A2.9: Paperwork and bureaucracy

Papeleos y burocracia

Learn essential Spanish vocabulary for handling paperwork and bureaucracy, including verbs like "poner" (to put), "escribir" (to write), and key terms such as "permiso de trabajo" (work permit) and "certificado de empadronamiento" (certificate of residence). This lesson focuses on navigating government offices and using irregular verbs in the pretérito perfecto.

Listening & reading materials

Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.

A2.9.1 Lectura

Trámites para trabajar en España

Procedures for working in Spain


Vocabulary (19)

 El desempleo: unemployment (Spanish)

El desempleo

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Unemployment Show

 El seguro: The insurance (Spanish)

El seguro

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The insurance Show

 El empleo: Employment (Spanish)

El empleo

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Employment Show

 El funcionario: the official (Spanish)

El funcionario

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The official Show

 El ayuntamiento: The town hall (Spanish)

El ayuntamiento

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The town hall Show

 La visa de trabajo: the work visa (Spanish)

La visa de trabajo

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The work visa Show

 El permiso de trabajo: The work permit (Spanish)

El permiso de trabajo

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The work permit Show

 El empadronamiento: The registration of residency (Spanish)

El empadronamiento

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The registration of residency Show

 Solicitar una cita: Request an appointment (Spanish)

Solicitar una cita

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Request an appointment Show

 La solicitud: The application (Spanish)

La solicitud

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The application Show

 Entregar (to submit) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Entregar

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To submit Show

 El número de seguridad social: The National Insurance number (Spanish)

El número de seguridad social

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The national insurance number Show

 El NIE : The NIE (Spanish)

El NIE

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The nie Show

 Inscribirse en el padrón: To register on the electoral roll (Spanish)

Inscribirse en el padrón

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To register on the electoral roll Show

 El papeleo: The paperwork (Spanish)

El papeleo

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The paperwork Show

 Tener una cita: To have an appointment (Spanish)

Tener una cita

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To have an appointment Show

 Tener la nacionalidad: To have nationality (Spanish)

Tener la nacionalidad

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To have nationality Show

 Apellidarse: To have the surname (Spanish)

Apellidarse

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To have the surname Show

 La región: The region (Spanish)

La región

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The region Show

Exercises

These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.

Exercise 1: Translate and use in a sentence

Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.

1

El seguro


The insurance

2

El empleo


Employment

3

Entregar


To submit

4

El ayuntamiento


The town hall

5

El funcionario


The official

Exercise 2: Dialogue Cards

Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. He ______ toda la documentación en el ayuntamiento esta semana.

(I have ______ all the documentation at the town hall this week.)

2. ¿Has ______ la solicitud para obtener el permiso de trabajo?

(Have you ______ the application to get the work permit?)

3. El funcionario me ha ______ que entregue todos los papeles necesarios.

(The official has ______ me to submit all the necessary papers.)

4. Todavía no he ______ de la cita para la renovación del seguro social.

(I have not yet ______ from the appointment for the social security renewal.)

Exercise 4: Procedures at the Town Hall

Instruction:

Esta mañana, yo (Poner - Pretérito perfecto) la solicitud para el permiso de trabajo en el ayuntamiento. Después, tú (Llenar - Pretérito perfecto) el formulario para el empadronamiento en la región. Además, ella (Poner - Pretérito perfecto) su número de seguridad social en la solicitud. Nosotros (Entregar - Pretérito perfecto) todos los documentos que el funcionario nos ha pedido. Finalmente, ellos (Poner - Pretérito perfecto) la solicitud en el mostrador para que la revisen lo antes posible.


This morning, I have submitted the application for the work permit at the town hall. Afterwards, you have filled out the form for registration in the region. Also, she has provided her social security number on the application. We have handed in all the documents that the official asked us for. Finally, they have placed the application on the counter so it can be reviewed as soon as possible.

Verb Tables

Poner - Submit

Pretérito perfecto

  • yo he puesto
  • tú has puesto
  • él/ella ha puesto
  • nosotros hemos puesto
  • vosotros habéis puesto
  • ellos han puesto

Llenar - Fill out

Pretérito perfecto

  • yo he llenado
  • tú has llenado
  • él/ella ha llenado
  • nosotros hemos llenado
  • vosotros habéis llenado
  • ellos han llenado

Entregar - Hand in

Pretérito perfecto

  • yo he entregado
  • tú has entregado
  • él/ella ha entregado
  • nosotros hemos entregado
  • vosotros habéis entregado
  • ellos han entregado

Exercise 5: Verbos irregulares en el pretérito perfecto

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Grammar: Irregular verbs in the present perfect

Show translation Show answers

hemos puesto, han vuelto, han hecho, ha dicho, Has dicho, Has hecho, has escrito, Has puesto

1.
Poner (tú): ¿... tu dirección en el formulario?
(Have you put your address on the form?)
2.
Decir: Ella ... que no tiene los documentos listos.
(She has said that she doesn't have the documents ready.)
3.
Volver: Ellos ... de su cita en la seguridad social.
(They have returned from their appointment at social security.)
4.
Hacer: Ellos ... la reservación-in en el Ayuntamiento.
(They have checked in at the Town Hall.)
5.
Decir (tú): ¿... todo lo que necesitaban para la solicitud?
(Have you said everything they needed for the application?)
6.
Poner: Nosotros ... todos los papeles en el sobre.
(We have put all the papers in the envelope.)
7.
Escribir: ¿Tú ... la carta para la solicitud de empleo?
(Have you written the letter for the job application?)
8.
Hacer (tú): ¿... ya la solicitud para el permiso de trabajo?
(Have you already applied for the work permit?)

Grammar

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A2.9.2 Gramática

Verbos irregulares en el pretérito perfecto

Irregular verbs in the present perfect


Verb conjugation tables for this lesson

Poner to put

Pretérito perfecto

Spanish English
(yo) he puesto I have put
(tú) has puesto you have put
(él/ella) ha puesto he/she has put
(nosotros/nosotras) hemos puesto we have put
(vosotros/vosotras) habéis puesto You have put
(ellos/ellas) han puesto They have put

Exercises and examples phrases

Llenar to fill

Pretérito perfecto

Spanish English
(yo) he llenado I have filled
(tú) has llenado You have filled
(él/ella) ha llenado he/she has filled
(nosotros/nosotras) hemos llenado we have filled
(vosotros/vosotras) habéis llenado You have filled
(ellos/ellas) han llenado they have filled

Exercises and examples phrases

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Lesson Overview: Paperwork and Bureaucracy in Spain

This lesson is designed for A2 level Spanish learners focusing on practical language skills related to "Trámites para trabajar en España" (Procedures for working in Spain). You will study essential vocabulary, common expressions, and important irregular verbs used when dealing with bureaucracy and paperwork.

Key Topics Covered

  • Bureaucratic processes: How to handle official paperwork such as applying for unemployment benefits, retirement pensions, work permits, and renewing residency documents.
  • Irregular verbs in the pretérito perfecto: Focus on verbs like poner, escribir, decir, and volver used in perfect tense to describe completed actions related to paperwork.
  • Dialogues for real-life situations: Practice conversations at the Social Security office, city hall, and with officials about required documents and procedures.

Important Vocabulary and Expressions

Familiarize yourself with common words and phrases such as:

  • el trámite – procedure
  • la prestación por desempleo – unemployment benefit
  • el permiso de trabajo – work permit
  • el certificado de empadronamiento – certificate of residency registration
  • la solicitud – application/request
  • el funcionario – official/employee (government)
  • presentar documentos – to submit documents
  • llenar un formulario – to fill out a form
  • entregar los papeles – to hand in the paperwork

Verbs to Pay Special Attention To

The lesson highlights irregular verbs in the pretérito perfecto tense:

  • Poner (to put/place): yo he puesto, tú has puesto, él ha puesto, etc.
  • Escribir (to write): yo he escrito, tú has escrito, él ha escrito, etc.
  • Decir (to say/tell): yo he dicho, tú has dicho, él ha dicho, etc.
  • Volver (to return): yo he vuelto, tú has vuelto, él ha vuelto, etc.

Contextual Dialogues

Conversations simulate real visits to Social Security, work permit offices, and city hall, giving you practical phrases for asking information, submitting documents, and clarifying procedures. For example:

"Buenos días, ¿me puede indicar dónde debo hacer el trámite para la prestación por desempleo?"

"Claro, primero debe rellenar este formulario y luego esperar la cita con el funcionario."

Additional Notes on Language Differences

Unlike English, Spanish uses the pretérito perfecto tense frequently to express recent actions linked to the present, often with words like "ya" or "todavía no." For example, "Todavía no he vuelto de la cita" translates as "I haven't yet returned from the appointment." Also, procedural vocabulary tends to be more formal in Spanish compared to English; titles such as "el funcionario" for an official are important.

Useful expressions include:

  • ¿Qué documentos necesito para...? – What documents do I need for...?
  • He escrito la solicitud... – I have written the application...
  • Le recomiendo llamar a... – I recommend you call...
  • Debe presentar... – You must submit...

This lesson will strengthen your confidence in managing paperwork and official conversations in Spanish-speaking environments.

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