What is a Social Security Number?

Your social security number is different to your NIE number. It is also different to signing on to El Padron. In order to obtain your social security number, you must first have an NIE. If you don’t have one yet, you can find out how to obtain an NIE here.

If you intend to work in Spain, you will need your social security number in order to have access to the Spanish health system.

The social security number is easily obtained. First, you must locate the nearest social security office. In order to find this, search “Oficina de la Seguridad Social” followed by your city.

If you are moving to Benidorm, the office is located on Avenida L’Aigüera, 1, 03501 Benidorm. Adjacent to the town hall.

It is essential that you are arrive to the social security office early in the morning, they are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00-14:00.

How Do I Do It?

In order to obtain the social security number, you enter the office and take a ticket. You must inform the front desk that you would like to get your social security number. It is likely that they will not speak English, however, some do. It is a good idea to take a piece of paper with the phrase “necesito obtener un número de seguridad social”

You will need to fill out the following form, which you can find online here. Please ensure this is completed in Spanish. Please note, sex must be indicated with an H for male or M for Female. On 1.9 Datos Telematicos you must indicate if you wish to accept email communications from the social security.

You will be provided with a ticket and be asked to sit and wait. You will then need to wait for your number to flash up on the screens. It will direct you to which desk number you need to go to.

What Do I Need?

You will need to take the following with you:

• NIE and a photocopy
• Rental contract (optional)
• Passport and a photocopy

Some may ask for your contract of work, so it is a good idea to take it, should they ask for it. If you do not speak any Spanish it is a good idea to write down the following:

• Correo: followed by your email address
• Direccion: followed by your home address in Spain
• Numero: followed by your Spanish phone number

The assistant will print off your social security number there and then. You must keep this safe. Once you are provided with your number, give it to your company and they will take care of the rest.

Hasta luego,