What EU citizens must prove when working, studying, retired or without income

Terms used

• IPREM — The IPREM is the public income index Spain uses to set limits for benefits and aid: €600 a month in 2025.
• alta — An alta is your registration with Social Security as an employee or self-employed person.

The condition depends on what you do in Spain

Workers and self-employed people prove their activity. Everyone else proves enough money and health cover.

If you are employed

You prove that you have a job: your employment contract or a statement from your employer. The office also asks for your Social Security registration (alta) and a recent payslip. You do not need savings or private health insurance; Social Security covers you.

If you are self-employed

You prove that you run a real activity:

• registration in the autónomos Social Security scheme (RETA);
• registration in the tax census (Modelo 036 or 037);
• any licence or professional registration your activity requires.

You do not need savings or separate health insurance.

If you work remotely for an employer or clients outside Spain

You are not a worker in Spain, so you register on your own means. Show your contract or client contracts with payslips or invoices that reach €600 a month in 2025, plus 50% of that (€300 a month) for each family member who lives with you, and comprehensive health insurance valid in Spain.

If you are looking for a job

You can register while you look for work. Show that you are registered as a job-seeker with the public employment service and that you have a real chance of finding work. If you still have no job after 6 months, prove enough money and health cover as a person without work.

If you are a student

You show three things:

• proof of enrolment at an authorised public or private centre;
• comprehensive health insurance valid in Spain;
• proof of enough money: €600 a month in 2025, for example a bank statement or a grant letter.

Your family can register with you only if it is your spouse or registered partner and your dependent children. The same 50% add-on (€300 a month) applies for each of them who lives with you. Parents and other relatives are not included.

If you are retired or not working

You show enough money and comprehensive health insurance valid in Spain. The yardstick is the IPREM, the public income index: €600 a month in 2025 for you, plus 50% of that (€300 a month) for each family member who lives with you. Show it with bank statements, pension certificates or property income.

What counts as health cover

This applies to students, remote workers and people without work. Employed and self-employed people are covered by Social Security.

• A private policy from a company authorised to operate in Spain, with no co-payments or waiting periods, covering your whole stay.
• Public cover through an entitlement, such as an S1 form or a pension-based entitlement.
• A student scheme, for students.

The European Health Insurance Card is not accepted for long-term registration.

If your situation changes

The conditions follow what you actually do. If you move from study to work, or the reverse, prove the conditions for your new situation.

If you are a non-EU family member of an EU citizen

You do not register here. You apply for the family card, which shows your NIE. This applies whether your EU relative works, studies or lives on a pension or savings.