Thinking about registering as self-employed (autonomo) in Spain? You can get a reduced flat rate on your Social Security contributions, and you don't need to visit an office to apply. The whole process can be done online through Import@ss, the Social Security's digital platform.
The flat rate is available when you enroll in RETA, the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers. Import@ss has a specific service for this called "Registration in self-employment," built exactly for this purpose.
How to apply
- Go to the "Registration in self-employment" service on Import@ss.
- Fill in all the information the system asks for.
- Make sure you mark it as an initial registration. This is what tells the system to apply the flat rate to your contributions automatically.
- Confirm you meet all the requirements for the reduced fee before submitting, since the discount only applies if you qualify.
To use Import@ss at all, you'll need one of the following to identify yourself:
- A digital certificate (you can get one in four simple steps)
- An electronic DNI
- Cl@ve (you can register for either a PIN or a permanent Cl@ve)
- SMS verification, but only if your phone number is already registered in the Social Security database
Once you're set up with one of these, the registration itself is quick to complete online, and the flat rate is applied automatically as long as you meet the requirements.
