Question
I have the Arraigo familiar residence permit in Spain. Could I work for a UK company under this permit? Or am I limited to only Spanish companies? Thanks
Answers
These are the answers from Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“ If the company is a small fully-UK based one, the only way is likely to be by registering as self-employed here (autónomo) and invoicing the company for your services. Easy to do but beware that after a settling-in period an autónomo pays about €300/month in social security contributions. You also need an accountant for your book-keeping (€50+ per month).
Both are tax-deductible. ”
“ No. You are resident in Spain, therefore your taxes and social security must be paid in Spain. They could use an employer of record but remember that employers social security is 32% (uk is 15%) so they would need to pay that plus any EOR fees. Your contract also needs to align with Spanish law. ”
“You would still need to comply with Spanish social security rules
So either
– Self employed
– They register and pay here
You wouldn’t get an A1 as that’s only if recruited in the U.K. and then sent to work overseas (after paying NI in the U.K.)
You wouldn’t be able to use an EOR unless it’s very carefully handled ”
“Tax residency doesn’t actually kick in from day 183 of presence here. In your year if arrival you are either a Spanish fiscal resident for the whole calendar year ir you’re classed as non-resident fir taxation purposes for that year, depending on how many days you spend in Spain in that year. Examples: 1. you arrive in Spain in May 2025; you are resident in Spain for tax from 1st January 2025.
2. you arrive in Spain in August 2025; you are resident in Spain for tax from 1st January 2026. ”
“ You need to speak with a Digital Nomad Visa specialist rather than an immigration lawyer. The DNV is very nuanced. You will need to provide one of the following as a mandatory part of your DNV application if employed
- A Certificate of coverage from the U.K. this is called an A1. One of the questions on the A1 is “was this person recruited in the uk”. If you answer no, it’s likely HMRC won’t issue it. If you answer yes, you will have needed to have paid NI in the uk for 28 days minimum. If you are not a British or Irish passport holder, the A1 will only continue only for as long as your have a work visa for the U.K.
If you are a U.K. national you could consider whether it’s worth going back to the U.K. and working for the company and then applying for an A1 from there. Be aware that at the moment the expected application time for an A1 is 6 months. HMRC have a backlog
If you can’t fulfill the above then
- You will need to provide the certificate to show that the company is registered to pay Spanish social security as a non resident entity. They will have to register and will have a NIF that starts either an N that denotes they are a non resident entity. They will also need to write a letter undertaking to register you and pay your Spanish social security once the visa is granted
Whilst I have submitted many DNVs with A1s, I have yet to submit one under the second option. We did get close once, but the company pulled out as they decided it was too costly
Your other option is self employed ”
“ The A1 is a document for companies who are posting their workers abroad on a temporary basis. It’s an EU document that the U.K. still issue. So it’s for those who work in the U.K. for U.K. companies that are then being sent overseas. The premise of it works around that it’s best for the worker to pay their NI/SS (and hence their healthcare and pension rights) in their country of origin whilst being temporarily posted overseas. It’s supposed to be for those who will then return. It’s issued for a max 2 years minus one day and isn’t renewable
I had one client from NZ who was in the U.K. on a work visa. He managed to get an A1 but they only gave him it to the end date on his U.K. visa
You will need a U.K. national insurance number to apply. Just looking at the form, two questions asked are; was the employee in the U.K. when recruited and was the employee working in the U.K. for the employer for more than 28 days before the start date. I suspect if you answer no to these they wouldn’t be eligible ”
“Work around wise they either register to do your payroll in Spain, or you do this as a self employed gig and sort your tax and SS out yourself ”
“ Yes you can so long as they pay your payroll in Spain. Either by having an entity, a non resident entity, or by using an employer of record.
As Spanish employers SS is 32% as opposed to the U.K.s being 15% they might not be keen to do it. The alternative is to be autonomo ”
“Arraigo familiar has nothing to say about for whom you can work. You can work if you are of age to work and are not subject to judicial limitations to your being able to work. Arraigo familiar requires, fundamentally, that you have a certain type of caregiving relationship with an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen. ”
“ you can work for anybody, but you need to make sure you are compliant with the INSS regulations for contributions. ”
Conclusion
From the discussion, the community’s consensus is that Arraigo Familiar grants broad work authorization in Spain, including the possibility of working for a foreign employer such as a UK company. What matters is paying Spanish taxes and social security correctly, not where the company is based.
If a UK employer has no Spanish entity, options mentioned were registering the company in Spain as a non-resident employer, using an employer of record, or registering as autónomo and invoicing. DNV pathways were discussed but still require compliance with Spanish social security and, for employees, often an A1 or a Spanish payroll arrangement.
The safest takeaway is to set up your work relationship in a way that keeps you compliant with Spanish obligations while on Arraigo Familiar. A Spanish tax advisor and labor specialist can help you choose the best route.
This article is based on personal opinions from the Spainguru community and is not legal advice.
