Cl@ve is the identification system of the Spanish public administration. It lets you choose how to identify yourself for each online procedure, for example with the Cl@ve mobile app, a permanent password, a one-off code or an electronic certificate. It also offers a signature function for documents.

How do I register for Cl@ve?

The official site lists several routes: an automatic video identification online, a letter of invitation sent after an online request, a manual review following the video identification, authentication with an electronic certificate or the DNIe, or a visit to a registration office. Which route is open to you depends on your documents.

Can I use my DNI on my phone?

Yes, in a growing number of cases. The DNIe portal states that the digital DNI on the mobile phone can be used for identification and that public and private entities must accept it. The MiDNI app was introduced in 2025. Check the portal for the latest rules for your phone and card model.

Is the Spanish EU wallet available?

A beta of the Cartera Digital exists for iOS and Android, and Spain is among the countries leading the EU pilots. Independent trackers still list it as an announced project without a public sandbox in 2026, so do not rely on it for official procedures yet.

Digital ID in Spain: Cl@ve, DNIe, MiDNI and EU wallet

In Spain you prove who you are online with Cl@ve, the state login, with the electronic DNI (DNIe) on a smart card reader or an NFC phone, or with an electronic certificate. The Spanish EU wallet, the Cartera Digital, exists as a beta in October 2026 but is not yet a finished public app.

At a glance

Item	Status
National eID	DNI with electronic chip (DNIe) for authentication and qualified signature
Mobile or app solution	Cl@ve app, MiDNI app for the digital DNI on the phone, MiDGT app for the driving licence
Bank-based ID	Not part of the state login; banks use their own apps
eIDAS status	DNIe notified November 2018 at level high (source: the Commission’s overview of notified eID schemes, checked October 2026)
EUDI wallet, October 2026	Cartera Digital in beta; announced project without public sandbox
Responsible body	Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service; Ministry of the Interior and police for the DNI

The national system

Spain has two main routes to the same public services. The first is the DNI electrónico (DNIe), the national identity card with a chip that supports online authentication and qualified signatures. You can use it with a smart card reader on Windows, macOS and Linux, and on a smartphone with NFC. You unlock it with a PIN, and the official DNIe portal offers drivers and PIN guidance.

The second is Cl@ve, which exists to make everyday use easier. According to the Cl@ve site, it is a system that lets you identify yourself in dealings with public administrations and choose, each time, how you want to do so. The variants include the Cl@ve mobile app, the permanent Cl@ve password and a signature function. These map to different trust levels, which our guide to levels of assurance explains.

Spain has also moved identity to the phone. The MiDNI app, introduced in 2025, puts a digital version of the DNI on your device. The DNIe portal states that since 2 April 2026 the mobile digital DNI can be used for identification and that public and private entities are obliged to accept it. Driving licences have been available on the phone through the MiDGT app since 2022; see our guide to the mobile driving licence.

How to get it and use it

For the DNI you book an appointment through the official site and renew it up to 180 days before it expires. The chip certificates are protected by a PIN, and you may need to update the drivers on your computer if you use an older card.

For Cl@ve you register once. The official routes are an automatic video identification, a letter of invitation requested online, a manual review after video identification, authentication with a certificate or DNIe, or an in-person visit to a registration office. After that you pick the method on the login page of the service, whether it is the tax agency, social security or a regional portal.

The EU wallet in Spain (October 2026)

Spain’s planned wallet is the Cartera Digital, run by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service. A beta has been available for iOS and Android since late 2024, and Spain takes part in the large-scale EU pilots, including POTENTIAL and NOBID. Press coverage in 2026 points to full integration around the end of 2026 or the start of 2027, while independent trackers listed it as an announced project with no public sandbox in September 2026. The DNI and the MiDNI are regarded as the high-assurance sources that will back the wallet rather than the wallet itself. For the wider picture, read our EU Digital Identity Wallet guide.

Use abroad and by foreigners

Spanish eIDs can be used for some cross-border public services via eIDAS, but coverage depends on the receiving country and service. Our guide to using your national eID in another EU country explains the limits. If you live in Spain without a DNI, ask the administration which registration route applies to your residence document. Neighbouring systems are described on our pages for Portugal and France.

Privacy in brief

The DNI keeps its keys on the chip and unlocks them only with your PIN. Cl@ve links your identity to a central state service, so use a strong password, protect the phone with a screen lock and report a lost phone or card promptly.