Ombudsman Urges Córdoba to Register Residents After Three-Month Wait

The regional institution reminds the Córdoba City Council to apply 'positive silence' for residency registration applications pending over three months.

Facade of Córdoba City Council in the afternoon sun
IA

Facade of Córdoba City Council in the afternoon sun

The Andalusian Ombudsman has reminded the Córdoba City Council of its obligation to register citizens whose applications have not been resolved within three months, applying the principle of 'positive silence'.

This directive is included in the 2025 Annual Report presented by Jesús Maeztu, which dedicates a specific section to “delays in resolving residency registration files.” The report highlights that most complaints regarding significant delays originate from the city of Córdoba.
After processing a file concerning these delays, the City Council reported reorganization measures implemented since 2022 to improve the response of the Statistics Unit. However, the Ombudsman found that many files were still not being resolved within the established timeframe.
In 2025, the Ombudsman issued a resolution requesting the Council to take necessary actions to resolve files within three months. Furthermore, it urged that if this period is exceeded, applicants should be registered due to the application of positive silence, and the corresponding certificate should be issued ex officio.

"It has also been suggested that citizens be informed about their right to request registration by positive silence after three months from the application date."

Jesús Maeztu · Andalusian Ombudsman
The City Council, in its response, mentioned the procurement of a new application, scheduled for implementation in November 2025, to automate slow procedures. They acknowledged delays of up to “eleven months” and presented difficulties in meeting deadlines. Nevertheless, the Ombudsman considers these difficulties similar to those faced by other provincial capitals without such a pronounced impact.
Regarding the recommendation for positive administrative silence, the City Council does not accept it, arguing that 'blind' registration without documentary verification could cause “serious harm to third parties” and “patrimonial liabilities” for administrative actions contrary to law. The Ombudsman, for his part, believes this statement does not align with the relevant regulations or the views expressed by the Residency Council itself.