Registering means entering your details in the Municipal Census. This is a register that includes all the municipality´s residents. It includes all Spanish and foreign nationals regardless of their legal status or age.

Registering as a resident

Everyone has a responsibility with regard to the Municipal Census.

Each person that has an address in any municipality is obliged to register.

If you own an appartment and you rent it, if you sublet a room or you simply reside and are registered in this home, you must authorise in writing the registering of the other people living there.

Failure to fulfil this obligation is an infringement of the residents' rights .

Registering is beneficial for all parties.

• It may be a requirement for many official procedures, social assistance and economic assistance.
• It means that they can apply for the Individual Health Card, sign their children up for school or be eligible for the town's Social Services.
• It is useful for proving the amount of time a person has been living in Spain and in the Basque Country.
• It allows applicants to participate in programmes to improve the living conditions of local residents.

Non-EU foreigners, unless they hold the Permanent Residence Permit, must renew their listing in the Municipal Residency list before two years have elapsed since they registered, otherwise the Town Hall may remove them from the list with no consultation.

Requirements

To register in a municipality of the Basque Country you must:

• Be an adult, or under-age with authorisation.
• Reside in one of the municipalities of the Basque Country.

Procedure

Please complete and sign the Registration Form. The application should be made in writing and you should ask for a stamped copy.

You must present an official document that is proof of your identity:

• It is the Spanish National Identity Card (DNI) for those people with Spanish nationality.
• For foreign nationals, the following are considered valid identity documents are the Residence Card or a valid passport (also a valid EU citizen's identity card). Minors need the Official Family Booklet or an original copy of a birth certificate.

A document is due to present that credits the use of the house:

• Property deeds or a private contract demonstrating recent purchase or sale.
• Valid renting contract.
• Current receipt of income tax payment, recent contract or the latest bill from a utility or service company (water, gas, electricity, landline telephone, home insurance).
• If in posession of none of the above, census registraion is acceptable.
  • If others living at the same address are already registered, one of them can sign the Authorisation Document or Permit to live at that address, presenting an ID card and a photocopy of the same.
  • If none are registered and none who wish to join the housing list appears as owner, one who is of age and provides evidence of such may authorise the application of new residents including the original ID card and and a photocopy of the same.
  • If it is a group establishment, the application form should include the name and signature of the person in charge as well as the establishment's official stamp or the pertinent legal documents.
• If you do not have any of these documents, you must apply for registration as a resident in writing, and the Authorities will check the data and residence.

When minors register as resident at an address other than their parents’ address, they require an authorisation document.

On change of address the administrative paperwok has to be redone.

WHERE?

Registering with the Municipal Census and change of address is carried out in the Town Hall of the municipality in which you usually reside.