Explore the ins and outs of social security in Spain with our comprehensive guide. Whether you're an expat, self-employed, or considering a move to the country on a digital nomad visa, we've got you covered. Learn who is eligible for social security benefits, how to apply for a social security number, and how much you can expect to pay. Discover the differences between EU and non-EU citizens, as well as the benefits and challenges of the system. From unemployment benefits to healthcare coverage, maternity and paternity leave, and more, find out everything you need to know about navigating Spain's social security landscape.
Anyone who works in Spain is obliged to contribute to the social security system. This goes for Spanish citizens and foreign residents. If you’re self-employed you will also have to contribute to the system. If you are retired and therefore not working, you will not be paying into the social security system.
If you work, and therefore pay into the social security system, you will be eligible for the benefits it covers, such as healthcare, maternity and paternity pay and unemployment benefits. Of course there are different caveats attached to each set of benefits and requirements you must meet. Each benefit must be applied for separately through the social security office or your mutua (mutual society) association which collaborates with social security services. You will be assigned a particular mutua based on the industry you work in. Children and pregnant women are automatically eligible for healthcare.
There is no difference in social security benefits or payments whether you’re from an EU country or a third country. If you’re from a non-EU country and you have the right to live and work in Spain, you’ll pay social security and be treated the same as Spaniards when it comes to benefits.
Before even getting a job, you will need to apply for a social security number in Spain.
If you are an EU or EEA citizen you will be able to apply with your passport and NIE – foreign identity number. You can either apply for it online via the Social Security website or in person at your nearest Social Security Office, providing you have made an appointment in advance.
If you’re from a non-EU country, you will need your TIE card – the foreign identity card for third country nationals. You can also either apply online or in person.
Everyone must complete the following form, which can take up to 10 days to be processed. Your social security number is for life and never expires, so you will only have to do this once.
When you’ve received your number you will also need to register with social security, once you’ve found employment or decided to be self-employed. If you’re employed by a company, they will register you, but if you are self-employed, you will have to do it yourself.
There is no set amount for social security, it depends on various factors including whether you’re employed or self-employed, how much you earn, what part of the country you live in and sometimes what your job is.
Generally, if you’re employed, your employer will be responsible for paying your social security at a rate of 30.4 percent of your salary, plus a variable rate for accidents at work at 1.50 percent. As an employee, you will be responsible for paying 6.45 percent of your salary on top of what your employer pays.
If you’re self-employed, the amount of social security you pay will depend on how much you earn each month. There are 15 different income brackets and whichever one you fall into will dictate how much you pay. The payments go from €225 per month for the lowest earners up to €530 per month for the highest earners. For example those earning under €670 per month will pay €225, those earning between €1,850 and €2,030 per month will pay €325 and those earning over €6,000 per month will pay €530.
To make matters even more complicated, the social security system for freelancers has been overhauled within the last couple of years, meaning that the amounts will change every year up until 2030. Anyone earning more than €1700 per month will end up paying slightly more social security each year, while anyone earning under that amount will pay either the same as what they’re paying now or less.
Social security payments are automatically deducted from your pay cheque if you’re an employee and your employer will be responsible for paying the rest.
If you’re self-employed and have signed up to the system (which is mandatory) the payments will automatically be deducted from your bank account on the last day of each month.
As an employee, social security payments are pretty straightforward. As mentioned previously, your employer will pay a proportion for you and the other proportion will automatically be deducted from your monthly paycheck. There’s really nothing more you have to do or worry about.
If you’re self-employed it’s a bit more tricky to understand. As mentioned before, you’re responsible for paying your own social security. It’s mandatory for anyone signed up to the autónomo or self-employed system. This is completely separate from tax and you will be still liable to pay income tax on your earnings on top of this.
Yes, it’s a lot of extra money per month, but unlike many other countries as a freelancer you will be eligible for several benefits, from sick pay to maternity or paternity pay.
It’s up to you to predict how much you’ll earn each month and report it to the social security office. This amount will dictate how much social security you’ll pay. Self-employment can be very unpredictable, however, and it’s likely your earnings will fluctuate, so you can change your prediction up to six times per year.
It can be a financial burden if you’re just starting out as a freelancer or setting up your own company as you’ll have to pay at least €225 every month, even on the months when you don’t earn anything. To help you out, some regions have started making things a little easier. If you move to Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Castilla y León, Castilla La Mancha, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid or Murcia you will either be exempt from paying social security during your first year (in some places two years) or have the amount reduced.
If you’re an employee, you are able to claim unemployment benefits if you’re made redundant. The amount you can claim will depend on your individual situation.
Unfortunately if you’re self-employed you won’t be covered for unemployment benefits. Technically you may be eligible for financial aid if you are forced to close your business for reasons beyond your control, however it’s very difficult for your application to be approved and almost half are rejected. This is because you have to prove a loss of 10 percent on top of your income over one year or at least 20 percent on top of your income for two years, and the majority of people can’t afford to do that.
By paying social security, you will be covered under the public healthcare system in the region you live. In order to be covered, all you have to do is take your social security certificate, your ID and your padrón certificate from your local town hall to your nearest health clinic or doctor’s surgery. They will register you, assign you a GP and give you a regional health card.
All doctor’s visits are covered under social security, you’ll only have to pay extra for prescriptions. Basic dental check-ups are also covered, but if you need any work done you’ll have to go privately and pay extra.
Many people in Spain choose to get private health insurance as well as public coverage. This is paid for separately and has nothing to do with social security. The main reason to get private insurance is that waiting times to see doctors and specialists are a lot shorter and you can usually ask to see a specialist directly without waiting to be referred by your GP.
Whether you’re employed or self-employed you will be eligible for sickness and injury pay. It’s important to remember, however, that generally benefits don’t kick in until after the third day of absence from work. If you’re an employee, your contract may be different and your employer may be responsible for paying days 1-3. You will need an official doctor’s note in order for your claim to be processed.
The good news is that paying all this social security in Spain, yes even if you’re self-employed means you can receive maternity and paternity pay. New mothers and fathers both get 16 weeks leave. It’s available to those who foster and adopt, not only those who give birth.
During this time, employees get 100 percent of their salary as long as they’re up to date with social security payments and have contributed more than 180 days in the last seven years or a total of 360 days.
If you are self-employed you will receive 100 percent of the average daily amount you earned in the last six months. Mothers will also be exempt from paying their social security contributions in the first two years after giving birth.
If you’ve come to Spain on the digital nomad visa, you will have been granted it in one of several ways. The first is if you’re a remote worker employed by a company abroad. In this case, if the country you’re from has a social security agreement with Spain you will need to apply for a social security certificate to prove that you’re covered and will not need to pay it in Spain too. Unfortunately this certificate can be tricky to get hold of for people of certain nationalities, even if their country has an agreement with Spain, such as the United States because the authorities there believe it should not be used in this way.
If your country doesn’t have a social security agreement with Spain or you can’t get the certificate of coverage and you’re an employee, your company can register itself in Spain and pay your social security on your behalf, just like if you were an employee in Spain. It’s unlikely that many companies will agree to do this, however, especially if it’s not mandatory that you work from Spain, but you can always ask. If you’re self-employed and have a visa, then you will have to sign a form promising that you will sign up to the autónomo system and will pay your own social security payments just like above.
It’s worth keeping in mind that the conditions of the visa require you to earn over a certain amount each month so it’s unlikely that you would be able to claim any kind of unemployment benefits if you lose your job. You’d more than likely lose your visa and permission to live in Spain.
So that’s the Spanish security system in a nutshell! Are you ready to search for your dream home in the sun?
