Getting a Social Security number in Spain (in Spanish it’s Número de Seguridad Social) is one of the first things you need to do if you want to work and live in Madrid, or any other place in Spain.

IMPORTANT: *The information below has been collected by the helpHousing team. Please, keep in mind that we are not directly related to any legal or government office and the information may change. 

Most of the international people coming to live for a brief (or long) period of time in Spain need to also apply for NIE or TIE card and Empadronamiento, but the Social Security number (SSN) only is needed by a few categories of people:

- Who works as employed at a company

- Self-employed people (called “Autónomo” in Spanish)

- Owners of businesses or business partners

- Students who are going to take a paid internship

- Military and civil workforce

What is the Seguridad Social in Spain?

The complete name of SSN is “Número de Afiliación de la Seguridad Social” and it is the number you need to get registered in the Spanish tax and social security system, in order to get benefits such as social assistance and healthcare public services, help for the unemployment and much more.

It is required and compulsory for any person that is living and legally working in Spain.

Obtain your Social Security number in Madrid

The Spanish bureaucracy is not the easiest playground, therefore here we are to indicate to you a few steps to follow in order to get your Social Security number, how to make an online appointment, which documents you need and what this process is about.

Online appointment: Cita Previa Seguridad Social 

Go to the government website of the Spanish Social Security and you will be able to book your appointment on this page. But we warn you that in order to apply for it, you will need to have a NIE/TIE card (Non-Eu citizens) and a digital certificate required in Spain for online applications. Apply here for the digital certificate.

**EU citizens can apply with their passport or national identity card; but we advise you to get the NIE as soon as possible and update the SSN information with the new number replacing the passport number.

Steps for the application:

1. Once you go to the Seguridad Social webpage, you will need to apply the filter to start your appointment research. In the dropdown “Localización” please select the details of the location - Por Municipio and Madrid in this case.

2. Then you will be redirected to the list of offices and the ones you need for the social security number have to be labeled as “Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social”.

3. Select the office that you would like to go to and request your appointment by phone with the contact information provided there.

4. Be aware that it’s almost certain that you will need to speak in Spanish; therefore, if you are not confident with the language, our advice is asking for help from someone that speaks Spanish or contact some professionals to help you through this process.

**At helpHousing, we partner up with MTS Relocation Spain: they help international students and workers with any expats related processes and applications.

Moreover, you have to download and submit the application form Modelo TA-1.

Documents to submit to request your Social Security number 

- EU citizens: Passport, National ID card (or Spanish NIE if you already have one). Original and copy

- Non-EU Citizens: NIE/TIE card (if you already have one) or valid Visa for your stay in Spain. Original and copy.

- Housing contract signed by both you and the landlord/agency or Empadronamiento certificate

- Signed employment contract (or pre-contract) or the paid internship contract. 

As mentioned above, the Spanish bureaucracy is a little tough to navigate in, therefore here are a few recommendations for your appointment:

- If possible, show up earlier than the time of the appointment they gave you.

- Bring all the required documents ready to be handed over, since most of these offices don’t have many English speakers to negotiate with.

Once you submit the application, you should receive your Social Security number in a few minutes, right there.

We wish you the best of luck with your settlement and we look forward to welcoming you to Madrid!