A1 certificate for digital nomads in Spain: what replaces it on the DNV

Does an employee need an A1 for digital nomad residence?

No. If your employer is from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus or another non-EU country, you cannot have an A1. A1 (portable document A1) is the form used in the EU, EEA and Switzerland to confirm which country’s social security legislation applies to a worker; it operates under Reglamento 883/04 [5]. The DNV rules do not mention A1 at all. The law keeps Seguridad Social obligations in force (Article 62.5 Ley 14/2013) [6], and the UGE explains how to meet them [1].

For an employee (relación laboral), the UGE accepts two options: either you register with the Spanish Seguridad Social, or you bring a certificado de legislación aplicable under a bilateral agreement [1][2].

This article covers only employees whose employer is outside the EU. The overall social security picture on the digital nomad visa for employees and freelancers, the alta timeline and common mistakes are in digital nomad visa and Seguridad Social.

How do you register a foreign employer with the Seguridad Social?

A foreign company with no workplace in Spain applies for inscripción de empresa with the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS): in person at the nearest office or electronically with a digital certificate [3]. For non-EU countries, the Seguridad Social lists this set: the general documents on its list (application form, identification, tax number NIF), a certificado issued by the Spanish consul confirming the company’s authorisation and lawful establishment in its country, and the appointment of a legal representative with an address in Spain or a proxy authorising them to act [3].

1. The employer decides whether it is prepared to join the Spanish system. After alta, it becomes liable to pay contributions [1].
2. It appoints a representative in Spain. The company decides who this will be: a gestor acting under a proxy will also do.
3. It obtains a certificado from the Spanish consul in its country of registration. We have not found which department of the consulate in Moscow issues this document or in what form: the consulate has a separate legalisation section [9].
4. It submits the application to the TGSS [3].
5. After the permit is granted and before you start work, you register for alta in the Régimen General. In the first six months a passport is enough for alta, even without an NIE (Article 76.5 Ley 14/2013) [6].

If you apply through the consulate in Moscow, you will be asked for proof that the company has applied for registration and proof of your affiliation, so this step has to be prepared before the visa [7]. From the UGE’s point of view, the company’s registration and the undertaking to register for alta are enough [1]. More on the conditions: Digital Nomad for an employee.

What does the 1994 convention between Russia and Spain provide?

The Convenio de Seguridad Social between Spain and Russia was signed in Madrid on 11 April 1994 and published in the BOE on 24 February 1996 together with the administrative agreement [4]. The general rule in Article 6: a worker is subject to the legislation of the country where the work is performed. The exception in Article 7.1: a worker sent for a fixed period to the other country remains under the legislation of the first country for the period agreed by the authorities of both parties. The administrative agreement provides for a certificado de desplazamiento, with a posting period of no more than five years [4].

This route comes with three caveats.

• Article 7.1 refers to a worker who has been “sent” to work (enviado a trabajar). Open sources do not say whether it applies to a remote employee who moved on their own initiative.
• The UGE only accepts a certificado that expressly covers remote work from Spain [1]. The consulate in Moscow notes that only some countries issue such a document [7]. We have not found which Russian authority issues it today or in what form: the 1995 agreement names the Ministry of Social Protection and the Pension Fund of Russia [4].
• Healthcare is not in the list of benefits in Article 2 of the Convention [4]. So on route 2 you will most likely need insurance that meets the UGE criteria [1]. Criteria: insurance for the DNV.

What about Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine and other CIS countries?

The Seguridad Social page on bilateral agreements lists Russia, Ukraine and Moldova among the countries [8]. Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia and Uzbekistan are not on that list. If there is no agreement, route 2 is closed: what remains is registering the employer and alta in the Spanish Seguridad Social [1][2]. We have not looked into what exactly the agreement with Ukraine provides or whether it covers remote work.

Country by country: DNV from Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia.

What the UGE and the consulate ask for on Seguridad Social: a list

• Employee, route 1. Proof that the foreign company is registered with the Seguridad Social as an employer with no workplaces in Spain, and an undertaking to register for alta before starting work [1].
• Employee, route 2. A certificado de legislación aplicable issued by the authority of your home country, expressly stating that it covers remote work from Spain [1].
• For a visa in Moscow. A declaración responsable that you will meet the obligations before starting work, plus the proofs for route 1 or the certificado for route 2 [7].
• Insurance, if you do not register for alta: travel policies, reimbursement-only policies and policies with copago or carencia are not accepted [1].
• Freelancer. A different scheme: an undertaking to register for alta in the RETA. For an autónomo, “importing” coverage under an agreement is not allowed [1][2].

Common mistakes made by employees

• Asking the Russian fund to issue an “A1”: the A1 form belongs to Reglamento 883/04, and Russia is not part of that system [5].
• Bringing the UGE an application for a certificado instead of the certificado itself [1].
• Stating in the employer’s letter that contributions are paid in Russia without attaching a certificado: Russian contributions on their own do not replace alta [1][2].
• Failing to find a representative in Spain or to obtain the consul’s certificado for the company’s registration [3].
• Working under a civil-law contract while counting on the employee route: for the UGE this is a professional relationship, which means RETA. Comparison: DNV or autónomo for a freelancer.
• Putting off alta after approval. Failing to meet the conditions can lead to extinción of the permit for you and your family (additional provision 7 Ley 14/2013) [2][6].
• Having an employer with a branch in Spain. According to the UGE’s guidance, that is already an intra-corporate transfer (ICT), not teletrabajo [2].

Official sources do not describe how to pay contributions from Russia or in what currency; the employer should check this with its gestor.

How we can help

The ReloVictory team in Barcelona works out which social security route suits your case: registering the employer or a certificado under an agreement. We prepare the document list and the text of the alta undertaking for the employer and check the file against the UGE requirements. The administrative side is handled by a graduada social, the legal side by the team’s lawyer. First consultation: 15 minutes free; full consultation: €121 for 45 minutes. Booking: consultation. Service page: digital nomad residence permit; the application step by step: DNV route card.

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ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 02.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.