How to get a digital certificate in five steps (and why you will need it before January)
The digital certificate is the key to almost every official procedure in Spain, and it is required to activate a Verifactu till. Most businesses already have one without knowing it. Here is how to check and how to get one.
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- Editorial team
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- Published:
- 1 October 2026
- Updated:
- 1 October 2026
- 2 min read
A digital certificate is a small file that proves, online, that you are who you say you are, or that you represent your company. The Agencia Tributaria, the Seguridad Social, the Ayuntamiento and your bank all accept it, and from 2027 your till software needs it to register with Hacienda. The most common issuer is the FNMT (Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre).
Step one: find out whether you already have one. If your gestor files your taxes online, there is a certificate somewhere, either yours or theirs acting as your representative. Ask them which. If it is theirs, you can still activate the till with their help, but having your own avoids depending on them for every procedure.
Step two: choose the right type. If you are autónomo, you need a certificate for a natural person (persona física). If you run an SL, you need a certificate of representative (representante de persona jurídica), which is issued to the administrator of the company.
Step three: request it. On the FNMT website you complete the request form and receive a code. For a natural person, you can verify your identity by video or in person at a registration office (many Agencia Tributaria and Seguridad Social offices do this, by appointment). For a company representative, verification is in person, and the FNMT checks your authority against the Registro Mercantil; this step takes a few days and has a small fee.
Step four: download and install it on the same computer and browser you used for the request, then export a backup copy to a safe place with a password. Losing the only copy means starting again.
Step five: note the expiry date (usually two to four years) and put a reminder in the calendar three months before.
A common question: can the gestor just do everything? Yes, and many will. But a digital certificate of your own is free for natural persons, takes an afternoon, and means you can check your own tax status, sign contracts and activate your till without waiting for anyone.
What you need to do
- Ask your gestor whether you have a certificate and who holds it.
- If not, request the right type on the FNMT website and book the identity check.
- Export a backup copy and note the expiry date.
Sources
- FNMT-RCM · Sede electrónica, certificados ↗
- Agencia Tributaria · Sede electrónica ↗
- Registradores · Registro Mercantil ↗
References as given in the text: FNMT-RCM, Sede electrónica, certificados; Agencia Tributaria, identificación digital; Registro Mercantil.
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