All about the Municipal Register (Padrón). If you register, we all win

The Municipal Register also known as PADRÓN is the administrative record of all residents of a municipality. By registering in the Municipal Register, any person acquires the status of resident.

Registering with the municipality is essential for legal compliance and to access local services like healthcare and schools. It establishes your legal residency status, which is often required for official procedures like applying for residence permits, renewing visas, and getting a healthcare card. Registration also provides a way to prove your address for other services, such as opening a bank account or signing up for utilities. 

For each registered resident, the Council receives funding from the Spanish Government through participation in State taxes, with population being one of the criteria for their calculation. Such income is used for services such as rubbish collection, street lighting, maintenance of streets, roads, social assistance, security, civil protection, etc.

In 2025, current transfers from the General State Administration to Benitatxell amounted to 1.220.000 €. representing a ratio of 251,49 € per inhabitant according to the number of residents currently registered.

Registering is a simple process and the information provided to the Register is strictly confidential. The Council's registration office (OAC) will answer any questions you may have and help you to register.

If you register, we all win

Officially, 4.851 inhabitants were registered in Benitatxell in 2024. Many residents, mostly foreigners,  however are still unregistered for whatever reason. Let's show solidarity with our neighbours, let's register ourselves and help others to register. Complaining about the lack of services is not enough. Let's officially tell the City Council how many of us live here. Each of us can contribute to improving the financing our City Council receives from the State and the provision of services provided in our neighbourhood. If you know someone who has not yet registered, please remind them that we are counting on their support. Together we are stronger.

How to register?

You can register at Citizen's Advice Bureau (OAC), Carrer les Escoles, 2 and present a valid passport and the rental contract or title deed of the property, utility bills for electricity, water, gas, etc., and fill in the census registration form.

Do you know the benefits of being a registered resident?

• Residents who pay vehicle tax in the municipality can apply for free parking in Cala Moraig.
• Inclusion in the electoral roll by filling in this form.
• Apply for a school place in the public schools of Benitatxell 
• Receive benefits from the social services of Benitatxell
• Apply for the registration of a vehicle.
• Apply for a SIP health card from the Public Health Service.
• Contract basic utility services such as electricity, telephone, water or gas.

Registration renewal

• EU foreigners are not obliged to renew their census registration.
• Non-EU foreigners without a long-term residence permit must renew their census registration every 2 years from the date of registration in the Municipal Town Hall registration (Padrón) or from the date of the last renewal. If they do not do so, the Town Hall will remove them from the census.

Does being registered in Benitatxell imply paying taxes in Spain? 

No, it doesn't. Simple registration does not, in itself, constitute sufficient proof of tax residence in Spain. Municipal registration marks the place of habitual residence of an individual and grants access to local public services. On the other hand, tax residence determines the place where taxes are to be paid and is established on the basis of length of residence or predominant economic interests.

How to exercise the right to vote in Benitatxell

In order to be able to vote in a municipal election, it is necessary to be registered on the electoral roll, which is updated on the basis of the census data. If you are not registered at your real address, you cannot vote in that Municipality, i.e. you cannot be a voter and you cannot be eligible to vote.

Citizens of the European Union living in Spain can express their wish to vote in municipal elections in Spain at their local Town Hall,  when registering in the municipal register (padron) or at a later date:

•  in person at the Town Hall by filling in this form 
•  telematically, if you have a valid digital certificate or @Clave PIN

Benitatxell's Population growth from 2000 to 2024

Benitatxell's Population growth from 2000 to 2024
Year	Men	Women	Total
2024	2.408	2.443	4.851
2023	2.373	2.485	4.858
2022	2.283	2.404	4.687
2021	2.220	2.227	4.447
2020	2.200	2.252	4.452
2019	2.106	2.170	4.276
2018	2.039	2.091	4.130
2017	2.002	2.018	4.020
2016	2.051	2.053	4.104
2015	2.317	2.373	4.690
2014	2.312	2.347	4.659
2013	2.864	2.856	5.720
2012	2.858	2.840	5.698
2011	2.792	2.776	5.568
2010	2.751	2.737	5.488
2009	2.723	2.676	5.399
2008	2.635	2.581	5.216
2007	2.440	2.333	4.773
2006	2.181	2.095	4.276
2005	1.948	1.860	3.808
2004	1.755	1.670	3.425
2003	1.693	1.623	3.316
2002	1.510	1.422	2.932
2001	1.321	1.232	2.553
2000	1.178	1.134	2.312

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