Living in Spain and working in Gibraltar or Andorra

Key rules

• Gibraltar: You are insured in the Gibraltar scheme and owe no Spanish contributions on that work.
• Andorra: You are generally covered by the Andorran system, not Spanish Social Security.
• Posted workers: If your employer sends you to Andorra for a limited period, a certificate may let you stay in your home system.
• Check first: Confirm your position with the INSS and, for Andorra, the CASS before you start work.

Which system covers you

Frontier work in Gibraltar or Andorra is governed by specific arrangements, not the general EU rules. Which one applies depends on where you work. The decision and FAQ below walk you through your case.

Working in Gibraltar

You are a frontier worker. You pay contributions to the Gibraltar social insurance scheme and you are insured there. You do not pay Spanish contributions on this work.

If you were already working in Gibraltar before 2021, you keep your coverage rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement, which follows the EU coordination rules.

If you started later, check your position before you begin. A political agreement between Spain and the UK on Gibraltar was signed in 2025. Cross-border arrangements may change as a treaty is put into effect, and that could affect workers who started after 2020.

Working in Andorra

Andorra is outside the EU, so the EU coordination rules do not apply. Spain and Andorra have their own social security agreement, in force since 2003. It uses the rule of the country of work.

• If you live in Spain and work in Andorra, you are generally covered by the Andorran system (CASS, the Andorran social security fund), not Spanish Social Security.
• If your employer posts you to Andorra for a limited period, you may be able to stay in your home system. You need a certificate for this.
• Health cover for residents in Spain is arranged under the agreement. The details depend on your situation.

Confirm your own position

Before you sign a contract, ask the Spanish social security institute (INSS) and, for Andorra, the CASS. Ask which system covers you and what health cover you will have in Spain.

Choosing between options

Which social security system covers you if you live in Spain and work in Gibraltar or Andorra?

• You work in Gibraltar: You live in Spain and your job is in Gibraltar.

• You work in Andorra: You live in Spain and your job is in Andorra. You are generally covered by the Andorran system (CASS), not Spanish Social Security. If your employer posts you there for a limited time, you can stay in your home system with a certificate.

Frontier work in Gibraltar or Andorra follows specific arrangements, not the general EU rules. The country where you work decides which system covers you.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay Spanish social security if I live in Spain and work in Gibraltar?

No, you do not pay Spanish social security contributions on work in Gibraltar. You pay into the Gibraltar social insurance scheme and are insured there. If you started working in Gibraltar after 2020, ask about your position, because a new Spain-UK arrangement on Gibraltar may change how cross-border work is treated.

Do I keep my EU coverage rights if I worked in Gibraltar before 2021?

Yes, if you were already working in Gibraltar before 2021, you keep your coverage rights under the EU coordination rules. This comes from the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement. It does not automatically extend to people who started later.

Which system covers me if I live in Spain and work in Andorra?

You are generally covered by the Andorran system, called CASS (Caixa Andorrana de Seguretat Social), not Spanish Social Security. This follows the agreement between Spain and Andorra, which uses the rule of the country where you work. The general EU rules do not apply, because Andorra is outside the EU.

Can I stay in the Spanish system if my employer sends me to Andorra?

Yes, a posted worker can stay in the home system for a limited period, but only with a certificate. Ask your employer to request it before you start. Health cover for people living in Spain depends on your situation, so confirm it with the INSS or CASS.