Rent A Nanny
Mallorca
Professional Childcare on Mallorca
Living and Working as a Nanny on Mallorca
Here you will find important information about the legal framework, the different employment models and the requirements for working as a nanny in Spain.
This will help you get a clearer picture of where you stand, which requirements you already meet and what you may still need to address.
Even if some organisational matters are still pending, you can already submit your profile.
Further down this page, you will also find a checklist to help you review all important points once again.
Legal Framework for Working as a Nanny on Mallorca
In Spain, income must generally be properly declared and, depending on the working model, handled correctly for tax and social security purposes.
Spain does not have a general simplified employment model that allows occasional or low-income childcare work to be carried out without the corresponding legal, tax and social security requirements.
We only place childcare professionals whose work arrangements can be structured in full compliance with Spanish regulations.
🔒Important Information for Childcare Professionals from Countries Outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland
Childcare professionals from countries outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland are subject to additional residence and employment requirements.
Whether and under which conditions you are permitted to work in Spain depends in particular on your individual residence status and on whether a residence or work permit is required.
Please clarify your individual situation in advance with a qualified immigration adviser or an appropriately specialised gestoría.
The legal requirements vary depending on the working model and residence status:
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1. Employed Nanny –
With an Employment Contract
If you are employed as a nanny directly by a family, registration is handled by the employer.
This includes:
• The family registers you with the Spanish Social Security system
• The relevant contributions are paid
• The employment relationship must comply with Spanish law
A NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is generally required for the registration process.
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2. Self-Employed Nanny – Resident on Mallorca
As a self-employed nanny, you organise your own working hours and decide which assignments you accept.
If you regularly work on Mallorca, registration as self-employed (autónomo) is generally required.
Generally required:
• NIE
• Tax registration with the Agencia Tributaria (Modelo 036)
• Registration with the Spanish Social Security system as self-employed (RETA)
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3. Temporary Self-Employed Work on Mallorca
If you are already self-employed abroad and would like to work temporarily on Mallorca, your situation should be assessed individually.
Even if you are already self-employed in another country, additional tax or official registrations may be required in Spain, particularly if you work on Mallorca on a regular basis.
This situation is more complex and should be clarified in advance with a gestoría or suitably qualified adviser.
💡 Don’t Have a NIE Yet?
The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is your personal Spanish identification number. It is required or requested for many administrative, tax-related and professional matters and also plays an important role in various everyday administrative procedures.
It is neither a work permit nor a residence permit, and it is not proof that you live in Spain.
Whether it makes sense to apply for your NIE while you are still in your country of residence or to complete certain steps after arriving in Spain depends on your individual circumstances and your plans.
If you are initially coming to Mallorca to look for work and are not yet planning to settle permanently, it may be useful to apply for your NIE before you arrive. This means you already have this important number available if, for example, a professional opportunity arises or you need to deal with initial administrative matters.
The time required for appointments with the authorities, gathering the necessary documents and completing other formalities is also often underestimated.
Important: Once a NIE has been assigned, it is permanent. You do not need to apply for a new one after three months.
Additional Legal Information:
Temporary Work Within the EU, EEA and Switzerland
When working temporarily in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, it may be possible under certain conditions to remain subject to the social security system of the country in which you have been carrying out your existing activity.
The corresponding proof is known as an A1 certificate.
Important to Know:
The A1 certificate relates exclusively to social security and does not replace any tax or other official registrations that may be required in Spain.
If you are self-employed, an A1 certificate generally requires that you are already genuinely carrying out a self-employed activity in that country, that the activity carried out on Mallorca is similar to your existing activity and that it is only temporary.
Simply registering as self-employed in that country shortly beforehand does not automatically meet these requirements if the activity is in fact mainly carried out on Mallorca.
About the 183-Day Rule:
The commonly referenced 183-day threshold is only one of the criteria used to determine tax residency in Spain.
Tax, social security or other obligations may also arise during a shorter stay. Your individual situation should therefore be assessed separately.
Additional Information on Residence Requirements:
Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland who settle in Spain and intend to live here for more than three months are generally required to register with the relevant authorities (EU Registration Certificate).
EU citizens who are initially staying in Spain solely for the purpose of looking for work are subject to specific residence rules. The commonly referenced three-month threshold therefore cannot be applied automatically to every situation.
These residence requirements are separate from the 183-day threshold for tax purposes.
💡 Tip: Please clarify your individual situation at an early stage with a gestoría or another suitably qualified adviser.
Legal Background Check Requirements When Working with Children
For professional activities involving regular and direct contact with minors, an up-to-date certificate confirming the absence of relevant convictions for sexual offences is required.
In Spain, this is known as the “Certificado de Delitos de Naturaleza Sexual”.
Certificate in Spain
Apply for the certificate here
Electronic identification, such as Cl@ve or a digital certificate, is required for the online application.
For citizens of other EU Member States, information from the respective country of nationality is also requested as part of the procedure.
🔐 Handling Background Check Documents
For data protection reasons, we do not store these documents or retain copies.
Please therefore do not send these documents by email unless specifically requested.
We recommend obtaining the required documents early and keeping them up to date so that they can be presented when needed.
Many families place great importance on being able to review the relevant documentation upon request.
Additional Information:
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🚗 Driving licence & mobility
Many assignments are located outside towns and villages and are difficult to reach by public transport.
A valid driving licence and access to your own vehicle are therefore an advantage in many cases and are often required.
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🛏️ Accommodation
Most families do not provide accommodation.
Affordable housing is limited on Mallorca. Many people who live and work on the island have difficulty finding suitable accommodation.
If you are planning your professional start on Mallorca, you should therefore consider your housing situation early and realistically and not assume that you will be able to find suitable and affordable accommodation at short notice after you arrive.
Before starting work, you should have suitable accommodation on Mallorca.
What Documents May Be Required Later in the Process?
📩 YOUR DOCUMENTS LATER IN THE PROCESS
Once I have received your profile, I will first review the information you have provided and your current situation.
You do not need to have all documents ready when you first submit your profile. Which documents may be required later in the process depends, among other things, on your intended working model and your individual circumstances.
Please therefore do not send documents by email unless requested. After the initial review, I will let you know which documents are still required in your particular case.
Please never send sensitive documents, particularly documentation required under Spanish child protection regulations, by email unless specifically requested.
The following overview shows which documents you should have available later in the process, depending on your intended working model.
✅For all childcare professionals:
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Fully completed profile form
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NIE (usually required for an actual placement via Rent a Nanny Mallorca; not yet mandatory when first submitting your profile)
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CV
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Proof of qualifications (e.g. childcare or pedagogical training, certificates)
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References from childcare positions (if available)
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First-aid course certificate (if available)
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A friendly profile picture (optional but beneficial)
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Up-to-date documentation required under Spanish child protection regulations, particularly regarding sexual offences, to be presented upon request
✅ Additional documents for self-employed nannies:
1. Childcare Professionals Registered as Self-Employed in Spain:
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NIE
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Proof of tax registration for the self-employed activity (Modelo 036)
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Proof of registration with the Spanish Social Security system (RETA)
2. Childcare Professionals Resident Abroad:
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Copy of passport or ID document
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Proof of an existing self-employed activity in the country in which you have been carrying out that activity (e.g. business registration, tax registration or VAT number)
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A1 certificate, where applicable: proof that, while temporarily working in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you remain subject to the social security system of that country.
It relates exclusively to social security and does not replace any tax or other official registrations that may be required in Spain.
Note: Self-employed nannies are advised to take out professional liability insurance covering their activities.
Ready to Submit Your Profile?
I look forward to learning more about you, your experience and what you have in mind.
Even if some organisational matters are still unresolved, you can already submit your profile. I personally review the information you provide and will get back to you once I have gained an initial overview of your current situation.
In most cases, I will then offer you a free, no-obligation initial orientation call. The aim is to discuss your current situation, your plans for Mallorca and the next steps in the application process together.
If you would like individual administrative support beyond this, additional paid services may be arranged in selected cases. These are independent of any subsequent placement.