More and more different processes today are done exactly through the Internet. The active growth of digitalization began back in the period of the coronavirus, when all stores and shopping malls were closed. Spain even created a special visa for IT professionals to attract more talent to its territory.
But today we will talk not about how to get a residence permit or visa, but about how to make your life in Spain more comfortable. For many people, it's no secret that some countries even have digital passports already, and Spain has a digital signature, which greatly simplifies many processes in life. If you want to know how a foreigner can get a digital certificate in Spain, read on.
What is an e-certificate in Spain?
To begin with, electronic certificate, digital signature, electronic signature are all the same term. A digital signature is simply necessary for conducting various matters on the internet. It is an opportunity to get access to the portals of public services in Spain and perform various affairs remotely. As statistics show, owners of a digital certificate very often use such a document after receiving it.
For example, imagine that you need to go to the website of the tax office to file a tax return. If you do not have a digital certificate, you will have to personally go to the tax office and submit the declaration manually. But e-signature holders can avoid wasting their time and do it all online.
Which purposes is a digital signature needed for?
It's amazing, but more and more things can be done from the comfort of your couch. All you need is the internet, a device and your digital certificate. There are many things you can do with a digital signature, and here are the most popular uses of signatures:
Extension of residence permit status.
Registration of citizenship.
Preparation and filing of tax returns, both for individuals and businesses.
Obtaining a certificate of criminal record.
Applying for benefits and allowances.
A digital certificate in Spain can even be used to obtain a license to fish in local waters. Moreover, the list of applications for electronic signatures is always expanding.
The process of issuing a digital signature in Spain
The first step in issuing a digital certificate is to go to the state website and request a certificate by filling out a special form. There you need to familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions, enter your name, surname and other data. After that, you will receive a special code to your mail, which you need to activate within 14 days. You can do this only in person by visiting the tax office or Oficinas de Registro (here you can find all addresses).
Once you have confirmed your identity, the certificate will be available for installation on the device. You can download it on the website by entering your details. The whole process of obtaining a digital certificate can take as little as 10-20 minutes. The validity period of the digital certificate is 3 years.
How to use the e-certificate in practice?
It is worth noting that you can install a digital signature not only on one computer, but on several devices. An electronic certificate provides access to your data, so we do not recommend installing it on unverified devices.
Let's move on to the question of how to use an e-certificate. For example, you need to file a tax return on your income for the current year. To do this, you need to go to the site of the tax service in Spain Agencia Tributaria and click on the authorization button. You need to log into your account using your e-certificate. Now you can successfully file your income tax return.
