Admin & Documents in Tossa de Mar

The padrón is your official registration with the Ajuntament de Tossa de Mar. It's your proof of residence in the town and the single most useful document you can get. You need it to register with the local health centre (CAP), enrol children in school, and for many municipal services.

To register, you go to the town hall (Ajuntament) – the main building is at Plaça de l'Església. You'll need to book an appointment in advance, either through the town hall's online portal (www.tossademar.cat) or by phone. Bring your passport or ID, proof of address (a rental contract or property deed), and, if you're not the owner, a signed authorisation from the owner.

The padrón is free. Once registered, you'll receive a certificate (certificat d'empadronament) which you can request online or in person. This certificate is what you'll show to the health centre, the school, and other bodies.

The Ajuntament de Tossa de Mar is the main administrative hub. Its electronic headquarters (seu electrònica) is at www.tossademar.cat, where you can book appointments, submit forms and pay taxes. The town hall also has a citizen service office (OAC) where you can do things in person – check the website for current opening hours.

The tourist office (Oficina de Turisme) at Av. del Pelegrí, 25 – Edifici La Nau, 17320 Tossa de Mar, tel +34 972 340 108, is not for admin but can point you in the right direction if you're new to town.

The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is your Spanish tax and identification number. The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is the physical card that proves your legal residence. For British citizens, the TIE is now the standard document for long-term residents.

The nearest Policía Nacional office that handles TIE applications is in Girona, roughly 45 km from Tossa. You'll need to book an appointment (cita previa) online through the Policía Nacional website. Bring your passport, a completed application form (EX-17), proof of address (your padrón certificate), and the fee payment receipt.

For the NIE itself, you can also apply at the same office. If you're buying property or working, you'll need the NIE first. The TIE is for those who are resident (living here more than 90 days).

Almost everything in Tossa's town hall requires a prior appointment (cita prèvia). You can book through the town hall's website or by phone. The civil registry, for example, operates by prior appointment for urgent cases – the town hall announced a special schedule until 16 January 2026, so check the website for the current arrangement.

Documents you'll typically need: passport, NIE (if you have it), proof of address (rental contract or property deed), and your padrón certificate. For the TIE, you'll also need a recent passport photo and the EX-17 form.

A digital certificate lets you sign documents and access government services online. In Tossa, you can get one through the FNMT (Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre) – the process is online, but you'll need to verify your identity at a registration office. The town hall's electronic office can also help with this.

Cl@ve is an alternative system for identifying yourself online with Spanish government services. It's useful for things like checking your tax status or applying for benefits. You can register for Cl@ve online or at the town hall.

Local taxes in Tossa de Mar, such as IBI (property tax), are collected by SUMA, the provincial tax agency for Girona. You'll receive a bill annually, and you can pay it online, by direct debit, or at SUMA's offices. If you buy a property, make sure the previous owner has settled any outstanding IBI.

Official notices from the town hall – such as road closures, public consultations, or changes to services – are published on the town hall website and often on the noticeboard outside the building. It's worth checking the website regularly, especially if you're new and don't yet have neighbours to tell you what's happening.

If you're bringing a UK driving licence, you can use it in Spain for up to six months after becoming resident. After that, you'll need to exchange it for a Spanish licence. The exchange is done through the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) – you'll need to book an appointment at a DGT office, the nearest being in Girona.

If you're bringing a car, you'll need to register it with Spanish plates within 30 days of becoming resident. This involves paying the registration tax (Impuesto de Matriculación) and getting a Spanish ITV (MOT). The nearest ITV station is in Blanes or Girona.

1. Get your NIE – book an appointment at the Policía Nacional in Girona as soon as you have a Spanish address.
2. Register on the padrón – book an appointment at the town hall and bring your documents.
3. Get your digital certificate – apply online and verify at the town hall.
4. Register with the health centre – take your padrón certificate and NIE to the CAP in Tossa.
5. Set up direct debits – for IBI, water, electricity and internet.
6. Exchange your driving licence – book a DGT appointment in Girona.

Tossa de Mar is a small town, and that's mostly a good thing for admin: the town hall is approachable, and you won't be lost in a bureaucratic maze. The trade-off is that some services – like the TIE and DGT – are a 45 km round trip to Girona, so you'll need to plan appointments carefully. The padrón is the key that unlocks everything, so do that first. If you're only here for part of the year, you may not need the TIE, but you should still register on the padrón if you own property. Tossa suits people who want a straightforward, community-based start to Spanish life, and who don't mind a bit of driving for the bigger formalities.

• Ajuntament de Tossa de Mar – Home (Ajuntament de Tossa de Mar)
• Oficina de Turisme de Tossa de Mar – Contact (Tossa de Mar Tourist Office)
• Tossa de Mar – Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
• Tossa de Mar – Wikidata (Wikidata)
• Tossa de Mar – GeoNames (GeoNames)
• Tourism in Tossa de Mar – spain.info (Turespaña (Spanish Tourism Institute))