Registration of employees

You are an employee if you meet the following three requirements:

1. having reached the statutory minimum age (16 years);

2. providing their services voluntarily and on a paid basis;

3. providing their services under the organisation and management of another person, whether a natural or legal person, referred to as the employer.

First, employees must have a social security number (NUSS) to identify them in their contact with the Spanish Social Security. This number is then referred to as the affiliation number when the employee starts their first paid job.

If the employee has no Social Security number (NUSS), the employer must apply for one through the RED system. Employees may apply for this themselves through the portal of the Social Security General Treasury or the IMPORTASS Social Security app , under the service ‘Apply for a Social Security number’.If the employee does not have electronic identification, they need to select this option when entering the service. You need to take a photo of both sides of their DNI/NIE and a selfie where their face and the front side of their identification document (the part with their photo) are clearly visible.

Registration of the worker must then be processed via the RED system under the corresponding social security category, either General, Coal Mining Sector or Offshore Workers.

The employer must request registration before the employment relationship begins, no more than 60 days in advance.

You must notify Social Security whenever any employees cease to be in your employment or any of their details change.

As soon as any worker’s employment ceases, this should be communicated. You must also communicate any changes in the details provided when employees were registered or subsequently, be it identification details or details concerning their actual work. In both cases, these changes must be notified within 3 calendar days of the date of effect. This must be done through RED.

If you wish to contract someone to work in your home, you will be able to register, cancel and make changes to your details through the Services portal of the Social Security General Treasury or the IMPORTASS Social Security app , using your electronic identification or via SMS if you have communicated your telephone number to Social Security. If you don’t have these types of identification, please indicate this and follow the instructions when you access the service. You need to take a photo of both sides of your ID card (DNI or NIE [foreigner identity number]) and a selfie where your face and the front side of your identification document (the part with your photo) are clearly visible.

The ISSA chatbot is available to provide guidance and help with all of these procedures. Applications can also be made through a RED authorised user.

You have to register the person with Social Security prior to commencing the employment relationship, and no more than 60 days in advance.

As the employer, you have to deregister and communicate any changes within three calendar days from the date of effect.

You are considered a self-employed person if you carry out an economic activity on a regular basis without being subject to a work contract, assuming the operational risks yourself.

For Social Security purposes, depending on the work you do, you will be covered either by the Special Scheme for Self-Employed Workers – also covering self-employed people engaged in agricultural activities – or by the Special Scheme for Seafarers.

Click here to find out who is obliged to be in the special category for the self-employed. You can also click here if you are an offshore worker.

First, you must have a social security number (NUSS) to identify you when you are in contact with the Spanish Social Security. This number then becomes your affiliation number (NAF) when you start your first paid job.

If you do not have one, you must apply for your online ID (an electronic certificate or permanent key, in this case) through the Social Security number allocation service. If you do not have these types of identification, select this option when you access the service and follow the instructions. You need to take a photo of both sides of your DNI/NIE and a selfie where your face and the front side of your identification document (the part with your photo) are clearly visible.

You must then process your registration as a self-employed worker under the special category for the self-employed or the special category for offshore workers.

Bear in mind that self-employed workers must interact with the Spanish Social Security online. There are two options for this: use the SEDESS online portal or go through a RED authorised user.

Therefore, once you have been assigned a social security number, you may register as a self-employed worker via IMPORTASS, the portal of the Social Security General Treasury under ‘Registering as a self-employed worker’ or through the services of a RED authorised user. If you are an offshore worker you must use the service ‘Registration of self-employed workers under the special category for offshore workers’.

You must request registration prior to starting work, no more than 60 days in advance.

• You must deregister when you cease work, and communicate any changes in the details declared when you registered or subsequently, be it identification details or details concerning your actual work. In both cases, these changes must be notified within 3 calendar days of the date of effect. These notifications can be made via the services for deregistering and modifying self-employment data through the Social Security portal or the Importass app . You may also use the services of a RED authorised user. Offshore workers must use the service ‘ Deregistration of self-employed workers under the special category for offshore workers’.
• When you request registration, you must state the partner institution through which you will take out insurance in respect of occupational risks (work-related accidents and occupational illness) and, where applicable, benefits in the event of temporary disability arising from ordinary circumstances not related to work. Click here to see a list of partner institutions.
• You must pay your social security contributions. Social security contributions for the self-employed are a fixed amount, determined depending on the contribution bases you select at any given time, to which annually-established percentage rates are applied. This will determine the amount of the contributions, and of any future benefits. Click here to see which contribution basis you can choose.
• The ISSA chatbot is available to provide help with all procedures concerning the special category for the self-employed.