Social Security Number in Spain: How to Apply for the NUSS

If you work in Spain, take out public health insurance or claim social benefits, you need a social security number, the Número de Seguridad Social or NUSS for short. Without it you cannot be officially employed or work as an autónomo. The good news: the application is free and faster than most other administrative errands on Mallorca.

What exactly is the NUSS?

The Spanish social security number (NUSS) is a lifelong, individual identifier issued by the Seguridad Social. It has twelve digits and is assigned once. Unlike the NIE, the tax identification number for foreigners, the NUSS covers the social security and employment side of things.

The NUSS is what gives you access to public healthcare through the Tarjeta Sanitaria, to pension entitlements and to unemployment benefits. If you work as an autónomo on Mallorca, you need it to register with the Seguridad Social, and your monthly contributions are then linked to it.

When do you definitely need the NUSS?

• When starting work, whether employed or self-employed
• When signing up for public health cover (Tarjeta Sanitaria)
• When claiming unemployment benefit (Prestación por Desempleo)
• When building up pension entitlements in Spain

Who has to apply for a NUSS?

In principle everyone who works in Spain or enrols in the social security system needs a NUSS. As an EU citizen you have the right to work in Spain and are therefore entitled to apply for the number. Citizens of non-EU countries need the corresponding residence and work permit first, but the NUSS application itself works the same way.

For context: according to the Spanish Seguridad Social, more than 21 million people were registered with the TGSS in 2024. For foreign residents on Mallorca, the NUSS is one of the basic building blocks of a fresh start.

Which documents do you need?

The paperwork for the NUSS application is manageable:

• Valid passport or national ID card (original and a copy)
• NIE number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero), mandatory for non-Spaniards
• Proof of empadronamiento (Padrón Municipal), the registration certificate from your town hall
• If you already have a job: employment contract or evidence of the planned activity (can usually be submitted later)

Not every office insists on the empadronamiento certificate, but it is safer to have it with you. Registering with your town hall, the empadronamiento, is something you should do early anyway, since it is needed for many other procedures.

How and where to apply on Mallorca

The competent authority is the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS). Mallorca has several offices, including ones in Palma, Inca and Manacor.

The application is free. There is no tasa and no administrative fee.

How the NUSS connects to the Tarjeta Sanitaria

The NUSS is the basis for your health card (Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual). Once you have the number and are enrolled in the social security system, through employment or as a contributing person, you can apply for the health card. That is what gives you access to public healthcare on Mallorca.

EU citizens who are not yet working have a separate route via the S1 form or by showing proof of private health insurance. Non-EU residents usually need private cover as part of their visa in any case. There is more on how the healthcare system on Mallorca works in our overview article.

Common questions about the NUSS

Do I need a NUSS as a retiree on Mallorca? Yes. If you receive social benefits or want to enrol in the public health system, the NUSS is a prerequisite.

What if I lose or forget my NUSS? The number is permanent and can be looked up at any TGSS office with your ID and your NIE. You do not get a new one, the existing number is simply confirmed.

Can my employer apply for the NUSS on my behalf? Employers sometimes start the process if you do not have a NUSS yet. Legally, though, applying for the number is your own responsibility.

Official sources and further reading

Conclusion

Applying for a Spanish social security number is one of the easier administrative tasks: no cost, no drawn-out process, no real risk. You need your ID, your NIE and ideally the empadronamiento certificate. After that it is usually done in half an hour.

The step that matters most comes first: the NIE. Without it nothing else moves. If you do not have one yet, start there, and you will find all the details in our guide to the NIE number on Mallorca.