Social Security and employment administration
A Social Security number is one of the first things you need in Spain, and employing anyone — even a cleaner at home — brings its own obligations. We prepare and manage your registrations, pension applications and small-employer paperwork, and make sure monthly obligations don’t slip. Filings that require a colegiado professional are made by our named partner.
Who it’s for
- New residents who need a Social Security affiliation number
- People starting out as autónomos in the RETA regime
- Households employing a cleaner, carer or nanny
- People approaching retirement with contributions in Spain and abroad
- Small employers who want contracts and payroll handled properly
Documents you’ll usually need
- Passport and NIE, TIE or EU registration certificate
- Padrón certificate
- Digital certificate or Cl@ve, where available
- Employment or activity details
- Contribution records from other countries, for pension applications
- Bank details for direct debits or pension payments
What we handle
Affiliation number
Applying for your Social Security number (número de afiliación), needed to work or register as self-employed.
Registration in RETA
Registering as self-employed in the special regime (RETA), choosing your contribution base and reviewing it as your income changes.
Household employees
Registering a domestic employee in the special household-employee system, with contract, contributions and later changes or termination.
Retirement pension applications
Preparing your pension application to the INSS, including periods worked in other countries covered by agreements.
Employment contracts
Preparing and communicating employment contracts and their changes through the official channels.
Payroll and contributions
Monthly payslips, contribution filings and withholding for small employers.
Certificates and records
Your contribution history (vida laboral), certificates of being up to date with payments and coverage certificates.
Last reviewed: Legal basis: RDL 8/2015 (LGSS) · Ley 20/2007 (self-employed)
Who does what — stated plainly
BorderConexion coordinates and prepares your case. Our founder is completing the official Máster en Gestión Administrativa (2026–27), the qualifying route to colegiación as a Gestora Administrativa in Spain. We are currently onboarding colegiado partners (abogados and gestores administrativos colegiados). Until those partnerships are in place, we offer consultations, route planning and document preparation; any filing that legally requires a colegiado professional will be submitted by a named partner, identified in your engagement letter.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a Social Security number in Spain as a foreigner?
You apply to the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social with your passport, your NIE or residence document and an application form. It can often be done online with a digital certificate or in person by appointment. You need the number before you start working or register as an autónomo.
Do I have to register my cleaner with Social Security in Spain?
In general, yes. People employed in the home are covered by a special system within the general regime, and the employer is responsible for registering them and paying contributions. This also applies to part-time work, so check your situation before the employment starts.
Do my US work years count towards a Spanish pension?
Spain and the United States have a bilateral social security agreement that can allow contribution periods in both countries to be counted for entitlement, with each country paying its own share. How it works for you depends on your full record in both countries. Ask each country’s authority for an estimate.
How much does an autónomo pay in Social Security?
Contributions in RETA are based on a contribution base linked to your expected net income, under the income-based system in force since 2023. Reductions may apply to new autónomos. Because the tables change each year, check the current figures before you register.
Tell us what you need
One short form. We'll route it to the right service and reply within two working days.