Working in Spain: Is the NIE necessary? Documents needed to legally work in Spain (for EU citizens)

It’s probably happened to many expats who have recently arrived in Spain—or are moving there for work—that they’ve come across job offers from Spanish companies requiring the candidate to provide their NIE.

So the question we’re going to answer is: Is the NIE necessary to work in Spain? Spoiler: no, it isn’t, under certain conditions (and if you are a UE citizen)…

The answer to this question (which is one of the most common ones you’ll find on forums and pages for foreigners in Spain) depends on a few important factors.

First, you need to consider whether the Spanish company is hiring a non-EU or EU citizen.

If it’s a non-EU worker, they will need to have their NIE linked to a Spanish residence permit that allows them to work. However, if the worker is an EU citizen, a Spanish company can only officially register their employment by requiring the employee to provide their NUSS, or Numero de Seguridad Social (Spanish Social Security Number).

It’s important to clarify a common myth that says EU citizens can’t sign and register an employment contract in Spain without an NIE. In reality, they can. An EU citizen can have their employment contract registered by using their current identity document, like a passport or ID card from an EU country, along with their NUSS, which is the Social Security Number. This means it’s completely possible for an EU citizen in Spain to get a Social Security Number and have their contract registered even without an NIE. Also, it’s worth noting that for the first three months of work, an EU worker doesn’t need an NIE at all. After that, they must provide their NIE to the authorities, like the Spanish Social Security Office (TGSS) and the Public Employment Service (SEPE).

So why do many Spanish companies still not hire EU workers even if they have a Social Security Number but no NIE?

There are several reasons. But one common reason is that companies that hire EU workers online using just a passport or ID card and the digital platforms «CASIA» for Social Security and «Contrat@» for SEPE, are required to report the worker’s NIE to the TGSS within three months. They also need to physically send an authorized person or the worker themselves to a SEPE office to replace the provisional code with the actual NIE.

What does it mean? It means that if you are an EU citizen, you can start working in Spain just by showing your passport (or national ID). Once you are officially hired and your work contract is registered with the Social Security, you have 90 days to get a NIE and let the Social Security know about it. This is so they can connect your NIE to your NUSS (Social Security Number), which was created using a different document, like your passport or national ID.

What is the NUSS?

The NUSS is a unique number that identifies each person in the Social Security system.

It is a number that is given to you personally and stays with you forever, starting from the moment you start working with Social Security, whether you are an employee, self-employed, or need services from them for other reasons. The NUSS is important for doing things like applying for benefits, getting medical help, or updating your personal information.

This number is required for everyone who gets Social Security pensions, benefits, or support.

So if you are planning to receive a retirement or disability pension, you will need it. You can find your NUSS online on the Social Security website or by calling their free phone number.

The NAF, which stands for affiliation number, is a unique number given to workers who contribute to Social Security, whether they are employed or self-employed. It helps identify and track the work relationship between the worker and Social Security. Each worker has their own NAF, which stays with them throughout their career, even if they change jobs or professions.

This number is made up of 12 digits and is used by Social Security to recognize workers and keep a record of their contributions over time.

This record is important for accessing benefits like pensions. The NAF is assigned when a person first joins the Social Security system.

You can find your NAF on your health insurance card, your pay stub, or by contacting Social Security directly or checking their website.

Sometimes people mix up the NAF with the NUSS, which is another number used by Social Security.

The NUSS is for identifying all individuals connected to Social Security, including workers, retirees, and the unemployed. The NAF, however, is only for self-employed people, making it different from the NUSS.

The Social Security Administration explains that the NUSS matches the Affiliation Number, as it is created when a person first starts working and joins the Social Security System through any plan.

The key point is this: if you begin working, you will need a NUSS first.

Once you are already working, the NUSS will change its name to NAF, but the number stays the same.

Remember this important fact: if you are an EU citizen, you can have your job registered in Spain using only the NUSS and your national ID, like a passport or ID card.

However, you must get the NIE within 90 days and let the social security office know about it. Even though you don’t need the NIE to be employed or get the NUSS, many companies still ask for it in practice.

This is a common issue in Spanish (and other countries’) bureaucracy.

For EU citizens working without an NIE, there’s often a cycle that creates problems for both the worker and the employer. Some police stations won’t issue an NIE—either as a ‘Certificado de no residente’ (a blank form) or a ‘Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión Europea’ (an EU resident’s green card)—unless you have an employment contract registered with the social security and SEPE. But the company won’t hire you without the NIE first.

How can you handle this situation?

Have you been hired and received an NIE, and now need to report it to the Social Security Treasury? Do you need a Social Security Number but don’t have an NIE yet? Or do you just need the NIE but don’t have a registered job contract, and a Spanish company has asked for your NIE and NUSS to start working?

BarcelonaGlobalService can remotly generate you NUSS in maximum 5 working days just with your passport or national ID

Contact BarcelonaGlobalService at francesco@barcelonaglobalservice.com or via the contact link

Need professional assistance in applying for a NUSS to start working? For more information, contact BarcelonaGlobalService at francesco@barcelonaglobalservice.com

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