How to Register a Domestic Worker with Social Security 2026
A practical 2026 guide to registering a domestic worker with Spain's Social Security through Import@ss: deadlines, cost, hiring a foreign worker and the full step-by-step process.
In short
Registration of a domestic worker with Social Security (Seguridad Social) must be applied for before the worker starts providing services: it can be done up to 60 days in advance and, at the latest, on the start date itself (after that it is treated as a late notification). Since 2023, this procedure has been the sole responsibility of the employer, along with paying the monthly contributions and reporting any change to, or deregistration of, the worker.
Affiliation to Social Security is an obligation for both employers and workers in Spain. It safeguards the rights of both parties by giving them access to certain benefits. These include, among other things, health cover, unemployment benefit and retirement pensions. In this way, Social Security protects both the employer and the worker. It not only protects the worker but also helps shield the employer from potential liabilities or disputes that might arise from the employment relationship.
Step-by-step guide to registering a domestic worker with Social Security
Registration of a domestic worker can be carried out through Social Security's Import@ss portal. To get started, simply head to the Import@ss portal.
By choosing the 'Solicitar Alta' (Apply for registration) option, the portal will ask you to identify yourself before you begin. Identification must be carried out by the employer, that is, the person named in the employment contract, or by an authorised representative, such as a gestor (administrative agent) or a lawyer.
Once you have identified yourself, the Social Security portal will guide you through the information needed to complete the procedure.
It is a good idea to have the following details to hand:
- The worker's full name, DNI, NIE or Social Security number, and date of birth
- The start date and the type of contract (permanent or fixed-term)
- The agreed working hours and salary, the address where the work is carried out, and the insurer for occupational risks (the INSS or a collaborating mutual insurer, Mutua)
- The employer's contact details and the bank account for the direct debit of the contribution
The whole process is very intuitive, and you can have confirmation of the registration in under 5 minutes.
If you are still unsure how to register a domestic worker with Social Security, the video clearly shows the step-by-step process.
Deadlines and mandatory notifications
Registration must be applied for before the worker starts work: you can bring it forward by up to 60 days, but you can never file it after the first actual working day, as it would then be considered late. Once the worker is active, the employer must also notify the General Treasury of the Social Security (Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social, TGSS) of any significant change: a change in hours or salary, a change of address, or the worker's deregistration. Deregistration must be reported within 3 calendar days of the end of the employment relationship. Keeping these details up to date avoids surcharges and ensures that contributions match the real situation.
How much does it cost to register a domestic worker in 2026?
The registration procedure itself is free, but it brings two monthly financial obligations: the salary and the Social Security contribution. The minimum wage for 2026, set by Royal Decree 126/2026 (Real Decreto 126/2026), is 1,221 €/month over 14 payments (or 1,424.50 €/month if the two extra payments are spread across 12 monthly instalments), which is equivalent to 17,094 €/year and 9.55 €/hour actually worked. On top of that salary, the employer pays the contribution, which in 2026 includes the Intergenerational Equity Mechanism (Mecanismo de Equidad Intergeneracional, MEI) of 0.90%. Personal income tax (IRPF) is not a compulsory withholding in domestic employment, although the worker must still declare their income. Adding salary and contribution together, the total cost of a full-time worker on the minimum wage comes to around 1,801 €/month.
Example: full-time work on the minimum wage
| Item | Monthly amount (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Gross salary (12 payments, extras spread out) | 1,424.50 € |
| Employer's Social Security contribution | ≈ 376 € |
| Total cost for the household | ≈ 1,801 € |
These figures are indicative: the contribution base is assigned in bands according to salary, and the General Treasury updates it automatically each year in the same proportion as the minimum wage (3.1% in 2026). Households may also benefit from reductions and rebates on the employer's contribution, which lower the final cost. The amount is collected via the direct debit you set up when registering, so it is worth making sure the account has sufficient funds at the end of the month.
Edge cases to bear in mind
A foreign domestic worker
If you are going to hire a foreign national, the procedure depends on their nationality. Citizens of the European Union (or the EEA and Switzerland) do not need a work permit: their NIE and registration with Social Security are enough. Non-EU nationals do require a residence and work permit. The usual route is the arraigo sociolaboral (social and labour roots) route under the new Immigration Regulations (Royal Decree 1155/2024 / Real Decreto 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025), which requires proof of 2 years' residence in Spain and a contract of at least 20 hours per week paying at or above the minimum wage, with no prior complaint required. For this, the family (who is the employer, not the agency) signs a pre-contract or arraigo job offer of at least 20 hours per week, a minimum duration of 3 months and a salary no lower than the minimum wage, with a suspensive clause conditional on the permit being granted. There is also an extraordinary regularisation process (Royal Decree 316/2026 / Real Decreto 316/2026), with applications open until 30 June 2026.
What happens if you don't register the worker
Having a domestic worker working without registration is a serious Social Security offence. Under the LISOS (the Spanish law on labour offences and penalties), the penalty ranges from 3,750 € to 12,000 € for each unregistered worker, on top of the retroactive payment of the unpaid contributions plus surcharges. The worker, moreover, keeps all their rights (to have contributions paid, to claim benefits and to bring a claim), so the apparent saving ends up costing far more.
Deregistration and termination of the contract
When the relationship ends, the form of termination determines the severance pay. In the case of withdrawal (desistimiento, where the employer decides to end the contract without giving a reason), the worker is entitled to 12 days' salary per year worked, up to a maximum of 6 months' pay. If the dismissal is ruled unfair (improcedente), the compensation rises to 33 days per year, capped at 24 months' pay. In all cases, the final settlement (finiquito) must be paid, including outstanding salary, untaken holiday and the extra payments accrued pro rata by half-year. Always report the deregistration on time so the contribution record is closed correctly.
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Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to register a domestic worker with Social Security?
- Registering through the Import@ss portal is free; the real cost is the monthly Social Security contribution, which depends on the agreed salary. The contribution is calculated on the base corresponding to the wage (with the 2026 minimum wage at 1,221 €/month gross over 14 payments, equivalent to 9.55 €/hour) and includes common contingencies, unemployment, FOGASA (the wage guarantee fund) and the Intergenerational Equity Mechanism (MEI, 0.90%). You can find out the exact amount using the official TGSS simulator before confirming the registration.
- What happens if I don't register my domestic worker?
- Having a domestic worker working without registration is a serious offence that the Labour Inspectorate (Inspección de Trabajo) can penalise with fines of between 3,750 € and 12,000 €. In addition, the employer will have to pay all the outstanding contributions plus surcharges, and the General Treasury of the Social Security can register the worker automatically (de oficio) from the actual start of the employment relationship.
- What is the minimum number of hours that triggers the obligation to register?
- There is no minimum number of hours: the obligation to register and pay contributions arises from the very first hour of work, whatever the schedule. Since 1 January 2023, affiliation, registration and contribution always fall to the employer: a worker doing fewer than 60 hours a month can no longer take on their own affiliation or contribution (an option removed by Royal Decree-Law 16/2022). A written contract is still mandatory.
- How far in advance do you have to register before the worker starts?
- Registration must always be notified before the worker starts work, and it can be applied for up to 60 calendar days in advance. Registering after the first day is treated as late registration and exposes the employer to surcharges on the contributions and possible penalties from the Labour Inspectorate.
