Citizens of the European Union who have applied to the EU Citizens Regulation and wish to work in Spain, once they have obtained their NIE´s can request the assignment of the Social Security affiliation number. This is an essential requirement to work on their own account or for others.

Once the foreigner identification number (NIE) is available, if the objective is to work, it is necessary to register in the Social Security System and request the assignment of the corresponding number.

If you have applied for the assignment only with a European passport, you must update your data in the offices of the General Treasury of the Social Security, once you have the NIE.

If you are a worker on behalf of others, the company that hires you must notify the Social Security. In case of being self-employed, after the assignment of the number of Social Security affiliation, you must apply for discharge in the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA). In this particular case, self-employed workers must apply to the Tax Agency (Tax Authority in Spain) as a preliminary step to enrollment and discharge in Social Security.

Here you can check who can apply to the Community Regime.

*It should be noted that the rules of any of the countries listed and the procedures suggested might change at any time without notice.