Cl@ve and Digital Certifcate

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2021 10:49am

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Jaycee75

Posts: 3

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Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 27 Feb 2021

Hi. Can anyone kindly tell me the difference between the Cl@ve and a Digital Certificate or are they one and the same.

Thanks to the advice on here I have started the process of obtaining a Cl@ve and am now waiting for the letter to finish the process.

I've also booked and paid a Torrevieja company to help me obtain a Digital Certificate and am now waiting for an appointment which includes a translator, although my Spanish is excellent.

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Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2021 8:37pm

Kimmy11

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 6870

12563 helpful points

Location: Formentera Del Segura

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2021 8:37pm

Hi Jaycee,

If your Spanish is excellent, you don't need to pay anyone to help you get a Digital Certificate. All you need to do is visit your Town Hall (you may need to make an appointment first) with passport and proof of residency. It took the administrator at our Town Hall about 30 minutes to do ours - and I'm only intermediate Spanish, LOL!

The difference between Cl@ve and an Electronic Certificate (you can use a Digital Signature with both) is the the issuing bodies. Cl@ve is issued by the Ministry of Finance and I've seen it suggested on this forum that it is more secure than an Electronic Certificate - you'll need to verify your identity in person at, for example, an Agencia Tributaria or SUMA office; an Electronic Certificate can be verified at your Town Hall. I have the latter; if I ever get around to doing my own tax returns, I will probably get a Cl@ve as well (they're not mutually exclusive), but I've seen feedback that they're "clunky" to use compared to an EC.

Kind regards,

Kim

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2021 9:31pm

Jaycee75

Original Poster

Posts: 3

1 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 27 Feb 2021

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2021 9:31pm

Kimmy11 wrote on Sun Feb 28, 2021 8:37pm:
Hi Jaycee,
If your Spanish is excellent, you don't need to pay anyone to help you get a Digital Certificate. All you need to do is visit your Town Hall (you may need to make an appointment first) with passport and proof of residency. It took the administrator at our Town Hall about 30 minutes to...

Read more...

... do ours - and I'm only intermediate Spanish, LOL!
The difference between Cl@ve and an Electronic Certificate (you can use a Digital Signature with both) is the the issuing bodies. Cl@ve is issued by the Ministry of Finance and I've seen it suggested on this forum that it is more secure than an Electronic Certificate - you'll need to verify your identity in person at, for example, an Agencia Tributaria or SUMA office; an Electronic Certificate can be verified at your Town Hall. I have the latter; if I ever get around to doing my own tax returns, I will probably get a Cl@ve as well (they're not mutually exclusive), but I've seen feedback that they're "clunky" to use compared to an EC.
Kind regards,
Kim

Thank you Kim for explaining the difference and after living here for nearly twenty two years you would have thought that I would be up to date with things but to be truthful,I've managed quite well without Cl@ve and Digital Certificates up to now, but it seems I've got to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
Thanks again.

Jaycee xx

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Posted: Mon Mar 1, 2021 9:20am

Bob6161

Posts: 72

37 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 25 Nov 2020

Posted: Mon Mar 1, 2021 9:20am

Kimmy11 wrote on Sun Feb 28, 2021 8:37pm:
Hi Jaycee,
If your Spanish is excellent, you don't need to pay anyone to help you get a Digital Certificate. All you need to do is visit your Town Hall (you may need to make an appointment first) with passport and proof of residency. It took the administrator at our Town Hall about 30 minutes to...

Read more...

... do ours - and I'm only intermediate Spanish, LOL!
The difference between Cl@ve and an Electronic Certificate (you can use a Digital Signature with both) is the the issuing bodies. Cl@ve is issued by the Ministry of Finance and I've seen it suggested on this forum that it is more secure than an Electronic Certificate - you'll need to verify your identity in person at, for example, an Agencia Tributaria or SUMA office; an Electronic Certificate can be verified at your Town Hall. I have the latter; if I ever get around to doing my own tax returns, I will probably get a Cl@ve as well (they're not mutually exclusive), but I've seen feedback that they're "clunky" to use compared to an EC.
Kind regards,
Kim

Morning Kim, I went to the Town Hall for a digital signature, but I can’t download the software on my MacBook, I’ve looked on the website and they say it’s very difficult to use Apple, have you heard this and what software do you use?.

Kind regards

Bob

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Posted: Mon Mar 1, 2021 9:21am

ldp

Helpful member

Posts: 297

198 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 30 Aug 2015

Posted: Mon Mar 1, 2021 9:21am

Hi, we recently got a cl@ve in Torrevieja......and we are intermediate Spanish speakers.

Made appointment on line and it was easy....TIE and Spanish mobile number and e-mail address needed.

Lynne

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Posted: Mon Mar 1, 2021 9:36am

Kimmy11

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 6870

12563 helpful points

Location: Formentera Del Segura

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Mon Mar 1, 2021 9:36am

Bob6161 wrote on Mon Mar 1, 2021 9:20am:
Morning Kim, I went to the Town Hall for a digital signature, but I can’t download the software on my MacBook, I’ve looked on the website and they say it’s very difficult to use Apple, have you heard this and what software do you use?.
Kind regards

Read more...

Bob

Morning Bob,

Sorry, I have no experience of this personally - if you'll excuse the contradiction in terms, I'm an Android girl! 😄

However, this article from CAB Spain suggests compatibility with Apple products has been a known issue for a few years. There are a couple of links in the article that may help you:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.es/faq/digital-certificate-for-mac/

If it helps solve your problem, it would be good to have your feedback about how it worked.

Many thanks and kind regards,

Kim