What is the Certificate of Coverage and Why is it Key for Digital Nomads?
If you’re planning to become a Digital Nomad and telework from Spain, you’ve likely heard about the international teleworkers’ visa (the famous Digital Nomad Visa, or DNV). This permit is fantastic, but it has one crucial point that raises a lot of questions: healthcare and Social Security coverage.
This is where the certificate of coverage comes in.
We’re talking about a document, often referred to as a Form A1 or similar (depending on your country), which proves to the Spanish Social Security that you are already paying contributions in your home country and that this coverage remains active while you temporarily telework from Spain. Technically, it allows you to apply international regulations on the coordination of Social Security systems.
Watch out, this is vital! If your country has a bilateral agreement with Spain and you can provide this certificate of coverage, you are exempt from the mandatory registration in the Régimen General (General Scheme) or the RETA (Special Scheme for Self-Employed Workers) during the period covered by the certificate. It is an indispensable documentary requirement that can hugely simplify the process. If you don’t have it, or your country is not on the list of agreements, you will have to look for other options, as we will see below.
Important: The regulations governing these agreements are managed by Spanish Government bodies (usually the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social – TGSS, the General Treasury of the Social Security), and they can vary according to the current agreements. Therefore, double-checking with official sources is always mandatory.
The Key Country List: Who’s In and Who’s Out in 2025?
In 2025, the Spanish Social Security is being very strict about applying exceptions and agreements. Specifically, for employed workers (trabajadores por cuenta ajena) who apply for the visa and want to provide their country’s certificate of coverage, the current situation is quite clear.
We have compiled the most recent information handled by consular authorities and the Unidad de Grandes Empresas (UGE, Large Companies Unit) so you know if your documentation will be accepted or rejected upfront.
Source: Operational information from Immigration and Social Security experts, verified against the bilateral agreement regulations of the Social Security.
Alternatives If Your Certificate of Coverage Isn’t Valid
If you are from the US or another country whose certificate of coverage is denied, you need to find an alternative solution. The DNV requires, as we said, that you have healthcare coverage in Spain.
There are two main ways to resolve this situation and not halt your application:
1. Registering Your Foreign Company in Spain
This is the most direct alternative, although it involves more bureaucracy for your foreign employer.
What does it involve? Your foreign company must register as an employer with the Spanish Social Security (requesting a Código de Cuenta de Cotización – CCC, Employer Account Code). Once registered, they must register you, the employee, under the General Social Security Scheme (Régimen General).
- Pros: You fully comply with the requirement for public healthcare coverage and contributions in Spain.
- Cons: The process can be complex for the foreign company and requires specialized advice. It also involves paying social contributions in Spain.
2. Changing Your Employment Relationship to a Freelance Model
If your company is unwilling or unable to register in Spain, you can negotiate a change in your contract to transition from being an employee (worker) to being a consultant or self-employed person (freelancer, autónomo).
What does it involve? You transition to working under a commercial contract (instead of an employment contract) and register yourself in Spain as a foreign self-employed person (autónomo in the RETA) immediately after the favorable resolution of your visa/residence authorization.
- Pros: The foreign company is released from Spanish Social Security obligations. As a self-employed person, you benefit from the Tarifa Plana (Flat Rate contribution) during the initial period of your activity.
- Cons: The DNV requires the employment relationship to have a minimum duration of three months with the company/client authorizing you to telework. Ensure that this contractual change does not affect the justification of that duration and, above all, that your company accepts it.
The Step-by-Step: How to Tackle the Process Without Drama
Once you are clear about your situation regarding the certificate of coverage, follow these steps to ensure your Digital Nomad application is a success:
- Check your contractual status.
- If you are an employee from the UK, Canada, or Russia, apply now for the certificate of coverage from your country’s Social Security institution.
- If you are an employee from the US, start exploring the alternatives of company registration or transitioning to self-employed immediately. Don’t waste time.
- Justify the work relationship.
- Make sure you have a letter from your foreign employer authorizing teleworking in Spain. This must specify the terms and conditions of your position, the salary, and confirm the relationship has lasted for at least three months.
- Prove economic means.
- You must demonstrate sufficient resources. In 2025, the minimum is 200% of the Minimum Interprofessional Salary (SMI) in Spain. An extra percentage is required for your spouse or partner and each additional dependent.
- Private health insurance (if you don’t have the certificate).
- If the certificate of coverage is not an option for you, you will need to take out private health insurance with an entity operating in Spain. It must be comprehensive insurance, without co-payments (sin copagos), waiting periods (periodos de carencia), and with the same coverage as the National Health System.
Once your documentation is ready, you can apply for the visa from the Spanish Consulate in your country (for a 1-year permit) or, if you are already legally in Spain, directly with the UGE (for an initial 3-year permit).
The path to teleworking from Spain is real and within your reach. By having clear information about your certificate of coverage and planning in advance, you will be able to resolve the process without complicating your life. The most important thing is to start preparing the documents by knowing the Spanish administration’s position on your specific situation beforehand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my country has a bilateral agreement, but my certificate is not accepted by the Social Security?
The final acceptance depends on how the Spanish Social Security interprets the application of that agreement for teleworking. If they reject it (as currently happens with the US), you must resort to taking out comprehensive private health insurance or, if you are an employee, processing your registration with the Spanish Social Security (RETA or Régimen General) to comply with the healthcare coverage requirement.
If I provide the certificate of coverage, can I use public healthcare in Spain?
Yes, if you provide a valid certificate of coverage (such as a Form S1 or similar) that proves you maintain your right to healthcare assistance in your country of origin in accordance with international regulations, you will be entitled to receive public healthcare in Spain at your country’s expense. If you do not have this certificate, coverage is guaranteed by private insurance or registration with the Spanish Social Security.
Do I have to pay taxes in Spain if my certificate of coverage was accepted?
The acceptance of the certificate of coverage only resolves your obligation to pay Social Security contributions and your healthcare coverage. Tax residency is a completely separate issue. If you stay in Spain for more than 183 days during the calendar year (the famous permanence criterion), you will become a Spanish tax resident and must declare your income here, regardless of where you pay your Social Security contributions.
If you need personalized assistance, at Entre Trámites we offer management and tax advisory services for freelancers and SMEs. You can contact us through this contact form for us to call you, or if you prefer, you can schedule a free consultation or write to us on WhatsApp.
