Digital Certificate, Cl@ve or idCAT: Options for Foreigners in Spain
Most Spanish paperwork can be done online once you have an electronic ID. These are the three options open to foreign residents in Barcelona and how to get each one.
A foreigner in Barcelona needs an NIE to get any Spanish electronic ID. The FNMT digital certificate is requested online and activated after an in-person identity check; Cl@ve needs an in-person registration with your NIE document and passport; idCAT Mòbil, the Catalan option, is free and linked to your mobile number.
Which electronic ID should you get?
The three systems overlap, but they are not interchangeable. Many residents end up with two.
| System | Issued by | Best for | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| FNMT certificate (certificado de persona física) | Royal Mint (FNMT), Spanish state | Signing and filing with almost any public body, including immigration filings and the tax office | Installed on one computer or browser; you must back it up |
| Cl@ve | Spanish state | Logging in to state services such as the tax office, Social Security and the DGT from a phone | The basic level does not work for everything and cannot sign documents |
| idCAT Mòbil | Generalitat de Catalunya | Catalan services such as La Meva Salut and many city council procedures | Mainly accepted by Catalan administrations |
If you plan to file immigration renewals online, the FNMT certificate is the most widely accepted. Cl@ve is the simplest for everyday logins. idCAT Mòbil covers Catalan health records and regional grants.
How do you get the FNMT digital certificate?
The FNMT software certificate is issued in four steps that must be done in order:
- Prepare your computer. Install the configuration software the FNMT lists, and use the same computer and browser for every step.
- Request online. Enter your NIE, first surname and email. You receive an application code by email.
- Prove your identity in person at an accreditation office, with the application code and your documents. Tax Agency and Social Security offices require a cita previa. The FNMT says it has more than 2,400 such offices; its office finder lists them. Correos post offices do not accept this certificate request.
- Download the certificate on the same computer about one hour after the identity check, using the code.
Which documents to bring depends on where you are from, according to the FNMT:
- EU citizens: the EU registration certificate or an official document showing your NIE, plus your passport or national ID card.
- Non-EU citizens: your TIE (or another foreigner ID card showing the NIE) plus your passport, or the official NIE assignment document plus your passport.
The NIE document only has to prove you hold the number; the FNMT accepts it regardless of its expiry date. The FNMT also offers identity verification by video for a charge of €2.99 plus tax as of November 2026, but its pages do not confirm which foreign documents that service accepts, so the office route is the safe one.
Once downloaded, export the certificate with its private key to a password-protected file and keep a copy. If the computer fails, that file is the only way to reinstall it.
How do you register for Cl@ve with an NIE?
For foreigners, the reliable route is in-person registration at a Cl@ve office, such as a Tax Agency office. According to the Tax Agency’s Cl@ve page:
- You must go yourself. Registration cannot be done by a representative or with a power of attorney.
- Bring your NIE document and your passport or travel document.
- Give a mobile phone number (Spanish or foreign) and an email address. One phone number can only be linked to one NIE or DNI.
- Book by phone on 91 333 5 333 or online under “Asistencia y Cita”, choosing Identificación electrónica and then Registro en Cl@ve.
In-person registration gives the advanced level, which you need for Cl@ve Firma (signing documents). Online options exist, such as an invitation letter or a video call, but they give only the basic level, and the Cl@ve website listed the video service as temporarily disabled in November 2026. After registering, you can use Cl@ve Móvil in the Cl@ve app and activate a Cl@ve Permanente password.
How do you get idCAT Mòbil?
idCAT Mòbil is free and open to anyone over 16. It links your identity document to your mobile phone: each login is confirmed with a one-time code sent to that phone. The online sign-up asks for your identity document details and, as an extra check, a code from your CatSalut health card, so get your TSI health card first if you want to register from home. Without the card, ask about in-person registration at a Generalitat or city council office.
The Generalitat also issues idCAT Certificat, a full digital certificate requested through registration offices in Catalonia. For most residents, idCAT Mòbil plus either Cl@ve or the FNMT certificate covers everything.
What can you do online once you have one?
- Immigration: file renewals and other residence applications through the Mercurio platform; see how to renew a TIE.
- Tax: file your annual return and download tax certificates from the Agencia Tributaria.
- Social Security: get your Social Security number, your contribution record (vida laboral) and register as self-employed.
- Traffic: check points and request a driving licence exchange at the DGT.
- Catalan health: see test results and prescriptions in La Meva Salut with idCAT Mòbil.
- City hall: request padrón certificates and other procedures at the Ajuntament’s online office.
Each portal lists the login methods it accepts on its sign-in page. Check before you start a procedure that needs a signature rather than a simple login.
Bottom line
Book the in-person identity check for the FNMT certificate and the Cl@ve registration on the same morning if you can, since both need the same NIE document and passport. Then back up the certificate file and save your Cl@ve phone number somewhere safe, because changing it later means another identity check.
FAQ
Can I get a digital certificate without an NIE?
No. The FNMT certificate and Cl@ve both record your NIE. Get the number first; our guide on how to get an NIE in Barcelona explains how.
Does the FNMT certificate cost anything?
The FNMT price list only shows a charge for the optional video identification service: €2.99 plus tax as of November 2026. It lists no charge for the office route.
Can a gestor register Cl@ve for me?
No. Cl@ve registration must be done in person by the holder and cannot be delegated.
