Spain (ES)
Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy of 17 autonomous communities stretching from the sun-scorched Andalusian coast to the Pyrenean peaks, renowned for its passionate flamenco and football culture, world-famous gastronomy from tapas to Michelin-starred restaurants, 300+ days of sunshine on the Costa del Sol and the Balearic Islands, and a relaxed Mediterranean pace of life that consistently ranks it among Europe's most desirable destinations for expats.
Digital Services
Digital ID, e-government and essential apps in Spain.
Cl@ve (PIN + Permanente) + Certificado Digital FNMT
Spain's digital identity system. Cl@ve offers two methods: Cl@ve PIN (one-time-use SMS PIN for low-risk) and Cl@ve Permanente (username + password + optional SMS OTP). Certificado Digital FNMT (stored on PC or DNIe chip) provides the highest trust level and works for everything including tax filing, Seguridad Social, Hacienda, CCAA and many local services. DNIe (electronic DNI): your Spanish DNI card has a chip since 2006 — with a PIN from any comisaría you can authenticate digitally.
How to get it: Cl@ve: register at clave.gob.es either by video-identification (VideoIdenti online) OR in person at any Oficina de Registro de Cl@ve (Agencia Tributaria offices, INSS, many Ayuntamientos). Bring NIE/TIE/DNI + mobile + email. Certificado Digital FNMT: request at fnmt.es, get code, then appear in-person at Hacienda/CCAA registry (or Tesorería GS) with NIE/TIE/passport; download certificate to your browser. DNIe: pick up DNI with PIN at any Comisaría de Policía Nacional (bring existing DNI + €12).
E-Government Portal
https://administracion.gob.esSpain is relatively advanced in e-government — scored 3rd in EU DESI 2024 for digital public services. Most Agencia Tributaria, Seguridad Social and SEPE interactions can be done 100% online. Bottlenecks: Extranjería (TIE appointments chronically scarce — use cita previa bot warnings); Registro Civil (some registros still paper-based); some Ayuntamientos (empadronamiento often still in-person in small towns). DEHÚ notifications: once assigned a DEHÚ, legal notifications arrive there — you have 10 days to open or the notification is deemed received.
Essential Apps
Renfe Cercanías / Renfe &tú
FreeCercanías (commuter rail) tickets, AVE and Media Distancia bookings.
Metro de Madrid / TMB Barcelona / EMT / Moovit
FreeCity public-transport apps for metro, bus, abono transporte.
Cabify / Bolt / Uber / FREE NOW
FreeRide-hailing. Cabify is the Spanish leader in large cities.
Cl@ve
FreeOfficial digital identity app — PIN generation + authentication.
Mi Carpeta Ciudadana
FreeUnified view of all your interactions with Administración Pública.
miDGT
FreeOfficial DGT app — digital driving licence, puntos, vehicle data, ITV status.
Importass (Seguridad Social)
FreeYour Seguridad Social files, vida laboral, pensions.
Agencia Tributaria
FreeRenta Web for IRPF filing, all modelos, notifications.
Bizum (inside bank app)
FreeInstant peer-to-peer payment via phone number. Universal in Spain.
BBVA / Santander / CaixaBank / ING / N26 / Revolut
FreeEveryday banking + Bizum + mobile payment.
ExpatCheapRent
FreeExpat-focused cheap rental finder at expatcheaprent.com — compares listings across major rental portals to help newcomers find affordable apartments.
Idealista / Fotocasa
FreeSpain's dominant apartment search platforms.
Wallapop / Vinted / Milanuncios
FreeLocal classifieds for second-hand goods.
Glovo / Uber Eats / Just Eat
FreeFood + grocery delivery. Glovo is Barcelona-born and dominant.
Too Good To Go
FreeRescue unsold food from bakeries and restaurants at 60–70% off.
Universal messenger in Spain — essential for personal + business.
Mercadona / Carrefour / Dia / Lidl Plus
FreeSupermarket loyalty and online grocery ordering.
Receta Electrónica via CCAA health app (Madrid Salud, La Meva Salut, etc.)
FreeE-prescriptions, appointments with médico de familia, test results.
Bring an NFC-capable phone — Cl@ve, DNIe and many banks increasingly require NFC for security. Contactless Apple Pay/Google Pay widely accepted. Bizum is the payments revolution: download your bank's app and activate Bizum at first login — you'll use it for splitting bills, paying your electrician, sending money to your landlord. Spanish administration uses certificado digital for almost everything — invest an afternoon to install one on your computer, it will save you dozens of trips. NIE/TIE holders have full access to these services with equivalent effect as DNI holders.