Two documents from the same Registry, two purposes
Both documents come from the Registro de la Propiedad (Spanish Land Registry) and describe the content of the registry books for a property. The difference lies in their legal nature:
- The nota simple informativa summarises the property's entries (description, ownership, charges) on a purely informative basis.
- The certificación registral is a public document: it is issued and signed by the registrar, who certifies with public faith that its content matches the registry entries.
The Mortgage Regulations (article 332) provide that the content of the entries is made known by nota simple informativa or by certificación, and Spanish mortgage law classifies the nota simple as mere information.
When the nota simple is enough
For the vast majority of private enquiries the nota simple is sufficient:
- Checking who owns a home before buying or renting it.
- Seeing whether a property has a mortgage, embargoes or other charges.
- Knowing the registered description, surface area or boundaries.
- Preparing a purchase, an inheritance or a negotiation.
- Locating properties involved in a family transaction.
It costs €9.02 plus VAT through the official online channel, with a published average turnaround of under two hours.
When you will need a certificación
The certificación is required when the document must prove, not just inform:
- Court proceedings where ownership or charges must be evidenced.
- Some inheritances and notarial transactions with formal requirements.
- Banking or administrative operations that expressly require it.
- Proving historical registry situations or the full literal content of the entries.
The certificación costs more than the nota simple and can take longer, because it involves the registrar's signature. Private portals offer it from around €70 plus VAT; at the Registry it is requested the same way, stating the legitimate interest.
Summary table
| Nota simple | Certificación registral | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To inform | To prove with public faith |
| Signed by | No registrar's signature | The registrar |
| Evidentiary value | Purely informative | Public document |
| Typical use | Checks and enquiries | Courts, inheritances, formal requirements |
| Official online cost | €9.02 + VAT | Higher; depends on content |
| Published average turnaround | Under 2 hours | Longer |
A practical detail
When a third party asks you for "a nota simple", ask whether the informative document is enough or whether they need a certificación. Requesting the certificate when the note suffices means paying more and waiting longer; requesting the note when a certificate is required means repeating the process.
Which document to request for each situation
A practical rule of thumb:
- You want information before buying, renting or negotiating: the nota simple. It is faster and cheaper, and contains the same substantive information (owner, charges, description).
- A bank, court, public body or inheritance process requires it: usually a certificate (certificación). That is the document carrying public faith of the Registry's content.
- You need to prove a historical fact (who owned the property years ago, or charges long since cancelled): a certificate, because the nota simple reflects the current situation, not the history.
If in doubt, ask whoever requires the document which format they accept. Many private dealings (an estate agent, a buyer, a landlord) are satisfied with the nota simple; formal procedures usually require a certificate.
Who can request each one
Both the nota simple and the certificate follow the same principle: the Registry is public for anyone with a legitimate interest in knowing its content (article 332 of the Mortgage Regulations). In practice, a nota simple about a specific home rarely requires proving that interest; for certificates and for searches about a person (what properties someone owns) the Registry may ask you to justify it.
Price and timing
The nota simple costs 9,02 euros plus VAT at the Registrars' e-office, with an average turnaround of under two hours. The certificate costs more and usually takes longer, because it is issued and signed by the registrar of the district where the property lies. Exact certificate fees depend on the content requested; if the Registry expects an additional cost (for example, a very long history), it will normally tell you before issuing it.
An example that makes it clear
You are buying a flat and your bank asks for registry documentation for the mortgage. For your own prior check, the nota simple is enough (you request it online and have it the same day). For the signing, the bank may require a certificate of ownership and charges: that one is requested separately, costs more and should be ordered with some lead time. Mixing up the two documents is one of the most common causes of delay in property purchases.
Two details that are often missed
- A certificate can be negative: the registrar can also certify that a property has no charges or that a person is not the owner, and that document carries the same public faith as a positive one.
- Both are paid: there is no free certificate, and no free nota simple either; the price difference comes from who issues it and the registry work involved, not from the "quality" of the information.