Filing online and from abroad

It is for anyone thinking about, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. After reading it, you will know which channel to use, how to submit and prove that you did, and what to do when the technology fails.

Start with "How Spain's online offices (sede electrónica) work". It explains the electronic office model and how you identify yourself, which every other page builds on.

Getting an electronic ID such as Cl@ve or a certificate, handling notifications after you file, and gathering evidence for your application are covered elsewhere.

Key rules

• Filing receipt: After filing online, download and save the receipt (justificante), which shows the registry number, date and time and is your proof of filing.
• Post office filing: To keep your filing date at the post office, hand the document in at the counter in an open envelope so the clerk can stamp and date it before sending it by certified mail.
• Portal outage: If a portal is down, a deadline extension is not automatic: it only applies if the administration publishes a notice, so file on paper at any registry before the deadline instead of waiting.
• Legal effect: Only the official sede gives your filing legal effect, so confirm the address and secure connection first.
• TIE: Your TIE card is not an electronic ID, so it will not log you in by itself.
• Specific procedure first: If the body has a specific procedure for your matter, use it instead of the general registry.

Filing online and from abroad: the whole process, step by step

• Get a Spanish tax number (NIE) if you do not have one. Start with "How Spain's online offices (sede electrónica) work": before you file anything online, especially from abroad

• Get a way to identify yourself online: Cl@ve or an electronic certificate. See "How Spain's online offices (sede electrónica) work": before you start the filing, because most online filings cannot be made without it

• If you are abroad, choose how to file: online yourself, or through a representative in Spain. See "Filing Spanish paperwork before you arrive, from abroad": before you arrive in Spain

• Complete and sign the online submission, then download the justificante. See "Submitting an online filing and keeping your receipt": on the day you file, before you close the page

• If AutoFirma, your browser or your certificate fails, work through the fixes. See "Fixing AutoFirma, browser and certificate problems": as soon as signing fails, well before the deadline

• If you cannot file online at all, file on paper at a registry or post office. See "Filing at a registry or post office without an appointment": before the deadline, rather than waiting for a portal to come back

• Follow your procedure and ask for a copy of your file if you need one. See "Tracking your filing and getting a copy of your file": after filing; a transparency request for a closed file gets a reply within 1 month

• Check an electronic copy of a document with its verification code. See "Checking a Spanish document with its verification code (CSV)": whenever you receive or must hand over an electronic document

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• A copy of your passport — How Spain's online offices (sede electrónica) work, Filing Spanish paperwork before you arrive, from abroad
• Your NIE or foreigner ID card — How Spain's online offices (sede electrónica) work
• Form EX-15 for a NIE request — Filing Spanish paperwork before you arrive, from abroad
• Your identity document — Tracking your filing and getting a copy of your file

Other documents

• The documents you want to send — Submitting an online filing and keeping your receipt
• A digital certificate — Fixing AutoFirma, browser and certificate problems
• Fee form modelo 790 código 012 — Filing Spanish paperwork before you arrive, from abroad
• The electronic administrative document or printed copy you want to check — Checking a Spanish document with its verification code (CSV)
• A backup of your certificate as a .pfx or .p12 file that includes the private — Fixing AutoFirma, browser and certificate problems

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Filing online and from abroad: questions that cross several articles

Can I file online as a foreigner without Cl@ve or a digital certificate?

Mostly no, because most online filings require identification, but a representative with their own ID, such as a gestor or lawyer, can file for you. Some procedures also allow limited routes, such as a reference number, and paper filing is the fallback. Read "Filing Spanish paperwork before you arrive, from abroad" and "Filing at a registry or post office without an appointment".

Which ID can a foreigner get to file online?

A foreigner can get Cl@ve with a NIE or foreigner ID (TIE), or an FNMT electronic certificate with a NIE or passport. See How Spain's online offices (sede electrónica) work.

What does the receipt (justificante) prove after I file?

The justificante proves that you filed on that date and time, with that content, so it counts as your proof of presentation for deadlines. It shows the registry number, date, time and a verification code, but it does not mean the application will be accepted. See "Submitting an online filing and keeping your receipt" and "Checking a Spanish document with its verification code (CSV)".

Can I file any paperwork at a registry or post office instead of online?

No, paper is not always allowed: companies, professionals with mandatory registration and their representatives must file electronically. Tax and Social Security filings often have their own electronic channel, and some immigration applications use exclusive channels.

What should I do if AutoFirma will not sign close to a deadline?

Try the standard fixes first: reinstall the latest version as administrator, restart, and try another browser such as Chrome or Edge. If it still fails, try another computer or file on paper before the deadline. See "Fixing AutoFirma, browser and certificate problems" and "Filing at a registry or post office without an appointment".