The Generalitat says goodbye to PDFs

BarcelonaAfter launching a new website and introduce videoconference consultationThe Catalan government continues to make progress in reforming its administration. Now it's the turn of online procedures. Before summer, the government will definitively say goodbye to the PDFs that, until recently, were required to complete online applications. The goal is for the new forms to be "100% accessible" from any device, which will require updating the format of up to 1,550 procedures. The Catalan government has already passed the halfway point in this process, with 900 procedures already adapted, and expects to complete the remaining 650 by June. The update cost a total of 4.3 million euros.

What will improve with the switch from PDFs to HTML forms? First, it will no longer be necessary to download, fill out, and re-upload them—sometimes users had to print them, sign them by hand, and then scan them. Now, it can be done without leaving the website, and payment via Bizum will also be available. The Catalan government has taken the opportunity to revise the text to make it clearer, introduce automatic validations in the forms, and provide versions in Catalan, Spanish, Aranese, and English, depending on the type of procedure. "Our goal is to create automated forms that are integrated into digital platforms and prevent human error," explained the Minister of the Presidency, Albert Dalmau.

AI, a new ally

These are not the only changes that users will soon encounter when accessing the Generalitat's website to carry out any procedure. In the first quarter of 2026, artificial intelligence tools are scheduled to be incorporated for the automatic reading and extraction of data from documents, as well as locations, which can be marked directly on a map. This will eliminate the need for manual entry. Furthermore, the Generalitat is studying the incorporation of AI-powered virtual assistants to help users fill out forms. All of this, Dalmau argued, is in parallel with the strengthening of in-person services by the GeneralitatThroughout this legislature, the Government will deploy eleven integrated offices throughout Catalonia between 2026 and 2027 and five mobile units for the smallest municipalities, with a budget of 13 million euros.