Every year, more forign companies cooperate with Spanish contractors in construction, installation and welding projects across the Iberian Peninsula. This trend is not accidental. Spain is experiencing strong economic development, and large investments in infrastructure and renewable energy are creating a growing demand for qualified workers that the local labour market cannot fully meet.
This creates a real opportunity for foreign companies. However, before entering a construction site in Spain, businesses must comply with several legal requirements. One of the most important is registration in the REA register – the Registro de Empresas Acreditadas.
What is the REA register (Registro de Empresas Acreditadas)?
The REA register is an official database of construction companies operating in Spain. It was created in 2008 by the Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Economy to verify whether a company has the technical capacity, organisational structure and human resources required to carry out construction activities in Spain.
Obtaining REA registration confirms that the company:
• complies with Spanish legal requirements
• operates according to Spanish occupational health and safety regulations
• is authorised to legally perform construction work anywhere in Spain
For foreign companies is often one of the first administrative steps before starting construction activities.
Who must register in the REA register?
Registration is mandatory for companies involved directly or indirectly in construction work in Spain.
This includes companies acting as:
• main contractors
• subcontractors
• specialised service providers operating on construction sites
Even companies that are not strictly part of the construction sector may be required by the project developer or main contractor to obtain REA registration if their services are performed on a construction site.
REA registration is also closely linked to the obligation to declare the posting of workers to Spain.
What activities are considered construction work?
According to Real Decreto 1627/1997, construction activities include, among others:
• excavation and earthworks
• foundation works and structural construction
• assembly and disassembly of prefabricated elements
• installation works (plumbing, electrical, ventilation, heating systems)
• renovation and modernization works
• finishing works such as plastering, painting and cleaning
• demolition, maintenance and road construction
In practice, any activity related to the physical construction, renovation or maintenance of buildings or infrastructure may fall within the construction sector, regardless of whether the project is public or private.
Where and how to obtain the registration
The REA register operates at a national level but is managed by authorities in each Autonomous Community.
A foreign company should submit its REA registration application to the authority responsible for the region where it plans to start its first construction project in Spain.
Once issued, the REA certificate is valid for three years and allows the company to operate across the entire Spanish territory without the need to register again in other regions.
How to check REA registration
Any contractor, investor or partner can verify whether a company is registered in the REA register by consulting the official public database available online.
This transparency allows project developers and contractors to confirm that their partners are legally authorised to work on construction sites in Spain.
Who cannot obtain the certificate?
Only companies that employ workers under employment contracts in their country of origin and post them to Spain are eligible for REA registration.
Self-employed professionals (autónomos) who do not employ staff are exempt from the registration obligation and cannot apply for inclusion in the REA register.
REA registration – a legal requirement and a market opportunity
Registration in the REA register is not only a legal obligation but also an important element in building credibility in the Spanish construction market.
For foreign companies that want to operate legally in Spain and participate in construction projects, obtaining it is often the first essential step.
If your company plans to provide construction services in Spain, it is advisable to prepare in advance. Checking the requirements, preparing the documentation and completing REA registration before the project begins helps avoid delays and access issues at construction sites.
The waiting time may vary depending on the Autonomous Community where the application is submitted. For this reason, companies should always apply well before the planned start of the project.
All documentation should be prepared, verified and translated in advance. The authority may request additional documents or clarifications during the process, which can extend the total processing time.
More information about the REA register can be found on the official website: