01 · Spain research
Begin with the institution that created the record
Define whether you need a local family event, a property-related record or evidence about migration. These questions do not necessarily lead to the same archive. Identify the municipality, parish or administrative office involved.
The Ministry of Culture's genealogy resource page brings together several kinds of research tools. Use it as a guide to possible routes, then inspect the collection that fits your own family question.
02 · Spain research
Read the full PARES catalogue description
PARES publishes descriptions and digital material from participating archives. When a result appears, note the archive, collection or series, file reference and dates. A useful description may identify an institution without listing every person mentioned in its files.
Read the context around a search result before treating it as a family match. A familiar surname or town in a catalogue title is a lead to inspect, not proof of a particular relationship.
03 · Spain research
Use a specialist portal for a specialist question
For an emigrant, the official Movimientos Migratorios portal describes collections drawn from several Spanish and overseas institutions. Its source guide helps distinguish consular material from other migration series.
Keep the search scope specific: person, dates, locality and the event a file might establish. Ask the holding archive about current consultation and reproduction procedures when an identified record is not available online.
What to prepare for this search
- A question tied to a person, event and period.
- Municipality, parish or relevant administrative office.
- The archive and full reference behind a PARES result.
- Previous searches and any documents already held.
Keep a note of what each document says and which details still need checking. The research checklist can help you assemble the starting information.
Sources and research tools
Use these official catalogues and guides to check which records survive and where to find them.
- Spanish Ministry of Culture: genealogy sources and digital resources
- PARES: Spanish Archives Portal
- Movimientos Migratorios: project and collections
Resources reviewed 17 October 2026. Collection availability and services can change.