Civil Registry (Registro Civil): appointments, procedures and offices

It is a single institution made up of the municipal registries, the consular registries and the Registro Civil Central, which depends on the Ministry of Justice. Births, marriages and deaths are generally recorded in the registry of the place where they happen.

Registrations, case files, burial licences and Registro Civil certificates are free of charge. The Ministry of Justice warns that it has no relationship with websites that charge for obtaining them.

Common procedures

Registro Civil appointment

Booked on the Ministry of Justice electronic office, without a digital certificate, by choosing the procedure from a drop-down list. Registries are being added to the online system gradually.

Birth certificate online

With Cl@ve or a digital certificate you can request it for yourself or someone else; if the data is available electronically it is issued on the spot. Without Cl@ve it is sent by ordinary mail.

Registering births, marriages and deaths

They are registered in the registry of the place where they occur. Births in Spain can also be registered in the registry of the parents' home if requested on time.

Registro Civil Central

Records facts that have no competent registry, such as the births and deaths of Spanish nationals abroad.

Registration data lookup

An information-only service, not a certificate: it covers main birth records from 1996 and marriages from 1989, and excludes marginal notes such as name changes or divorces.

How to book an appointment

Look up the address and phone number of your Registro Civil using the “Direcciones y teléfonos de Registros Civiles” link on the appointment page.

Open the Registro Civil appointment page on the Ministry of Justice electronic office; no digital certificate is needed.

Choose the procedure from the form's drop-down list and complete the request.

If your Registro Civil is not yet in the online system, contact it using the details in the registry directory.

If you want step-by-step help, download the online procedure user guide that the page links to.

Usual documents

Cl@ve or a digital certificate, to request certificates online with identification

Without Cl@ve: a postal address where the certificate can be sent

If someone else requests it, depending on the office a written authorisation from the person on the record may be needed

The details of the record you are requesting, filled in on the online form

Frequently asked questions

Does a Registro Civil certificate cost anything?

No. Registro Civil certificates are free and not subject to fees. They are obtained at the relevant Registro Civil or on the Ministry of Justice electronic office, which has no relationship with websites that charge for them.

Do I need an appointment?

The Ministry of Justice says the Registro Civil handles procedures by appointment. A birth certificate, however, can be requested online with Cl@ve or a digital certificate without going to the office.

Can I request someone else's certificate?

Yes, the electronic office lets you request it for yourself or another person. Depending on the office, a third party may need written authorisation from the person on the record; the page links a template.

What if I do not have Cl@ve?

A request without Cl@ve is always sent by ordinary mail to the address you give. With Cl@ve, if the birth was registered after 1950, you can download the certificate automatically.

How often can I repeat a request?

You cannot request the same certificate again until 15 days after the previous request. This limit does not apply to certificates that are issued immediately.

Where is a birth registered?

In the registry of the place where it happens. In Spain it can also be done in the registry of the parents' home if requested on time.