Procedure 6: Additional healthcare – Registro de voluntades anticipadas (testamento vital)

What you need to have to hand

1. DNI/NIE valid and your tarjeta sanitaria from your community.
2. Official modelo of instrucciones previas/voluntades anticipadas from your CCAA (download from its website).
3. Representative (optional) with their DNI/NIE and phone.
4. Witnesses (two, adults with DNI/NIE) or escritura notarial if you prefer a notary.
5. Some time to read what you sign. This isn’t just paperwork.

Documentation

• Documento de Instrucciones Previas completed, with clear decisions (treatments, care, donation, etc.).
• Identification: your DNI/NIE and those of witnesses/representative.
• Tarjeta sanitaria of your health service.
• Witnesses: not direct beneficiaries, with their DNIs. Or escritura notarial of the document if you don’t bring witnesses.
• Empadronamiento: some CCAAs ask for it if they can’t locate you in their database.

Step by step

1. Find the procedure for your CCAA. Useful examples: Madrid (https://www.comunidad.madrid/servicios/salud/instrucciones-previas-testamento-vital), Catalunya (https://canalsalut.gencat.cat/ca/vida-saludable/drets-i-deures/voluntats-anticipades/), Andalucía (https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/servicioandaluzdesalud/ciudadania/tramites/voluntades-vitales-anticipadas).
2. Fill the modelo. Be specific. If your CCAA gives templates with options, tick what you want and what you don’t. If you name a representative, include full details.
3. Choose validation: a) Witnesses (two, no financial interest, with DNI); or b) Notary (you pay their fee, but you avoid witnesses and get immediate validation).
4. Book a cita at a punto de registro (hospital/centro de salud/registro autonómico). Use the link on your CCAA page and reserve. Heads-up: some places only offer morning slots and they go fast.
5. Attend the cita with everything: document, DNI, tarjeta sanitaria and witnesses or the escritura notarial. They check IDs, read the content and inscribe it. They give you a resguardo with CSV/registration number.
6. Check the inscription. After a week, log in to your health portal and see if it’s recorded. If not, call the punto de registro and give them the receipt number.

Time-savers and tricks

• Sign every page if the modelo requires it. Many get bounced for missing signatures.
• If you go with witnesses, make sure they’re identified and not heirs. You avoid rejections.
• If your CCAA allows online processing with Cl@ve, have your certificado digital ready and the PDF under 5 MB. Many sites enforce that limit.
• Bring two copies: one for the registry, one for you. Upload your copy to your Carpeta de Salud.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Wrong modelo (from another CCAA): they’ll return it. Use the one for your community.
2. Bad witnesses (family beneficiaries or no DNI): they won’t register it.
3. Ambiguous document: if it’s unclear, doctors default to standard treatment. Be explicit.
4. Not checking the inscription: if it’s not in your record, emergency staff won’t know. Check and complain if needed.
5. Thinking a copy on your phone is enough: without registration it might have no effect. Register and keep the receipt.