How to apply for unemployment benefit (paro) online in Spain
The deadline to apply for unemployment benefit (paro) is 15 working days from your last contract day. Missing it delays payment — it does not cancel your right. You need a Spanish digital certificate to file online.
Quick answer
- Deadline: 15 working days from contract end date (fin del contrato) — late means payment starts later, not that you lose the right.
- Online at sede.sepe.gob.es → Prestaciones por desempleo → Solicitar prestación.
- Digital ID required: digital certificate (certificado digital), Cl@ve PIN, or DNIe.
- No digital ID: book an appointment (cita previa) at your employment office (oficina de empleo) or use an authorised representative.
- Track status: ’en tramitación’ → ’resuelta favorablemente’ = approved.
Describe the benefit situation
NAVI will check your right and deadline.
Check your right to unemployment benefit (paro) now
NAVI will review your contributions, filing deadline and documents — and give a clear plan: what to file, when and how to track it.
Check my right to unemployment benefit (paro)Documents you need to file
- DNI/NIE/TIE or passport — original.
- Employer certificate (certificado de empresa) — your employer must give it on your last working day.
- Bank account IBAN — must be in your name.
- Work history report (vida laboral) — free from sede.seg-social.es or via Cl@ve.
- Proof for dependents — birth certificates if applicable.
What to do first
- Count 15 working days from contract end date (fin del contrato) — check the exact date in your contract or termination notice.
- Ask for the employer certificate (certificado de empresa) and verify the termination reason (causa de extinción) matches the real termination reason.
- Download your work history report (vida laboral) and confirm you have ≥360 days of contributions over the last 6 years.
- Check you have a digital certificate or Cl@ve — if not, book an appointment (cita previa) at the employment office (oficina de empleo).
Documents and evidence
- DNI/NIE/TIE or passport.
- SEPE/INSS decision, application receipt or expediente number.
- Work history report (vida laboral), contribution days, income documents and bank details.
Deadlines and risk
- Every working day past 15 = one less payment day. 10 days late = 10 days less money.
- Wrong termination reason (causa de extinción) on the employer certificate (certificado de empresa) — SEPE rejects regardless of your contribution record.
- Filed without employer certificate (certificado de empresa) — the application waits, but the payment start date does not.
- Jobseeker registration (demandante de empleo) lapsed after leaving work — reinstate it before applying.
- Expired DNI/TIE — SEPE will not process the application. Renew it first.
SEPE rejected or reduced your unemployment benefit (paro)?
Tell NAVI what the decision says — get a step-by-step pre-claim appeal (reclamación previa) plan with the right deadlines and arguments.
Appeal the SEPE decisionRelated pages
Information only, not legal advice. Public authorities, courts, banks and companies make their own decisions.
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