5 essential reads if you need to do official processes online in Spain
You'll find though that many of these processes can be a lot easier if you can identify yourself officially online. You'll need this for everything from sending in your taxes to applying for a criminal record check and completing forms at the DGT (Traffic Office).
There are several ways to identify yourself in this way – through the digital certificate, the cl@ve system and the Autofirma.
How to get your digital certificate on your laptop: The digital certificate is a piece of software in Spain that you can download on your computer, allowing you to identify yourself during administrative processes. Find out in our step-by-step guide how to apply for your digital certificate and download it onto your computer.
How to get your digital certificate on your mobile phone: Our next guide on the digital certificate, tells you how to download it onto your phone so that you can complete process and fill out documents while you're on the move as well. Be aware that you must have it on your computer first before you can get it on your phone.
The Cl@ve system: Other than the digital certificates, one of the most popular ways to identify yourself online is to get a Cl@ve system. It's a digital signature system that allows you to do all kinds of official processes safely from the comfort of your home, and a way for the government to know it's actually you, as you won't be going into the office in person for them to identify you. Both the Cl@ve Pin and the permanent Cl@ve are fully integrated into the Cl@ve system and fulfil the same purposes. Here's our step-by-step guide on how to apply for the Cl@ve.
Autofirma: Finally, there's one more way to identify yourself officially, which sometimes has to be used in conjunction with the digital certificate and or Cl@ve. This is Autofirma. This is again another piece of software that you have to download on your computer. It was created by Spain's Ministry of Finance and Public Administrations and has the same validity as the handwritten signature for documents online. Read our handy guide on how to install it and what you might need it for.
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17-07-2025
- Local Spain
5 essential reads if you need to do official processes online in Spain
Bureaucracy is something you'll have to get used to when you move to Spain as there are many forms you have to complete and paperwork to fill in for just about every admin process. You'll find though that many of these processes can be a lot easier if you can identify yourself officially online. You'll need this for everything from sending in your taxes to applying for a criminal record check and completing forms at the DGT (Traffic Office). There are several ways to identify yourself in this way – through the digital certificate, the cl@ve system and the Autofirma. How to get your digital certificate on your laptop: The digital certificate is a piece of software in Spain that you can download on your computer, allowing you to identify yourself during administrative processes. Find out in our step-by-step guide how to apply for your digital certificate and download it onto your computer. How to get your digital certificate on your mobile phone: Our next guide on the digital certificate, tells you how to download it onto your phone so that you can complete process and fill out documents while you're on the move as well. Be aware that you must have it on your computer first before you can get it on your phone. The Cl@ve system: Other than the digital certificates, one of the most popular ways to identify yourself online is to get a Cl@ve system. It's a digital signature system that allows you to do all kinds of official processes safely from the comfort of your home, and a way for the government to know it's actually you, as you won't be going into the office in person for them to identify you. Both the Cl@ve Pin and the permanent Cl@ve are fully integrated into the Cl@ve system and fulfil the same purposes. Here's our step-by-step guide on how to apply for the Cl@ve. Autofirma: Finally, there's one more way to identify yourself officially, which sometimes has to be used in conjunction with the digital certificate and or Cl@ve. This is Autofirma. This is again another piece of software that you have to download on your computer. It was created by Spain's Ministry of Finance and Public Administrations and has the same validity as the handwritten signature for documents online. Read our handy guide on how to install it and what you might need it for.
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Spain trials 150km/h speed limit on motorways
Spain currently has a speed limit of 120km/h on motorways, but the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) is now testing a new limit of 150km/h on a certain section of the highway in Catalonia, which will be controlled by artificial intelligence. Drivers traveling on the AP-7 near El Vendrell will now be able to travel up to 150 km/h; and will not be fined if they exceed 120 km/h, making it the first of its kind in the country. Speed limits there will now be controlled by AI, meaning that the maximum speed limit could change according to factors like weather conditions, the amount of traffic, time of day, and even road conditions. However, this also means that at certain times drivers will also be able to go faster than the usual limit. As speed limits will be adjusted in real time, the system is designed to improve road safety in situations such as adverse weather conditions or near high-risk areas such as roads with dangerous curves, but will also help prevent traffic jams during rush hour. According to the Spanish government, they want to follow the example of other EU countries such as Germany and France, which also have similar AI speed controls. In Germany, for example, this system has helped minimise accidents during rush hour, when vehicle density is highest and in France, variable speed limits have been implemented in areas prone to sudden weather changes, preventing accidents caused by adverse conditions. The EU has assured its members that this new system of limits controlled by AI will reduce the number of accidents, minimise CO2 emissions, and optimise fuel consumption. In the Netherlands, studies have shown that intelligent speed control can reduce traffic accidents by up to 30 percent in high-accident areas. But this system also poses several challenges too. The main concern is that drivers may be confused about how fast or slow they should be driving. It is also essential that the AI technology is accurate and is in constant working order, otherwise it could jeopardise road safety. There are also debates surrounding privacy and data use, as these systems require constant monitoring of traffic and driver behaviour. Some organisations have shown concern about how this data is managed and whether it could be used for other purposes, such as automatically imposing speeding fines. Currently the trial will only take place in this one section in Catalonia, but if successful it could be rolled out across the country.
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How to get Spain's digital certificate without an in-person appointment
Digital ID For Members The digital certificate allows you to save time by carrying out official processes online, but applying for it involves booking an appointment, waiting days or weeks and then going in person to have it approved. Luckily, there's now a faster way to do this. The digital certificate or certificado electrónico is a piece of software in Spain that you can download on your computer or mobile, allowing you to officially identify yourself online and therefore carry out a lot of official business. The certificate can be used for many different administrative processes with various Spanish institutions, including Hacienda (Tax Office), the DGT (Traffic Office), your regional health system, the INSS social security system, your bank, or your Ayuntamiento (Town Hall). Basically, Spain's digital certificate allows you to skip a lot of Spain's convoluted in-person bureaucracy, which usually entails booking appointments, waiting in queues and dealing with civil servants. However, what's rather ironic is that in order to avoid these time-consuming affairs through the digital certificate, you have to first get an appointment (the dreaded cita previa), wait several days/weeks and then go in person to your local administrative office to have you digital certificate approved. Luckily, this Kafkaesque situation can now be avoided and the whole process can be done entirely online. In other words, you can directly apply for the digital certificate app on your phone, without needing to have it on your computer first, and without having to make this appointment and go into an office. For the last year, it has been possible to apply for the digital certificate for your computer completely online with the option of a video call instead of having to make an appointment to get yourself identified in person, which reduced the waiting time dramatically, instead of waiting weeks looking for appointments available at local offices. Now this video call option is also available for those who want to apply directly for the digital certificate on their mobile phones, whereas before, they'd have to make appointments and go into offices twice before they could do this. The video identification service costs €2.99 plus taxes (it's free for those affected by the floods in Valencia and surrounding areas). Applying for the digital certificate itself is completely free. To get it on your phone via the video call method, you can download the app here for Android and here for iOS. It's the app from Spain's Royal Mint - the FNMT. When you have downloaded it you can select ' Solicitar el Certificado ' with ' vídeo identificación' (video identification). Next you need to validate your e-mail address. Once this is done, you will get a message sent to your phone with a code that you must enter. From here, you can click on ' Comenzar vídeo identificación ' (start video identification). You will do this by showing your ID card like a TIE and then turning your head in different directions so they can capture all angles. Finally, you will have to say your name out loud while holding your ID. If everything has been done correctly, it will say ' Enhorabuena, has solicitado tu Certificado Digital con éxito' (Congratulations you have successfully requested your Digital Certificate). Wait a total of between 24 to 48 hours for everything to be processed and then you download and install your certificate on your phone.
