Spanish · Seguridad Social / SEPE
You apply for a social security number: what to say in Spanish
You apply for a social security number.
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How it's done. The número de afiliación a la Seguridad Social (NSS) is needed for work and the doctor; it is issued at the Tesorería General with passport or foreigner's document.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Buenos días, necesito el número de la Seguridad Social.
Boo-EH-nos DEE-uhs, neh-seh-SEE-toh el NOO-meh-roh deh lah Seh-goo-ree-DAHD Soh-SYAHL.
Good morning, I need the Social Security number.
THEY SAY
¿Es la primera vez que lo solicita?Es lah pree-MEH-ruh bes keh loh soh-lee-SEE-tuh?
Is this the first time you apply?
They might also say:
¿Lo pide por primera vez?
Loh PEE-deh por pree-MEH-ruh bes?
Are you asking for it for the first time?
2
YOU REPLY
Sí, es la primera vez.
See, es lah pree-MEH-ruh bes.
Yes, the first time.
THEY SAY
Necesito su pasaporte o tarjeta de residencia.Neh-seh-SEE-toh soo puh-suh-POR-teh oh tuhr-KHEH-tuh deh reh-see-DAYN-syuh.
I need your passport or residence card.
3
YOU FINISH
Aquí tiene.
Uh-KEE TYEH-neh.
Here you are.
THEY SAY
Le doy el número ahora mismo.Leh doy el NOO-meh-roh uh-OH-ruh MEEZ-moh.
I'll give you the number right now.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “Spanish for life in Spain”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Buenos
Boo-EH-nos
adjective
good (masc. plural)
días
DEE-uhs
noun
days
necesito
neh-seh-SEE-toh
verb
I need
número
NOO-meh-roh
noun
number
Seguridad
Seh-goo-ree-DAHD
noun
safety
Social
Soh-SYAHL
adjective
social
21 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh reh-peh-TEER-loh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you repeat that, please?
¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh uh-BLAHR mahs des-PAH-syoh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
¿Puede escribírmelo, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh es-kree-BEER-meh-loh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you write it down for me, please?
¿Qué significa esto?
Keh seeg-nee-FEE-kuh ES-toh?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
You register as a jobseeker at the employment serviceSeguridad Social / SEPE · A2 in the app
→You ask how to renew your jobseeker cardSeguridad Social / SEPE · A2 in the app
→You ask about unemployment benefitSeguridad Social / SEPE · B1 in the app
→You ask for a statement of your employment recordSeguridad Social / SEPE · B1 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report