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Spanish Social Security Card
by ThinkEbro Team

If you want to apply for the spanish social security service (CAT Salut card), you must have the following documents:

- Passport
- Stamped NIE application form (Número NIE)
- Registering as a citizen at the local Town hall (Certificado de Empadronamiento)
- E121
- Residency Permit application (Permiso de Residencia)

When you collect all these documents present them to any CAT Salut establishment in Catalonia (Catalunya in Catalan) to receive your spanish social security card (CAT Salut card). In Tortosa, if you are pensioners, they will direct you to another office in Tortosa (which will be the INSS) where to apply for the spanish social security card.

Where do I get all these documents from?
You will need to get in Spain 3 documents. First, the NIE numbers. You must apply for them in the local Police Office. Second, the "certificado de empadronamiento" you get it from the local Town Hall. Third, the residency permit you collect it from the Subdelegación del Gobierno in Tarragona (if you are purchasing a property in the Baix Ebre region of Catalunya).

How long do they take?
The NIE numbers take around 40 days. You have to have this number to apply for your Residency Permit in Tarragona, which takes about 6 to 8 months. But to get the spanish social security card (CAT Salut card) you only need the stamped form they will give you the first day you go to apply, you don't need to wait 8 months and then apply for the card.
Registering at the local Town Hall takes 5 minutes, a part from waiting for your turn in the kew!

So the first step is going straight away to the Police Station to apply for your NIE numbers. When you have those, go to Tarragona to apply for the residency permit, they will give you a stamped application. In the meantime you can enroll in the local Town Hall and get your "certificado de empadronamiento". By now you will have your NIE number, your residency permit application, your "certificado de empadronamiento", so now you are ready to go to the local CAT salut to apply for your spanish social security card, take with you your passport number and the E121, and done!