The digital certificate in Spain has been a great improvement over the last few years as it now allows us to carry out some administrative procedures online which is a significant time saving.
In this article we explain what can be done with this digital certificate and how to get it.
1. What is the digital certificate?
The digital certificate is an online identification document produced by the Fábrica de La Moneda y Timbre (the National Currency and Stamp Manufacturer- FNMT) that will allow you to carry out procedures with the public administration online. It was created in order to verify identity and automatically sign the document.
The certificate is valid for 4 years, and must therefore be renewed periodically.
It is free to request it.
2. Who can request the digital certificate?
The digital certificate can be requested by any adult or emancipated minor with a DNI or NIE.
3. What procedures can be carried out online with it ?
The digital certificate allows you to carry out various administrative procedures remotely without having to go in person. It can be used for example for:
- Taxes report
- Fines payment to the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico)
- Grants application
- Empadronamiento (inscription on the municipal register)
- Electronically sign official documents
- Consult social security
This document once obtained is extremely useful in order to save time (unnecessary travel, waiting time) and to carry out your procedures more quickly as appointments can be difficult to obtain (especially in this period of Covid- 19).
4. How to get the digital certificate?
The request for the digital certificate can be divided into 4 stages:
Step 1: Software setup / installation
The first step is to install the software that will generate the digital key. This software can be installed on all operating systems (Windows, Mac or Linux) and the certificate request can be performed on one of the following browsers:
- Mozilla Firefox
- Google chrome
- Microsoft EDGE
- Opera
- Safari
The software can be downloaded here.
It is important to note that the entire process must be carried out from the same computer and that the computer must not be formatted between the time the certificate is requested and the time it is downloaded.
Step 2: The online certificate application
During this second step, you need to go here and complete the blank cases with your personal data:
- “Nº Documento de identificación” is your NIE or DNI number. The field must contain 9 characters so if this is necessary, you can add 0 to the left of your identification number.
- “Primer apellido” is your last name.
- “Correo electrónico” is your email address and must be completed twice.
To validate your information, click on “Enviar peticion”, and you will receive by mail a code which will be required later.
Step 3: Verify your identity
Once the previous steps have been completed and you have received the “código de solicitud” at the mail address indicated above, you will need to go to the Spanish administration to verify your identity. As this is the only face-to-face step in obtaining your certificate, if you cannot go there personally, a duly accredited representative can go on your behalf.
Depending on your nationality, the documentation to present is slightly different :
If you are a Spanish citizen:
- The code received by email
- The DNI, passport or driving license
If you are a citizen of the European Union:
- The code received by email
- NIE or NIF with valid passport or identity document
- Certificado de Ciudadano de la Unión Europea
If you are a citizen of another country:
- The code received by email
- The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)
- NIE or NIF with passport
Where to go to verify your identity?
In order to verify your identity, you can go either to the offices of the tax administration or to those of the social security. Before going to these offices, it is strongly recommended to book an appointment (cita previa).
By clicking here, you will find the list of competent authorities in Spain to certify your identity.
If you are abroad, you can also go to the Spanish Consulate to verify your identity.
You can find here the list of cities with a Spanish Consulate.
Step 4: Download the certificate
We now come to the 4th and last step of the procedure (already ?!) : the download of the digital certificate.
Shortly after having verified your identity, you will receive an email with a link allowing you to download the digital certificate. It is essential that you use the same computer that you used in step 1.
You will be asked to fill in your personal information again:
- Identification document number (NIE or DNI)
- Last name
- Code received by email
You can now click on “consultar y acceptar las condiciones de uso del certificado” and dowload your certificate.
It is strongly recommended that you make a copy of your certificate so that you can retrieve it and use it on other computers if necessary. Otherwise, you can only use it on this specific computer.
5. Conclusion
As we have just seen, obtaining this digital certificate is not a complicated process and will save you a lot of time when carrying out administrative procedures.
If you need assistance to apply for the certificate as a foreigner, contact us at [email protected] and we will help you.
