Digital Nomad visa: what if an employee cannot obtain an A1 certificate?

Do A1 employees need a residence permit for a nomad?

No. If an employer from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus or another country outside the EU, A1 cannot have you. A1 (portable document A1) is a form that the EEA, Switzerland and the EU confirm which country ’s social security legislation applies to an employee, it works under Reglamento 883/04. [5]. The Act maintains the obligations under Seguridad Social (Article 62.5 Ley 14/2013) [6], and UGE explains how to execute them [1].

For a hired employee (relacion laboral), UGE accepts two options: either you enter into a Spanish Seguridad Social account or bring certificado de legislacion applicable under a bilateral agreement [1][2].

How do you register a foreign employer with Segurid Social?

A foreign company without a centre of work in Spain applies for inscripción de empresa at Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS) personally in the nearest office or electronically with a digital certificate [3]For countries outside the EU, Seguridad Social refers to such a set: common documents on the list (application form, identification, tax number NIF), certificado issued by the Spanish Consul, authorization and legal establishment of the company in its country, and designation or authorization of a legal representative with an address in Spain [3].

1. The employer decides whether or not he is prepared to become a member of the Spanish system. [1].
2. He's got a representative in Spain, and who's gonna be the company, he's got a gut-backed gestor.
3. Receives certificado from the Spanish consulate in the country of registration. Which unit of the consulate in Moscow issues such a document and in what form we did not find: the consulate has a separate section of legalization. [9].
4. Applys TGSS [3].
5. After permission and before you start work, you get on the alta at Régien General. [6].

When you apply through the consulate, Moscow wants confirmation that the company has applied for registration and confirmation of your membership, which means that this step must be prepared in advance for the visa. [7]From the UGE perspective, company registration and alta obligations are sufficient [1]III. More detailed on the conditions: Digital Nomad for a hired employee.

What does the 1994 Russian convention give to Spain?

Convenio de Seguridad Social between Spain and Russia signed in Madrid on 11 April 1994 and published in BOE on 24 February 1996, together with an administrative agreement [4]The general rule of article 6: The employee is subject to the law of the country where he performs work. [4].

There are three reservations to this.

• Article 7.1 refers to a worker who has been "sent" to work (enviado a travajar) and does not say in open sources whether she is distributed to a remote employee who has moved on his own initiative.
• UGE only accepts certificado, which directly covers the remote work from Spain [1]The Consulate of Moscow notes that only some countries issue such a document. [7]What kind of Russian body and in what form it is issued today, we did not find: the 1995 agreement named the Ministry of Social Security and the Russian Pension Fund [4].
• No medical assistance is included in the list of benefits under article 2 of the Convention [4]So you're probably gonna need UGE insurance when you're on track 2. [1]III. Criteria: DNV insurance.

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

The page on Seguridad Social Agreements lists Russia, Ukraine and Moldova among countries [8]If there is no agreement, the way 2 is closed: the registration of the employer and the alta remains in Spanish Seguridad Social. [1][2]What exactly is the agreement with Ukraine and whether it applies to remote work, we haven't worked on it.

Country profiles: DNV from Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia.

What UGE and Social Insurance Consulate Request: List

• Hire, route 1. Confirmation of the registration of a foreign company in Segurid Social as an employer without work centres in Spain and obligation of alta before starting work [1].
• Hire, route 2. Certificado de legislacción aplicable issued by the authority of the country of origin, stating expressly that it covers the remote work from Spain [1].
• For a visa in Moscow. Declaración responsable to perform duties prior to commencement of work plus confirmations along track 1 or certificado on track 2 [7].
• Insuranceif you do not stand on the alta: tourist policies, reimbursement-only policies are not accepted, with copago or carencia [1].
• Freelancer. Another scheme: the obligation of alta in RETA. For autono "import" a right by agreement is not permitted [1][2].

Typical mistakes by employees

• Requesting the Russian Foundation to issue "A1": Form A1 is a Reglamento 883/04 and Russia does not participate in this system [5].
• Apply for certificado instead of certificado itself to UGE [1].
• Write in an employer's letter that contributions are paid in Russia and not attach certificado: Russian contributions do not per se replace alta [1][2].
• No representative in Spain or certificado consul to register the company [3].
• Work under a civil contract and expect a way of hiring: in UGE, it's a professional relationship, which means RETA. DNV or autónomo for freelancer.
• Postponing the alta after approval. Failure to comply with the conditions may result in an extratinción permit for you and the family (additional provision 7 Ley 14/2013) [2][6].
• To have an employer with a branch in Spain, UGE explained that this is an intra-corporate translation of ICT, not a teletrabajo. [2].

How to pay contributions from Russia and in what currency is not described in official sources; this is a question that the employer explains to his master.

What can we help you with?

The NEXO team in Barcelona determines the social security route for your case: registration of the employer or certificado by agreement. We prepare for the employer a list of documents and the text of the obligation of the alta and check the package against the requirements of UGE. The administration is the responsibility of the esttor, the team's legal counsel. First consultation: 30 minutes free, full consultation: 121 I in 45 minutes. ConsultationIII. Service page: Digital nomad ’s residence permit, the filing procedure by step: DNV route sheet.

Frequent issues

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The source is viewed on 02.10.2026 · NEXO · Drafting Draft · Sources do not replace individual legal advice.