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Your roadmap: starting in Spain from outside the EU

You just arrived (or are about to), you are from outside the EU and you want to work as an employee.

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  1. Register your address (empadronamiento)

    The padron proves where you live. You will need it for the TIE and for almost everything else. It is free. Do it as soon as you have an address, even a temporary one.

    How to do it, step by step

  2. Apply for your TIE card (it shows your NIE)

    The TIE is your foreigner identity card and your NIE number is printed on it. You have one month from entering Spain, or from when your permit becomes valid, to request the appointment. Without a NIE you cannot sign a contract or register with Social Security.

    You need first: step 1

    How to do it, step by step

  3. Get your Social Security number

    Your employer needs it to register you before your first day. It is free and you get it once, for life. With your NIE in hand it is a quick step, often done online.

    You need first: step 2

    How to do it, step by step

  4. Check your contract before you sign

    Check the contract type, the trial period and the collective agreement. It is much easier to fix something before signing than after.

    How to do it, step by step

  5. Set up your digital identity

    With Cl@ve or a digital certificate you can do almost any procedure online, without appointments. Do not wait until you need it urgently.

    How to do it, step by step

  6. Decide on the Beckham Law within six months

    If you did not live in Spain in the last five years, you may pay a flat 24% instead of the normal scale. You must file modelo 149 within six months of your Social Security registration; there is no extension. The guide has a calculator to check if it pays off.

    You need first: step 3

    How to do it, step by step

While you wait

Frequently asked questions

Can I start working while I wait for the TIE card?

That depends on your permit, not on the card: the TIE only documents a permit you already have. If your residence and work permit is approved, you can work even if the card takes time.

What comes first, the padron or the TIE?

Register your address as soon as you have one: you will be asked for the padron certificate at your TIE appointment. Both procedures are free.

What if I miss the one-month deadline for the TIE?

Request the appointment anyway and keep the proof. What matters is showing you tried within the deadline. In many provinces the lack of appointments itself is a valid explanation.

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