More than half of Catalonia’s largest municipalities are failing to ensure effective access to the municipal register, information from a new report from Entidades Catalanas de Acción Social (ECAS). Based on a survey conducted with Ksnet, the study found impressive barriers to registration in 40 of the region’s 60 most populous cities. In 29 municipalities, including 10 in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, not all applicants are registered. The issue is particularly acute for migrants and people in irregular administrative situations, who make up the majority of those affected.
ECAS director Carlos Macías said these obstacles are neither isolated incidents nor the result of a single administration. A journalist’s inquiry into the current state of the registration process prompted the report, which draws on qualitative input from 54 social organizations, ombuds offices, and neighborhood platforms supporting vulnerable residents. Its findings show how inconsistent practices and additional requirements not stipulated by law often undermine the process.
The report details the severe difficulties faced by people experiencing housing exclusion. Of the cases documented, 80% involve migrants and 70% concern individuals without regular administrative status. The basic problems include differential treatment based on housing type, origin, income level, and residential status. The registration process has four stages: document preparation, application submission, technical verification, and case resolution. Issues were reported at every step, especially for those without stable housing or legal residency.
Access to appointments and the cost of securing them have also emerged as barriers in some municipalities. Padrón procedures themselves are free, although applicants may still face indirect costs, such as transport or obtaining documents. Some local authorities also demand documentation not required by national regulations, further complicating the process for people already at risk of exclusion. The municipalities analyzed in the report account for around 62% of Catalonia’s population and include major cities such as Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Badalona, Sabadell, Terrassa, Girona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, and Vilafranca del Penedès. The authors say the problem is widespread and not limited to cities governed by any particular political party.
Elena Costas, a partner at Ksnet, noted that although suspicions exist, the issue is not directly linked to right-wing administrations. She described it as a structural problem: many municipalities fail to register people in vulnerable situations, regardless of their political leadership. Social organizations and advocacy groups had already raised the alarm about these obstacles during the 2023 municipal elections, and the latest survey confirms that the difficulties persist. Costas also stressed that the problem extends beyond small towns.
The municipal register is a critical tool for planning public health, allocating school places, and organizing public services. When the registration system fails, it undermines the quality of democratic governance and public trust in institutions. Costas said reliable registration data is impressive for a diverse, democratic, and anti-racist Catalonia. Barcelona’s migrant-services programme likewise describes municipal support as a way to help newcomers access rights and basic opportunities and services as they settle in the city.
Official population totals offer an impressive measure for planning, but do not by themselves show whether every eligible resident can register. Spain’s Ministry of Finance lists continuous population-register data produced by the National Statistics Institute, with figures dated 1 January 2025. Those aggregate statistics are distinct from individual registration applications and the barriers applicants may encounter.
These findings echo broader regional tensions over residency and access to services. Recent disputes between Catalonia and Madrid over transport card funding and residency rules have highlighted the practical impact of administrative barriers on daily life, as seen in the recent standoff over public transport funding.
In Spain, the municipal register, or padrón municipal, records where a person habitually lives and helps authorities provide public services, including healthcare and education, as well as social support. It does not, but, legalize a person’s stay. Certain non-EU nationals without long-term residence authorization must renew their registration every two years; under the applicable rules, it can be declared expired if they do not. The ongoing challenges in Catalonia underscore the importance of applying national regulations consistently and providing oversight to ensure equal treatment for residents, regardless of origin or housing situation.
