The official label for this category of worker is: Régimen Especial Trabajadores Autónomos (regimen”RETA”).
The “regimen” refers to the laws and taxes you are accountable for as an autónomo.
In Spain, the autónomo business/tax category refers to anyone who’s self-employed. It include freelancers, small business owners, independent contractors, and even some remote workers for foreign companies.
If you’re earning income without being on a payroll, chances are you’ll need to register as an autónomo. It’s a broad legal category that covers everything from yoga instructors and graphic designers to electricians, translators, online sellers, and IT consultants. Basically, if you invoice clients or customers directly, you’re likely operating under this system.
Being an autónomo means you’re responsible for managing your own taxes and social security. That includes making quarterly VAT payments, tracking your deductible expenses, and paying a fixed monthly contribution to Spain’s social security system, whether you’re earning €0 a month or €5,000. It’s not always simple, but there are tools and advisors that can help keep it manageable. For many people, the flexibility and independence of working as an autónomo can be worth the effort.
What falls under the autónomo category is surprisingly diverse. Think of freelance writers, craft-makers on Etsy, plumbers, digital nomads, life coaches, hairdressers, photographers, even Airbnb hosts if it’s done at a certain scale. Whether you’re working with your hands, selling your knowledge, or running a tiny e-commerce shop from your kitchen table, you’re probably part of this ecosystem.
It’s the legal backbone for a huge chunk of Spain’s modern economy – creative, practical, and often digital.
