What is the Electronic Signature Certificate or Digital Certificate?
The FNMT Digital Certificate for a Natural Person is an electronic certification issued by the FNMT-RCM linking the subscriber with data of verification of signature and confirms their identity. This certificate is a digital file containing the user’s identification data. Through the computer in which the certificate is installed, the user will be able to identify themselves online and exchange information with other people and organizations with safety and confidentiality guarantees.
Who can apply for the Digital Certificate?
Any Spanish or Foreign citizen, older than 18 years old, who holds a DNI, NIE or NIF, will be able to apply for and obtain their digital certificate free of charge in order to sign and prove their identity safely online.
In addition, the FNMT-RCM issues Electronic Certificates for a Legal Person recognized for tax matters. In order to apply for this certificate, the entity must hold a Tax Identification Number (NIF) and its representative must have a DNI, NIE or NIF.
Can the Digital Certificate application be submitted at the Embassy of Spain in Hanoi?
The Embassy of Spain in Hanoi is involved in one of the steps, which is essential for the interested party to obtain the Digital Certificate. This procedure requires appearing in person at the Embassy to verify the user’s identity.
Why is the Digital Certificate important?
Obtaining the Digital Certificate allows the holder to do online procedures with the Spanish Public Administration. For instance, paying taxes, applying for certificates from the Civil Registry, applying for the Spanish Criminal Record Certificate, among others.
How many steps are there to obtain the Digital Certificate?
The procedure to obtain the Digital Certificate has 3 steps, which are as follows:
- Generating the Application Code online.
- Proving the user’s identity at the Consulate General and submitting forms.
- Downloading and obtaining the Certificate.
Which technical considerations are important to have in mind?
Both steps 1 and 3, the application procedure as well as the certificate download, must be done on the same computer and with the same user. At this time, the computer cannot be reset or updated. Prior to starting the process to obtain the Digital Certificate, it is necessary to complete a set of settings in the browser following the
instructions provided by the FNMT
. Sometimes it is may be necessary to deactivate the antivirus during the procedure so that it does not interfere.
What is the procedure to follow?
1. Generating the Application Code online.
The first step to obtain the Digital Certificate requires making an application through the FNMT website, from the computer that you are going to use. For the application it can be necessary to configure your browser. On the application page, the user must include their NIF (DNI or NIE), first last name, email address, accept the conditions and click the button "Enviar petición".
When finalizing the application, the applicant will receive in the provided email account an Application Code from the FNMT that must be printed and kept. This code will be required when proving their identity at the Embassy and later when downloading the certificate.
2. Proving the user’s identity at the Embassy of Spain in Hanoi.
After downloading the code, the interested party needs to write to the email address
emb.hanoi.vis@maec.es in order to book for an appointment to come to the Embassy of Spain in Hanoi to prove their identity.
This identity verification step needs to be done within a period of 10 days after the date of receipt of the Digital Certificate application number.
Special note for those living in Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding areas: the identity can also be verified by means of appearing personally before the Honorary Vice Consuls of Spain in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Depending on the chosen place for identity verification, the interested party needs to email one of the following addresses to book for appointments:
- At the office of the Honorary Vice Consul of Spain in Da Nang: ch.danang@maec.es Immediately after completing the identity verification procedure before the Honorary Vice Consul or before the public civil officer of the Spanish Economic and Commercial Office, and yet within 10 days from the date of receipt of the application code, the interested party must send the following documents to the Embassy's email address emb.hanoi.vis@maec.es, from the same mailbox indicated in the application for digital certificate: application for Digital Certificate, duly filled out and signed, together with the email where you received the generated application code, a copy of the NIE proof and a copy of the document used for identity verification purpose. The application form and the documents used to verify the identity will vary from case to case:
1. Application form for digital certificate:
2. Document to prove identity:
- In the case of natural persons: passport and NIE/NIR number.
- In the case of legal person: the company’s NIF must be submitted, as well as the representative’s passport and NIE/NIF. Likewise, a certification from the Vietnamese registration authority proving the existence of the company, translated into Spanish and duly legalized. If the applicant is not the company’s legal representative, it will also be necessary to present a document justifying the representation, also translated and legalized.
3. Downloading the Digital Certificate.
After 10 working days, the applicant will receive an email with the instructions to download the Digital Certificate from the FNMT website. It is important to keep in mind that the same computer must be used at all times, as well as the same browser and the same user, by entering the required data exactly as they had been previously entered.
After downloading the certificate it is recommended for all users to make a security copy of the certificate in an external storage device.
What can be done if there is any problem?
If you had any difficulty applying for or downloading your certificate, you will have to contact with the customer service of the electronic platform in the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre or check out in its website in the
FAQs section.