Eligibility opens to EU and treaty country residents
Citizens from European Union countries and 13 non-EU nations with reciprocal voting agreements will be able to vote in Spain’s municipal elections on Sunday 23 May 2027, provided they meet residency and registration requirements. The Electoral Census Office (OCE) has confirmed that eligible foreign residents must formally declare their intention to vote. This applies to nationals of EU member states and those from Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Korea, Ecuador, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, the United Kingdom, and Trinidad and Tobago.
How to register: online, in person or by post
EU nationals residing in Spain can register through three channels: online via the National Institute of Statistics (INE) Electronic Headquarters using the cl@ve system or a telematic processing key (CTT); in person at their local City Council; or by postal mail. The declaration of intent is permanent once made, but to be included in the electoral roll for the 2027 elections, applications must be completed by 30 December 2026. A communication from the OCE will be sent at the end of September 2026 to EU citizens who have not previously declared their voting intention, informing them of the process.
Special conditions for non-EU treaty nationals
Residents from the 13 countries with reciprocity agreements must meet additional criteria, including being at least 18 years old, registered in the municipal padrón (local census), holding a valid residence permit, and having legally resided in Spain for a period ranging between three and five years, depending on nationality. For British and Norwegian nationals, the required legal residency is three years. For others covered under the agreements, except the UK and Norway, the requirement is five consecutive years of legal residence. Applications for these voters will be accepted from 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027, and can be submitted online, by post, or in person at the relevant City Council.
Residents must be registered on the local padrón, an official list of residents in each council area, to be eligible to vote.
Further details and the online registration portal are available at the INE's Electronic Office.
What happens next
Once registration is confirmed, voters will receive official notification of their inclusion in the electoral roll. All eligible voters will be able to cast ballots in their municipality of residence for seats on their local Ayuntamiento (city or town council). The 2027 municipal elections will also include elections for island councils in the Canaries and Balearics, though foreign residents are only entitled to vote in local municipal contests.
Primary sources: boe.es. Reported by diaricatalunya.cat, ine.es, DONALD A. PEÑA MARTÍNEZ, Gazette Life, El Día de Soria, majorcadailybulletin.com, INE, Diari Catalunya.
