How EU, EEA and Swiss social security coordination works for you

Terms used

• A1 certificate — The A1 certificate proves which country's social security you pay into, so you do not pay into two systems.
• INSS — The INSS is Spain's national social security institute, which handles pensions and benefits.
• SEPE — The SEPE is Spain's public employment service, which handles unemployment benefit.
• TGSS — The TGSS is Spain's social security treasury, which handles registration and contributions.

Key rules

• One system: Only one country's social security system applies to you at a time, usually where you work.
• Posted workers: If you are sent to Spain for a limited time, you generally stay in your sending country's system for up to 24 months, with an A1 certificate.
• Adding periods: Insurance periods from other EU, EEA and Swiss countries can be added to help you qualify, but overlapping periods count once.
• Where to claim: File your claim in the country where you live, and it is passed on to the other countries.

Which country's system applies to you

Only one country's social security system applies to you at a time. In general, it is the country where you work, whether you are an employee or self-employed. If you work in Spain, you pay into Spanish social security and you are covered by it.

The same rules apply across all EU countries, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The choice box below helps you see which system fits your situation.

When the general rule does not apply

A few situations are different:

• Posted workers. If your employer sends you to Spain for a limited time, you generally stay under the sending country's system, for up to 24 months. You need an A1 certificate from that country's social security institution to prove it.
• Work in two or more countries. You fall under the system of the country where you live if a substantial part of your work, 25% or more, is there.
• Civil servants. The system of the country that employs you applies.
• Seafarers and flight crew. Special rules apply. Ask the social security institution in your country.
• Special agreements. Two countries can agree a different arrangement for a particular person or group.

How periods add up

If you have worked in several of these countries, your insurance periods can be added together when you need a minimum period to qualify. Periods that overlap are not counted twice. This works for:

• old-age, survivor and invalidity pensions
• sickness and maternity benefits
• unemployment benefit
• accident at work and occupational disease benefits
• death grants
• pre-retirement benefits
• family benefits

Two details matter:

• Pensions. If you reach Spain's minimum only by adding foreign periods, Spain pays you a share based on the time you were insured in Spain. Each country pays its own share.
• Unemployment. Your last period of insurance normally has to be in the country paying the benefit. To claim in Spain, you generally need to have worked in Spain last.

Special non-contributory benefits, which are paid without you having paid in, are generally not paid abroad.

How to make a claim

File your claim in the country where you live. That country's institution passes it to the others. In Spain, the pensions and benefits office (INSS) handles pensions, the unemployment office (SEPE) handles unemployment, and the social security treasury (TGSS) handles registration and contributions.

Institutions now swap your case data electronically, so you rarely carry paper forms between countries. Paper documents may still be accepted in some transitional cases. Expect to give your ID, residence details and work history. You may also be asked for your foreign insurance numbers and employer details. Cases involving several countries can take a long time.

UK nationals

The UK is no longer in the EU. If your cross-border situation began before 1 January 2021, you are covered under the Withdrawal Agreement. For later situations, a narrower UK-EU agreement applies. For example, unemployment periods are not added up for new cases and healthcare cover is limited. Check your position with the Spanish social security office before relying on a foreign period.

The documents list and the questions below cover what to prepare and common cases.

Choosing between options

Which country's social security system applies to you?

• Spain's system: You work in Spain as an employee or self-employed person and no exception applies. The state where you work is the general rule.

• Your home country's system: A foreign employer posts you to Spain for up to 24 months and you hold an A1 certificate.

• The system of the country where you live: You work in two or more states and a substantial part of your activity, 25% or more, is in your country of residence.

• The employer's country system: You are a civil servant. Seafarers and flight crew have special rules, so ask the TGSS.

Only one state's system applies at a time. Start with the state where you work, then check whether posting, work in several states or civil service status moves you to another.

Documents you need

• A1 certificate, issued by the social security institution of the state that keeps you covered. You need it if you are posted to Spain.

• Your ID and residence details, needed when you file a claim

• Your work history across the states where you were insured

• Your foreign insurance numbers and employer details, which you may be asked for

• Paper portable documents from the other state, which may still be accepted in transitional cases

Frequently asked questions

Does EU social security coordination cover UK nationals in Spain?

Yes, UK nationals are covered, but under narrower rules if your cross-border situation began after 1 January 2021. Situations that began before that date fall under the Withdrawal Agreement. Later cases have no unemployment aggregation for new cases and limited healthcare.

Can I add up work periods from other countries to claim unemployment benefit in Spain?

Yes, periods from other EU, EEA or Swiss states can count towards unemployment benefit, but your last period of insurance must normally be in the state that pays it. The periods must also be needed to meet a qualifying period and must not overlap.

Where do I file a pension claim if I worked in several states?

You usually file in the state where you live, and that state forwards the claim to the other states. Have your ID, residence details and work history ready. You may also need your foreign insurance numbers and employer details. Processing can take a long time.

How does Spain pay my pension if I also worked in other states?

Spain pays a pro-rata share if you reach its own minimum only by adding your foreign periods. Special non-contributory benefits are generally not paid abroad, so check those separately.