Communicate and register an employment contract (Contrat@ SEPE)

What you need to have handy

1. Certificado digital or Cl@ve of the holder (empresa/autónomo) or of your asesoría with apoderamiento in force.
2. NIF of the empresa/autónomo and CCC where you'll register the worker.
3. Worker data: DNI/NIE and Número de Afiliación (NAF) to Social Security.
4. Signed contract (PDF), with type, jornada, salary, duration and centro de trabajo.
5. Convenio colectivo applicable and occupation (CNO) of the role.
6. If there's RLT, prepare the copia básica and the proof of delivery. If not, the worker's receipt.
7. If the worker is foreign, NIE and autorización de residencia y trabajo in force.

Documentation

• PDF of the contract including all clauses (teletrabajo annexes, part-time clauses, etc.).
• Copia básica for the RLT or the worker's receipt if there's no RLT.
• Communication receipt that the sede provides at the end.
• Any evidence of requirements if you're applying bonificaciones (the employment service/Inspección can request it).

Step by step

1. Go to https://sede.sepe.gob.es and identify yourself with Cl@ve or a digital certificate.
2. Go to Empresas > Comunicación de contratos (Contrat@).
3. Choose Alta, Prórroga, Transformación or Copia básica.
4. Fill in the contract data: type, dates, jornada, salary, centro, convenio and occupation.
5. Add NIF/CCC and the worker data (DNI/NIE and NAF).
6. Attach the signed contract (and annexes) and, if required, the copia básica.
7. Sign and send (Cl@ve Firma or AutoFirma with a certificate). Download the receipt and keep it.
8. Deliver the copia básica to the RLT within 10 days (or to the worker if there's no RLT) and keep the acknowledgement.

Time-savers and tricks

• If your payroll software exports XML Contrat@, upload it and it fills half the form for you.
• AutoFirma is often required with certificates. Keep it updated and use Chrome/Edge.
• Always save the PDF and CSV of the receipt. They save you in inspections.
• If your asesoría will do it, arrange an apoderamiento at https://apodera.redsara.es before starting.
• If the contract has bonificaciones, double-check the type and the colectividad fields or you'll lose the discount.

Common mistakes that will mess up the process

1. Missing the 10-day deadline. Minor sanction and goodbye to bonificaciones.
2. Wrong centro de trabajo (different municipality/province). Later matching with Social Security is a pain.
3. Hours or salary inconsistent with the convenio. That triggers warnings and they'll ask you to rectify.
4. Not delivering the copia básica to the RLT or not keeping the acknowledgement. Inspections will ask for it.
5. Signing failures due to browser or outdated AutoFirma. Switch to Chrome/Edge and update.
6. Forgetting to communicate extensions or conversions. Same 10-day deadline, same sanctions.