A new approach to the municipal register
The Madrid City Council has decided to make a radical shift in its strategy to combat illegal registration, implementing a series of measures aimed at ensuring the integrity of the municipal register. In a context where a massive regularisation of migrants is expected to begin in April, authorities have significantly increased the availability of appointments at the Citizen Attention Offices, rising from 7,000 to 11,000 weekly appointments.
Deputy Mayor Inma Sanz highlighted that one of the most relevant changes is that the opening of applications for these appointments will no longer be announced. This decision responds to the collapse that the website suffered every Tuesday, when many tried to access the available appointments. Now, citizens will need to be alert for a surprise announcement to manage their registration.
Furthermore, it is required that the person requesting the appointment be the one who physically attends the office, which aims to discourage irregular practices and the black market that has emerged around the process. The Municipal Police is also involved in this fight, conducting door-to-door surveillance in suspicious homes where irregularities in registration may exist.
The recent regularisation planned by the Spanish government has generated a notable increase in appointment requests for registration. It is estimated that this measure could benefit half a million migrants, prompting the Madrid City Council to reinforce its efforts against potential fraud related to this process. Delegate Engracia Hidalgo had previously mentioned various strategies to intensify control over the register, including more rigorous document checks and cross-checks with external databases such as the INE or the land registry.
In light of the growing difficulty in obtaining a legitimate appointment, advertisements have proliferated on social media where individuals offer to sell these appointments. To counter this phenomenon, a thorough identity check is now conducted when attending municipal offices. This includes verifying that each appointment was requested by the person who will actually attend the procedure.
The comprehensive digitalisation of the register is also underway, which will simplify procedures and reduce the burden on in-person services. Throughout the year, new digital procedures such as address changes and registrations by birth are expected to be incorporated.
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