Nowadays many jobs in Spain have started requiring autónomo status, also known as “self-employed”. Particularly in the fields of IT, education and translation. So how do you become a freelance worker in Spain?
Simple.
- Do you have a NIE or Número de Identificación de Extranjero? If you are a foreigner living in Spain you need one. You can A) get it at your local Spanish Consulate or Embassy BEFORE you leave or B) get it once you arrive in Spain by booking an appointment beforehand online at this website. Either way, you will need to present this form, filled out of course. And don’t forget to take your passport and some passport pictures with you too.
- Are you empadronado? Meaning, do you have a legal address in Spain? If you don´t, head to your nearest Ayuntamiento office and do it there. All you need to take is your NIE, your leasing contract for your flat plus a photocopy of the flatowner´s ID.
- Are you registered at the Social Security office? Go. Now. Take your NIE and your passport, and go to the nearest office. The process takes 15 minutes, and that number is vital for your life in Spain.
- Now you are ready to get serious. Head on to AEAT (tax office) and ask for form 036 or modelo 036. You can fill it out beforehand here, and just print it out and take it to the office with you, together with all the other papers from steps 1-3.
- Go to your closest Social Security office with all these papers and tell them you are an autónomo and that you must register as such in Social Security. They will know what to do and take care of everything. AND YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY A FEE. It varies.
And you’re done.
Although the process can sound a bit confusing, in reality it’s not. The only problem you may face is that most of the aforementioned forms are only available in Spanish, so make sure to recruit a Spanish speaker to help you out if your language skills are not that good. Also, remember that each step is kindda quick, if there is no queue you are done in 5 minutes. If there is, well, this varies, but I have never queued longer than 1 hour in Spain.
Last, remember that each step will cost you something. Between 5 and 10 euros, I cannot remember. Some are free. But this varies. So just bring some cash with you, just in case.
Questions? Concerns? Feel free to ask.
Hola… creo que donde escribiste “The only problem you may face is that most forms are only available in English”… querías escribir Spanish en lugar de English…
Eso… o he entendido todo al revés!
Saludos.
Jose, gracias por hacérmelo notar
es que a veces me lío porque ya ni se en que idioma estoy pensando y/o escribiendo, jeje.