Joint services to streamline access
The Catalan government and the Spanish state are launching a pilot project to co-locate administrative services at the Citizen Service Office (OAC) on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 641, in Barcelona’s Eixample district. The Executive Council approved a protocol on Tuesday 27th October 2026 to assess the viability of a shared counter where residents can access both Generalitat and State services, including immigration procedures and social assistance applications. The aim, according to the Catalan executive, is to reduce bureaucratic fragmentation by allowing in-person access to social and immigration services, benefits, and information from a single location. The office will provide guidance on immigration matters and support for completing and digitising forms, as well as basic coordination between the two administrations. Cases requiring specialist intervention will be referred to the relevant authority.
Pilot phase to shape future rollout
During the trial period, officials will study joint staffing models, coordination mechanisms, and the technological and logistical requirements needed for the office to function effectively. If results are positive, the model could be extended to other locations across Catalonia. This initiative stems from agreements reached at the Generalitat-State Bilateral Commission, the main dialogue forum between the two governments established under the 2006 Statute. The single-window service was among commitments made during a meeting in February 2025 at the Palau de la Generalitat between President Salvador Illa and Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory Ángel Víctor Torres. The commitment was reaffirmed at the Bilateral Commission meeting on 20th May 2026 in Madrid.
The goal is to make public services more accessible, agile, and citizen-focused by bringing together what belongs together.
Part of wider OAC expansion
The Eixample OAC, which opened on 18th May 2026, currently operates from a provisional site with 13 staff across 264 square metres. Between opening and 15th October 2026, it processed 3,422 requests, primarily for digital certificates, the Registry of Stable Couples, large family titles, and disability assessments. The office is part of a broader Generalitat plan to consolidate services from all departments into single access points. No appointment is required. Alongside the existing OAC in La Seu d’Urgell, three new metropolitan offices are planned for Sabadell, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, and Esplugues de Llobregat, expected to serve around 400,000 people. These will bring the network to 14 offices, with an investment of approximately €18 million. The Sabadell office is scheduled to open in early 2027. The Eixample OAC will eventually move to a permanent location at Torre Muñoz on Passeig de Gràcia, as confirmed by Minister Albert Dalmau in October 2026.
Sources: La Razón Cataluña, Govern de Catalunya, Redacción de Barcelona Press.
