How to Get a Spanish Social Security Number in Barcelona
You need a Social Security number before your first payslip in Spain. It can be requested online in a few minutes or at a Social Security office in Barcelona.
A Spanish Social Security number, called NAF or NUSS, is requested from the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS). The fastest way is online through the Import@ss portal with your NIE, even without a digital certificate, using a selfie and photos of your ID. You can also apply in person in Barcelona with form TA.1.
What is the Social Security number for?
The number identifies you in the Spanish Social Security system for life. You keep the same number if you work for a company, become self-employed or claim benefits, and it is different from your NIE, which is your tax and foreigner ID number.
Employers ask for it because they must register you with Social Security (alta) before you start work, and they use the number to pay contributions. Without the registration, your work time does not count toward pensions, unemployment benefit or sick pay, and some residence permits only take effect once you are registered. An employer can also apply for the number on your behalf, but having it ready avoids delays on your first day.
Keep the number with your NIE and passport details, because it appears on every payslip and on your contribution record. It is also asked for when you sign up for public healthcare, such as the CatSalut health card, and when you register as self-employed.
Who can apply and what do you need?
Any person who does not already have a number can apply at any time, according to the TGSS. You will need:
- your NIE (or DNI for Spanish nationals), shown on your TIE, EU registration certificate or NIE assignment letter
- your passport, if the office asks for it as identity proof
- a mobile phone and email address for notifications
- your current address in Spain
Get the NIE first; our guide on how to get an NIE in Barcelona covers it. The TA.1 form allows a foreigner to be identified by passport and to provide the NIE within three months of arriving in Spain, but the online service asks for a DNI or NIE.
How do you apply online through Import@ss?
The TGSS’s Import@ss page for requesting the number offers two routes.
| Route | How you identify yourself | What to upload |
|---|---|---|
| With electronic ID | Cl@ve Permanente, Cl@ve Móvil, electronic DNI, digital certificate or an SMS code | Usually nothing extra; the procedure is faster |
| Without electronic ID | Your personal details | A copy of both sides of your DNI or NIE document and a selfie holding the front of that document |
- Open Import@ss and choose the procedure to request a Social Security number (Solicitar el número de la Seguridad Social).
- Pick the route: with Cl@ve or certificate, or without.
- Fill in your personal data exactly as on your NIE document.
- Without electronic ID, take the selfie with the front of your document and attach photos of both sides.
- Submit and keep the reference number of the request.
The page does not state how long processing takes or how the answer arrives, so watch your email and the notifications area of Import@ss. If you plan to deal with Social Security often, an electronic ID saves time; see our guide to digital certificates and Cl@ve for foreigners.
How do you apply in person in Barcelona?
- Download form TA.1 (Solicitud de afiliación a la Seguridad Social, asignación de número) from the Social Security website and fill it in.
- Book a cita previa with the TGSS for affiliation procedures at an office in the province of Barcelona.
- Bring the signed TA.1 and your identity document: DNI, foreigner card or passport.
- File it at the Social Security administration office for your home address, or for the company if an employer is applying.
Download the current version of TA.1 before each use, because the form is updated from time to time. If you are an EU citizen who has just arrived, register as a resident first; our guide to the EU registration certificate explains how, and the certificate shows the NIE you will need.
Is the Social Security number the same as the health card number?
No. The Social Security number belongs to the national contributions system. In Catalonia, public healthcare is managed by CatSalut, which issues its own individual health card (TSI) with a separate personal code. You usually need the Social Security number, or proof of your right to healthcare, to get the TSI. Your NIE, Social Security number and TSI code are three different numbers, so keep a note of all three.
Bottom line
Request the number online as soon as you have your NIE, even before you have a job, so it is ready for your first contract. Once you work, check your contribution record (vida laboral) online every few months to confirm that your employer registered you correctly.
FAQ
Does the Social Security number expire?
No. Once assigned, the number stays yours, and you use the same one if you leave Spain and come back years later.
Can an EU citizen get a number before registering as a resident?
The online route asks for a DNI or NIE. EU citizens get their NIE through the EU registration certificate or an NIE request; with it, the online application works the same way.
Do I need a job offer to apply?
No. The TGSS says anyone who does not yet have a number can request it at any time.
