=1279127425492&language=es&pageid=1273000657572&pagename=Bilbaonet/Page/BIO_ListadoTramitesEudala&perfil=ciudadano)
- [Bilbao: registration form 2026](https://www.bilbao.eus/cs/BlobServer?blobkey=id&blobwhere=1274421706772&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername2=pragma&blobheadername1=Content-disposition&blobheadervalue2=public&blobheadervalue1=attachment%3B+filename%3Dhoja_padronal_2026.pdf&blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs)
- [Donostia: register in the padrón](https://www.donostia.eus/es/tramites/padron-municipal-de-habitantes-alta)
- [Donostia: book an appointment](https://www.donostia.eus/es/contacto/servicio-cita-previa)
- [Donostia: registration form](https://www.donostia.eus/info/udalinfo/Tramites.nsf/95DF44FB4A9B8242C1258397004FB722/$file/Eskabidea-13757n.pdf)
- [Vitoria-Gasteiz: register in the padrón](https://sedeelectronica.vitoria-gasteiz.org/portal/es/w/alta-en-el-padron-municipal)
- [Vitoria-Gasteiz: register in a rented home](https://sedeelectronica.vitoria-gasteiz.org/portal/es/w/solicitud-de-alta-en-el-padron-en-una-vivienda-alquilada-por-completo-2405539)
- [Vitoria-Gasteiz: book an appointment](https://sedeelectronica.vitoria-gasteiz.org/portal/es/cita-previa-en-las-oficinas-de-atencion-ciudadana-oac)
- [Basque Government: why the padrón matters](https://www.euskadi.eus/web01-a2famil/es/contenidos/informacion/empadronarse_ginmi/es_grecinmi/g20.html)

Next step: [Open a bank account](https://autonomo.eus/steps/bank-account.md)

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