Spanish bureaucracy has an order, and the padrón (empadronamiento) is the key that unlocks the rest — your NIE/TIE, healthcare and school places. Here's the chain, done right.
Register your address at the town hall. Bring passport + proof of address (rental contract + a recent rent receipt). In a shared flat? You need an autorización de empadronamiento signed by the registered occupant plus a copy of their ID.
The Volante is a free instant basic proof. The Certificado is the official one needed for residency procedures (small fee, a few days). For your TIE/NIE, always request the Certificado.
With the padrón in hand you complete your NIE (foreigner ID number) and TIE (the physical residence card). Healthcare and school enrolment also ask for the padrón.
Madrid requires an online appointment (cita previa), often booked weeks ahead — log in with Cl@ve PIN / Cl@ve Permanente or a digital certificate. New slots tend to drop Monday and Thursday mornings (~8–9 AM). If the city centre is fully booked, check the Juntas de Distrito (outlying district offices) — slots there are often weeks sooner.
Admin, housing, what's on — the free daily brief, launching soon.