Move to Spain
NIE, TIE, padrón, EU registration, visas, and residency.
ExploreWhere should we begin?
Vacation in Spain
Short visits, entry rules, transport, places to stay, and practical trip planning in Spain.
Live in Spain
Healthcare, banking, taxes, digital access, and the key admin steps for everyday life in Spain.
Not legal advice. Always verify with official sources before filing.
IberiGo guide
Social Security number in Spain
A Spanish Social Security number (NUSS) is needed for employment, self-employment contributions, and some official procedures.
Do this next
National procedure · NUSS/NAF is separate from your NIESocial Security number: your NUSS filing card
Use this when you need Spain's Social Security identifier. The NUSS is also known as the Número de Afiliación (NAF). Check first whether you already have one; if not, you can request it through Importass, and an employer may also request it when hiring you for the first time.
Procedure
Solicitar el Número de la Seguridad Social (NUSS) through Importass. If you already worked in Spain or were covered by School Insurance, check your personal area first because a NUSS may already be assigned.
Where to go
Use the official Importass portal of the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social. The service can be used by the citizen, and the official route also supports an authorized representative.
What to select
Choose 'Solicitar el Número de la Seguridad Social'. If you only need to find or prove an existing number, use your Importass personal area or the relevant affiliation report instead of submitting a new request.
Forms and fee
There is no immigration fee or Modelo 790 for a NUSS request. The online service asks for your identity details, contact information and habitual address.
Prepare
- DNI or NIE details used to identify you
- Mobile phone number and email address
- Your habitual address
- Your existing Social Security details if you are checking whether a number is already assigned
- Representation details if an authorized person is filing for you
What happens after
The NUSS stays with you throughout your life. It is used when you are first registered for work and for Social Security services and benefits. Starting employment or self-employment is a separate registration step; having a NUSS alone does not mean you are currently registered as working.
Official source checked:
Social Security number
What it is: The NUSS is the number the Spanish Social Security system uses to identify you. It is also known as the Número de Afiliación (NAF). You may already have one from previous work or School Insurance, so check before requesting a new number.
When you get it: You do not have to wait until after you start work. A citizen can request the NUSS through Importass, and an employer can also request it when hiring someone for the first time.
What it is not: It is separate from your NIE and separate from the actual registration of an employment or self-employment activity. Having a NUSS does not by itself mean you are currently registered as working or that a particular benefit has been granted.
This app is a planning guide, not legal advice. Spanish immigration and administration rules, document lists, fees, and appointment labels can change. Always verify your procedure with official sources before filing.
Documents that often slow people down
Identity and civil records
- Valid passport or EU national ID.
- Birth, marriage, or partnership records where relevant.
- Legalization or Hague apostille for many foreign public documents.
- Sworn Spanish translations when documents are not accepted as-is.
Spain-side basics
- Address in Spain and, when requested, padrón certificate.
- Immigration appointment confirmation.
- Correct EX form for your procedure.
- Paid tasa receipt, often Modelo 790 with the matching code.
Money, health, purpose
- Proof of economic means for routes that require it.
- Health insurance or public coverage proof where required.
- School admission, remote-work evidence, family link, or permit approval.
- Criminal record certificate for some visas and residence routes.
Not every document applies to every route. The guide should help you narrow this down.
Official sources
Appointments and fees
Identity and residence
Digital access
Residence routes
This app is a planning guide, not legal advice. Spanish immigration and administration rules, document lists, fees, and appointment labels can change. Always verify your procedure with official sources before filing.
Last reviewed: July 2026