🇪🇸 EU / International

Social Security Registration (Spain)

Get Your Spanish Social Security Number

Easy ~15 min Social SecuritySpainEmploymentAutónomo

/ What is this form?

Form TA.1 registers you in Spain's social security system (Seguridad Social). Employees are registered by their employer. Autónomos (self-employed) must register themselves at the Tesorería General. Your Número de Seguridad Social gives you access to public healthcare, unemployment benefits, and pension.

/ Who needs this form?

Anyone starting employment in Spain (employer usually handles registration for employees)
Self-employed (autónomos) — must register themselves
Students or dependents who need a social security number for healthcare access

/ What you need before you start

NIE or DNI

Empadronamiento (local census registration)

Employment contract (for employees)

Modelo 036 or 037 from Hacienda (for autónomos registering their economic activity)

/ Step-by-step guide

1 Determine Your Regime

Employees are registered under the Régimen General by their employer. Self-employed (autónomos) register themselves under RETA (Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Autónomos). Identify which applies to you.

2 Get Your NIE First

You need a NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) before registering for Social Security. Apply at a police station or Spanish consulate. Without a NIE, you cannot register.

3 Gather Required Documents

Collect: NIE or DNI, empadronamiento (local census registration), employment contract (employees), and for autónomos: Modelo 036 or 037 from Hacienda registering your economic activity.

4 Submit the TA.1 Form

Employees: your employer typically handles this. Autónomos: submit TA.1 at the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS) in person or online via sede.seg-social.gob.es.

5 Register for Autónomo Contributions

As an autónomo, you also need to set up monthly contributions (cuotas). The first-year reduced tarifa plana is ~€80/month. After that, contributions are income-based with a minimum of ~€300/month.

/ Key fields explained

Field	What to enter	Common mistake
Régimen	General (employed by a company) or RETA (self-employed autónomo)	Choosing the wrong regime — General is for employees, RETA is for autónomos. They have different contribution rates and rules

/ Common mistakes to avoid

Autónomos not understanding the monthly quota: ~€300/month after the first year (€80/month tarifa plana for year 1)

Not registering before starting work — delayed registration incurs penalties

Confusing the Seguridad Social number with the NIE — they are different numbers

/ Frequently asked questions

How much do autónomos pay?

Tarifa plana: ~€80/month for the first year (flat reduced rate). After that, contributions are based on declared income — minimum approximately €300/month for the lowest income bracket.

Does the Seguridad Social number give me healthcare?

Yes. Your Número de Seguridad Social entitles you to Spain's public healthcare (Sistema Nacional de Salud), pension rights, and unemployment benefits (for employees who pay into it).