Who needs to register under RETA
The general rule is that anyone habitually self-employed in Spain (including freelancers, 1099 contractors, sole traders, and founders drawing income from their own company) must register under RETA before working from Spanish soil; for Digital Nomad Visa holders that means right after approval. The registration is called the alta en el RETA.
W‑2 employees who hold an SSA Certificate of Coverage remain in the U.S. Social Security system and do not register under RETA for their principal employment. The Certificate of Coverage exempts them from Spanish Social Security contributions under the U.S.–Spain totalization agreement. Self-employed contractors do not have this exemption: a U.S. certificate does not cover independent work performed from Spain.
What RETA costs
RETA contributions are calculated as a percentage of your declared net income (rendimientos netos) within an approved range of bases. The contribution rate for 2026 is about 31.5% of the contribution base you select.
New autónomos benefit from Spain’s reduced first-year rate (the cuota reducida) currently €80/month for the first 12 months, extendable for another 12 if your net income stays below the minimum wage. After the first year, the contribution is recalculated based on your actual income and regularized annually.
In practical terms, an autónomo earning approximately €40,000/year net pays contributions in the €350–500/month range once the initial reduction expires. The TGSS sends an annual regularization settlement.
When to register
Registration should happen before you begin economic activity in Spain. The TGSS rule is that alta should precede the first day you work from Spanish soil as a self-employed person. For Digital Nomad Visa holders the commitment is signed with the application and the alta is due right after approval. Registering late can extinguish the permit, for you and your family.
The registration timing also triggers the six-month clock for the Beckham Law election (via Modelo 149). If you are eligible for the special regime, the election must be filed within six months of the RETA alta date.
What RETA gives you
RETA enrollment makes you part of Spain’s Social Security system, which provides: access to Spain’s public healthcare system (which is why the Ministry does not ask self-employed applicants for private insurance), entitlement to incapacity benefits (baja por enfermedad), maternity and paternity leave, and eventually a contributory pension. For most arriving freelancers, the immediate practical benefit is the tarjeta sanitaria: the Spanish health card that gives access to the public health network.
RETA and the Digital Nomad Visa
The 1099 contractor guide covers how RETA fits into the visa application process. The first-30-days guide covers the registration sequence after arrival. A gestor typically handles the RETA registration and sets up the quarterly filing rhythm for IVA and IRPF.