Since 1 January, Spanish Social Security pensioners living abroad have been able to submit proof of life in order to continue receiving their benefits as normal. As every year, this campaign runs until 31 March.
This is the second year that the VIVESS application has been available for this procedure. In 2024, the first year of its implementation, 31% of National Social Security Institute (INSS) pensioners living abroad were able to submit proof of life, conveniently from their mobile phones.
As a major new feature in 2025, pensioners residing abroad from the Social Marine Institute (ISM) will also be able to submit proof of life using this application.
Through VIVESS, both INSS and ISM pensioners can prove their tax residence, update their payment method to bank transfer and modify their personal or bank details at any time.
For this campaign, the INSS is going to send a total of 115,169 letters to pensioners living abroad to inform them of the advantages offered by the VIVESS application and the new features introduced last year.
The letters will be addressed both to those who have not yet registered in the application, to those who have registered but have not submitted proof of life, and to those who have registered and completed the process. The letter is sent in Spanish, Portuguese, French, English, German, Polish and Bulgarian, depending on the place of residence, together with an information leaflet in Spanish and in the language of the place of residence.
What the procedure involves?
This procedure is intended exclusively for pensioners residing abroad. Pensioners residing in Spain do not have to do so.
The procedure consists of the annual submission, within the first calendar quarter of the year, of a proof of life certificate issued by the Competent Authority of the country of residence in order to continue receiving the pension they were entitled to.
Alternatively, pensioners residing abroad can prove that they are alive at the Consular Civil Registry Offices and by appearing in person or online at the Departments or Sections of Labour, Migration and Social Security.
Summary 2024
In 2024, 41,700 pensioners residing in 107 countries around the world were registered in the application, representing 36% of pensioners residing abroad. Of these, more than 36,600 submitted proof of life between January and September 2024, which means that 31% of pensioners used the app in the first year of its launch.
VIVESS has also made it possible to reactivate the collection of more than 2,900 pensions that were suspended because they had not been paid within the campaign's deadline (until 31 March).
How VIVESS works?
The steps to use the application, which is available in English, Spanish, French and German, are as follows:
1. Download the application. It is free of charge and can be done through the Apple Store, if the mobile phone is Apple, or through Google Play, if it runs on an Android operating system.
2. Registration. This step is only necessary the first time the application is used. Access is possible with:
- Cl@ve.
- DNI/NIE.
- File Number: the file number can be found in the pension revaluation letter sent each year.
You are required to enter your country of residence and the personal data requested by the application. Afterwards, show the selected ID card front and back and smile at the camera. The application allows the use of identity documents from different countries.
3. Prove life. This is the last step. After clicking on the "prove life" button, you have to smile at the camera again. The application will issue a receipt indicating that the proof has been successfully completed.
4. Other steps. It brings together other services such as accrediting tax residence or updating the payment method and bank details.
Pensioners, once they have completed their formalities using this application, will receive immediate justification of the completion of this procedure and a subsequent confirmation from the INSS, with no additional formalities.
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