The Generalitat of Catalonia has rolled out a fresh mobile citizen service initiative designed to bring administrative support directly to over 600,000 residents living in remote and underserved areas across the region. Starting Monday, five specially equipped vehicles began touring rural zones and poorly connected territories, allowing citizens to complete essential in-person procedures without traveling to distant administrative centers.
Each of the five Mobile Citizen Attention Offices (Oficines d’Atenció Ciutadana, or OAC) will serve 40 municipalities, covering a total of 200 towns and villages throughout Catalonia. According to the Department of the Presidency of the Generalitat, the routes were carefully planned to ensure balanced and homogeneous coverage across the country’s territory, with special attention given to areas where access to public services has historically been limited.
The initiative, which builds on earlier efforts to decentralize public administration, aims to reduce bureaucratic barriers for residents who face challenges related to geography, transportation, or digital access. Services available through the mobile units include assistance with residency registration, social benefits applications, healthcare documentation and other routine procedures typically handled at fixed citizen service centers.
For the years 2026 and 2027, the Generalitat has allocated approximately 2.43 million euros to fund the operation and maintenance of the mobile service fleet. This investment covers vehicle upkeep, staffing, fuel, and technological equipment needed to process documents and verify identities securely in the field.
Officials emphasized that the mobile offices are not intended to replace permanent citizen service centers but to complement them, particularly in municipalities with populations under 1,000 or those located more than 30 kilometers from the nearest administrative hub. The service operates on a rotating schedule, with each vehicle visiting designated towns on specific days of the week, allowing residents to plan their visits in advance.
Even as the program is primarily administrative in nature, its impact extends into daily life for many Catalans, especially older adults, individuals with limited mobility, and families in agricultural or mountain communities. By bringing government services closer to home, the initiative supports broader goals of territorial cohesion and equitable access to public rights.
The launch coincides with ongoing efforts by the Catalan government to modernize public administration through digital innovation, though authorities acknowledge that online platforms alone cannot address all accessibility gaps. In areas with limited broadband connectivity or populations less familiar with digital tools, in-person assistance remains critical.
Similar mobile service models have been tested in other European regions, including parts of France and Spain’s Aragon and Extremadura communities, with varying degrees of success. Catalan officials said they studied these examples when designing the current initiative, adapting best practices to local geographic and demographic conditions.
As of the first week of operation, response from participating municipalities has been described as cautiously optimistic, with local mayors reporting increased engagement from residents who previously avoided administrative tasks due to travel burdens. The Generalitat plans to monitor usage patterns and satisfaction levels throughout 2025 to assess potential expansions or adjustments to the route network.
For now, the five mobile units represent a tangible step toward reducing the urban-rural divide in access to public services — one town visit at a time.
Residents interested in checking whether their municipality is included in the mobile service schedule can consult the official calendar published on the Generalitat’s citizen services portal, which is updated quarterly.
Have thoughts on how public services can better reach remote communities? Share your perspective in the comments below or join the conversation on social media using #OACMòbil.
