This is a Municipal Civil Register on which every resident in Jávea should be registered. It is essentially an official tally of how many people live in the community. For every person that is registered, the Ayuntamiento - the town hall - receives funding from central government to pay for services such as policing, health centres, cleaning and the postal service. So if the Padrón Municipal records a population of 34,000, the Ayuntamiento receives the appropriate funding (about 200€ per person) for that number of residents, irrespective of whether the actual population is higher. Therefore, not only is it a legal requirement, it is in everyone’s interests to register in order for the town to receive around 6.1 million euros in funding, the second-largest source of income for Jávea after the rates. It is currently estimated that Jávea loses around two millions euros a year due to “missing” population, thought to be around 10,000 people, mainly foreign residents who are either unaware that they should register or choose not to do so.

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

a) Passport or recognised official identification.
b) N.I.E.
c) For home owners, the escritura (deeds) for the house and a latest receipt for IBI or AMJASA.
d) For renters, a valid rental contract.

APPLICATION PROCESS

OFICINA DE ATENCIÓN CIUDADANA
Avenida Amanecer de España, 2
03730 Javea (Alicante)
Open: Mon-Fri 9am to 2pm

Applications are made at the Oficina de Atención Ciudadana in Avenida Amanecer de España in the old town, situated on the top of the Portal del Clot underground car-park, open between 9am and 2pm, Monday to Friday. When you enter the building, take a ticket from the machine and wait for your turn. Armed with the appropriate documentation – a valid passport or national identity card and a rental contract or ‘escritura’ if you are a home owner - the application process is quite easy. A Certificado de Empadronamiento can be issued at the same time; it costs about 3,30€. The certificate may be needed to buy or sell a car, register a child in school or apply for an N.I.E. or residency.

EU nationals should renew their registration every five years; non-EU nationals every two years. The Ayuntamiento should also be notified of any change of status, such as moving house.

NOTE: Registering on the padrón does NOT mean that you will be registered to vote in the municipal elections. However, you can sign on to both registers at the same time, although you will have to ask to do so.