What it is and why you are asked for it
The vida laboral is the official list of every period in which you were registered with Social Security: companies, dates, scheme and days contributed. You are asked for it to claim benefits and pensions, to prove seniority, in immigration procedures where contributions must be shown, and in any procedure where you must prove you have worked in Spain.
In arraigo and residency renewal files it is one of the most requested documents, and it is best downloaded on the very day of filing so that it reflects the current situation.
It can also be done without a digital certificate
If you do not have a certificate yet, Social Security provides alternative ways to request the report, including filing applications without electronic identification. It is slower: you do not get the report on screen at once. That is why it is worth getting a digital certificate, which also opens up the rest of your paperwork.
If periods are missing
It happens more than it seems, especially with companies that closed or registrations that were badly reported. The report reflects what is in the Treasury's records, not what you actually worked. If you spot a gap, you must claim with evidence: contracts, payslips, company certificates.
Periods worked in other countries do not appear here: they are proved through the relevant Social Security coordination mechanisms, which is a separate matter.
How to read the report
The document lists, period by period, the company or scheme, the start date, the end date, the contribution group and the effective days. At the end comes the total number of days registered, which is the figure almost every procedure looks at.
Two details cause confusion. First: self-employed periods appear under the special scheme for self-employed workers and carry no company name, which makes people think they are missing. Second: the part-time coefficient, which makes a half-time contract count fewer days than the calendar days elapsed, something that surprises people counting time for a renewal.
What we use it for in files
In immigration the vida laboral report appears in three different places and for different reasons:
- In residency renewal, to prove the three months of activity per year or the nine months registered in twelve that allow renewal without a current contract.
- In second-chance arraigo, as proof of the previous contribution history and, along the way, of time in Spain.
- In any arraigo, as one of the independent sources supporting the two years of continuity, alongside the historical padrón and bank movements.
That is why it should be downloaded on the very day of filing: a report from three months ago leaves out exactly the period that may decide the file.
Periods missing from your employment history?
We review the report, find what is missing and file the claim with the Treasury for you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the vida laboral report cost?
Nothing. It is free and downloads instantly in Importass.
Do I need an appointment?
No. With a digital certificate or Cl@ve you have it on screen in a minute.
Do periods worked in another country appear?
No. The Spanish vida laboral covers only contributions in Spain.
Is the downloaded PDF valid as an official document?
Yes, it is issued electronically signed by the Treasury and is valid for filing in procedures.
Legal basis
- Law 6/2020 regulating certain aspects of electronic trust services
- Law 39/2015 on Common Administrative Procedure, art. 14 on electronic dealings with the administration
- Royal Decree 203/2021, Regulation on public sector action by electronic means
Official sources
- FNMT: individual certificate
- Spanish Government electronic signature portal: downloads
- Importass, portal of the Social Security Treasury
- Social Security electronic office
Written by Irina Klein. Reviewed by Elena Alonso Volostnova, registered gestora administrativa (ICGA Valencia). Updated on 5 October 2026. This page is general information and does not replace personalised advice on your case.