FAQs

  • Access is free and open to anyone over the age of 16.

    There are a couple of ways to request information from the Barcelona Contemporary Archives (AMCB):

  • In addition to identification data, you must provide all the data that will help locate the documents requested, giving as many details as possible for the request:

    • Consultation relating to research work:
      • Basic details or summary of the research
      • University, cultural institution or scientific institution
      • Chronological scope of the research
    • General consultation on urban planning and public works:
      • Type of document, licence or procedure (e.g. planning licence)
      • Address of the property, number, floor and flat
      • Year of construction (approximate)
      • First holder or owner (if known)
    • Consultation of the Barcelona Civil Registry (city, not province):
      • Type: birth, death or marriage
      • Person’s full name
      • Year of birth, marriage or death

    When the request requires an in-person consultation of documents, the person listed as the appointment holder must attend. Appointments will not be honoured when the person’s full details (name, surname and identity document) do not match the details of the reservation, or when they fail to provide authorisation and a photocopy of the identity document of the appointment holder.

  • The consultation service is completely free of charge. You only have to pay for copies of documents, in accordance with the municipal fees and public-sector charges approved by Barcelona City Council. In this case, payment can be made using a bank card, a cheque payable to Barcelona City Council or a bank transfer to the account indicated by the AMCB. 

  • Yes, if the building was constructed between 1850 and 1989, except for those properties that belonged to the independent towns or villages on the Barcelona plain that were annexed by the Barcelona municipality.

    • Until its annexation in 1897: Gràcia, Sant Martí de Provençals, Sant Andreu de Palomar, Les Corts, Sants and Sant Gervasi.
    • Until its annexation in 1904: Horta.
    • Until its annexation in 1921: Sarrià.

  • Yes, provided the file has been kept and bearing in mind the considerations mentioned in the previous answer, as well as the restrictions imposed to preserve records or for any other reason set out in the current regulations and legislation in force.

  • Yes, provided the file is kept at the AMCB, and given the restrictions imposed for preservation or any other reason, in accordance with the current regulations and legislation in force.

  • Yes, with prior authorisation from the External Consultation Service and provided the requirements set out in Article 21 of the Internal Regulations for the Consultation and Reproduction of AMCB Documents are complied with.

  • Yes. Restrictions imposed on consulting and reproducing records may be due to various reasons: respect for intellectual property, the poor state of the records, or simply because it is felt that, in accordance with the law, it might harm people or be detrimental to the general interest.

  • We recommend only copying essential records, using the most suitable technical medium for ensuring the preservation of the original. Whole files can only be copied digitally, and the fees and public-sector charges approved by Barcelona City Council will apply.

  • You can request information from the Barcelona Contemporary Archives online via the Virtual Procedures Office or in person at the AMCB in the case of natural persons who are not obliged to submit the request online.

  • Yes. We keep the Civil Registry indexes for births (1841-1984), marriages (1842-1970) and deaths (1836-1986) in the city of Barcelona.

    You can consult the sections on births, marriages and deaths up to 1880 in the AMCB’s online catalogue.

    Official birth, marriage and death certificates from 1881 can be requested in person at the Barcelona Civil Registry Office (Plaça del Duc de Medinaceli, 3) or online at the Ministry of Justice.

    In both cases, you need to bring the information which appears in the Civil Registry book indexes kept at the AMCB: the person’s name and surname/s, date of birth, marriage and/or death, the number of the court where the birth, marriage and/or death is registered and the corresponding register number.

  • Access will only be granted to people considered to have a legitimate interest and accredited researchers. Consulting, reproducing and obtaining certificates, proof of registration or other records confirming data contained in the register is restricted by law.

  • The following are regarded as having a legitimate interest: the resident that the registration data refers to, the responsible authorities of a public authority that needs information from the register to carry out its legal duties, and judges and courts of justice.

  • Register searches for legal and administrative reasons require a reasoned written request to the Population Archives, setting out in detail the information being requested and the reasons for the enquiry. This request must be accompanied by supporting documentation.