Our local lawyer helps answer some of the most common questions we have as foreigners in Spain. This topic is going to cover the digital certificate Spain style!
What is a digital certificate in Spain?
The Certificado Digital (Digital Certificate in Spain), is meant to authenticate yourself with a digital ID. This digital ID would allow you or your lawyer to complete administrative procedures online. This is your digital signature, which is a ticket to the fast track of online procedures in Spain and can help you with bureaucracy.
Why should I get a Spanish digital certificate?
Without a doubt, the digital certificate Spain is the future. For us, as Lawyers, it is a magnificent tool because it greatly speeds up every procedure. Let me explain to you why having a digital signature is so important and how to get your certificado digital.
1. Save Time
Imagine those endless queues in which you have had to wait more than 30 minutes, or sometimes even longer. Imagine all the time you’ve waited in offices only to find out you have a document missing and you need to return. Without a doubt, time is money, and believe me when I say that I prefer to spend my time on things that I really like, rather than waiting for my turn in a queue.
Situations like these disappear with the digital signature, in addition to allowing the immediate filing of a document. The official website will guide you through what documents you need, but if you do not have them, you cannot submit the request. It will provide you with a list of which documents you will need to carry out the procedure. Not to mention, when you do things online, you have the option to translate the websites into English.
2. Save Money
Even when it is used by your lawyer, it will undoubtedly be money-saving, since the time it takes to do things will be much faster. It is clear that if you have a lawyer spending 4 hours in person versus 30 minutes online to complete a task, there will be a saving in fees. Therefore, for a specific job for a client, I always ask about the possibility of doing the work with a digital signature (when appropriate).
3. Any Task – From Anywhere – At Any Time
It sounds incredible, but it’s true. All online (telematic) procedures can be carried out from anywhere in the world, at any time.
Believe me, ‘time’ is an important detail. Imagine that you have remembered that the last day to carry out an administrative task is today, and it is already 4 pm. The government office is definitely closed. What can you do? Well, with telematic technology, you have up to midnight to complete the task. Therefore, it can be done outside of standard office hours, up to midnight. This is undoubtedly a great advantage.
4. Consulting Official Documents or Status
With the digital certificate, you can view the documentation or status at any time. This means that you can also update documents or download it again. Even if there is an official document within the file in question, you can consult or download it.
This is a great advantage, especially because as lawyers, if we need to see specific documentation. With the digital signature we can have access to all those documents. Therefore we don’t need to bother the client and ask them to collect or bring documents to our office or mail them in.
(Changing your address, checking status on visa renewal, taxes, car registration and more).
5. Obtain Official Documents Immediately
What happens when you have to submit an official document in another entity? The overwhelming burden begins. You have to go to one place to request a document, which they probably won’t give you at that very moment, so you will have to go back to pick it up and then take it to a different place. The bureaucratic fun begins. This is great for applications to renew your Spain visa or new your Spanish residency.
With the digital certificate, there are many documents that can be downloaded immediately in the electronic headquarters of each of the Spanish organizations. In minutes, you can almost download it all from one place and then submit it in another. Don’t you think this is a great advantage?
6. Power of Attorney Electronically to Court Attorneys and Lawyers
I hope you never have to go to court to solve problems that may arise in Spain. In the off chance that it is necessary, you will find that you will want to grant a power of attorney to the court attorney and the lawyer. This procedure can be done in a notary’s office, with the consequent cost that it entails. It may also be done in a Court, but you will need to go in person to do so.
With the digital signature, this can be done in just 5 minutes from your computer or through your lawyer. Therefore, it is another important advantage and once again a time saver.
7. Tax Declarations in the Tax Office
Without a doubt, the world of taxes is one of the most important in our lives. Therefore, being able to access the Tax Office Electronic Headquarters is undoubtedly one of the most important reasons for having a digital certificate.
Among other things, you will be able to: file all types of tax declarations, request prior appointments, download all types of certificates, submit all types of applications or requests for help that are managed by the tax office, request instalment payments of debts or tax payments, etc.
There are really countless procedures that can be carried out, and surely, even if the digital signature is only used for this, it would be a compelling reason to have it.
What do you think about the advantages of having a digital signature?
Having a digital signature is undoubtedly the future and will help to facilitate not only your daily life, but through your lawyer you can carry out many procedures more quickly and effectively.
We can help you to obtain your digital certificate for a fee of 60€ + VAT, per person.
Request your Spanish digital certificate today
About the Author: Fran has been a lawyer in Spain for more than 20 years and is based in the Costa Tropical. He is fluent in English and Spanish and can facilitate you buying a property in Spain. While he is located on the Costa Tropical, he can assist with any properties in Andalucia and eastern Spain. You may read more about his services and what offers he has for free consulting, see lawyer in Spain.
Read more How To posts on Almuñécar Info, full of tips and tricks for you to live in Spain.
