1. Reception and Basic Information
  2. Reception and Information

Reception and Information

Welcome to Barcelona!

The city of Barcelona is on the Mediterranean Sea, located in the northeastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula.

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and has a population of about 1.6 million inhabitants, which makes it the second most populated city in Spain and the tenth in Europe.

Barcelona today is the result of more than 2,000 years of history and is well-known as a friendly city that has developed thanks to the contributions of people from different places and backgrounds.

The presence of new residents from around the world has increased the city's cultural diversity and has made it a place for meetings, dialogue and interaction between neighbours of Barcelona from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.

You are invited to be a part of all the neighbours living in Barcelona, and to get to know the resources available to you in the city.

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Basic procedures
Legal advice
City services
Live in BCN

Immigration Act

There are different ways of legalising residence in Spain, depending on the specific circumstances of each foreign national. The Immigration Act authorises Barcelona City Council to enable access to legal residence only by means of the settlement procedure through the following circuit and calendar:

  • You have just come to live in Barcelona
  • When registered for 3 consecutive years at the city registry in Barcelona

    You may apply for a temporary residence permit under special circumstances.

    • You need a settlement report which can be processed at City Council. More information
    • You need a job contract that is valid at the time of application.
    • Authorisation must be requested at the Foreigners and Immigration Office. More information
  • When registered for 1 full year at the city registry while holding a temporary residence permit

    You may request a change in your temporary residence permit in order to have a residence and work permit

    • You need a valid work contract
    • The change is processed by the Generalitat de Catalunya. More information
    • It might be helpful to have a social integration report which is granted by the Generalitat de Catalunya. More information
  • When registered for 2 consecutive years at the city registry while holding a residence and work permit

    You can apply for the first renewal of a residence and work permit

    • You need a valid work contract
    • Renewal must be requested at the Foreigners and Immigration Office. More information
    • It might be helpful to have a social integration report which is granted by the Generalitat de Catalunya. More information
  • When registered for 2 consecutive years at the city registry while holding a residence and work permit

    You can apply for a long-term residence permit

    • You need a valid work contract
    • You must provide evidence of 5 consecutive years of residence
    • You must process the permit at the Foreigners and Immigration Office and you must renew it every 5 years. More information
  • From 2 to 10 years with a residence permit

    You can request Spanish citizenship. More information

SAIER and organisations of the Reception and Support Network can provide you with legal advice.

 

Refugees and Asylum

Policies concerning foreign nationals and asylum rights in Spain are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the State. International protection is regulated under Act 12/2009, which governs the right to asylum and subsidiary protection.

In Spain, asylum decisions are taken by the Ministry of Interior upon proposal from the Inter-Ministerial Asylum and Refugee Commission (CIAR) which is comprised of representatives of the departments with authority over foreign policy, justice, domestic policy, asylum, immigration and equality.

Individuals applying for international protection in Spain have the right to access a support programme once their application has been admitted for processing.

Regional and local administrations, in turn, are responsible for ensuring that the State complies with its international obligations, and for coordinating action in order to ensure that protection and reception processes meet the highest possible standards and guarantee all rights.

Information on refugee and asylum status

Services and organisations available:

Network of Social Organisations for Legal Advice to Foreigners and Immigrants

The Network of Social Organisations for Legal Advice to Foreigners and Immigrants (XESAJE) was promoted by the Directorate for the Immigration and Interculturality Programme of Barcelona City Council at the end of the year 2007. The network is comprised of third-sector organisations that provide professional legal advice in the city of Barcelona. More than 50 organisations are part of this network at present. They work together with trade unions, the Barcelona Bar Association and the Care Service for Immigrants, Emigrants and Refugees (SAIER) to provide quality service free of charge to people in need of support with immigration procedures.

The network is now a consolidated reference point for sharing knowledge among agents who provide legal advice free of charge in the city. It has also become a platform for coordination and representation of legal services provided by third-sector organisations in Barcelona. The network also provides publications and dissemination of information materials concerning changes in immigration regulations. Finally, meetings are held with institutions with authority in immigration issues, such as the Government Sub-Delegation in Barcelona or the Employment Department at the Generalitat de Catalunya, in order to ensure a channel for communication regarding updated information on issues relevant to both administrations and users.

This working group has the following objectives:

  • Sharing knowledge among agents who provide legal advice free of charge in the city.
  • Building a network that represents legal services provided by third-sector organisations in the city of Barcelona.
  • Ensuring coordination between members.
  • Engaging agents in the development of materials and projects.
  • Dissemination of existing materials as well as those with information about changes in the laws and regulations, and so on.
  • Inviting external agents: reference institutions and experts in immigration issues.

An updated list of XESAJE organisations can be found in the browser for Reception Network organisations.