The DNI can now be carried on mobile phones: The Spanish government gives the green light to the digital format.

MadridThe digital DNI will begin to take shape this Wednesday. The Official State Gazette (BOE) will publish the decree regulating its "issuance, management, and development process" so that it can be installed on mobile phones. The launch of the digital ID card was approved this Tuesday by the Council of Ministers and will coexist with the physical DNI, although the Spanish government's intention is to extend its use "universally," according to sources from the National Police.

These are the key points of a measure that the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has defined as a "true revolution" for the public administration and the private sector.

Will the digital DNI be mandatory?

The digital DNI is born as a new right for citizens, but not as an obligation. This means that this digital format has not been introduced to replace the physical DNI, but rather will coexist and allow citizens to identify themselves and prove their identity. In fact, in some cases the digital DNI will not be valid, and the traditional one will still be mandatory: the clearest example is outside the Spanish state (except in Spanish embassies or consulates abroad, where it could be used because they are Spanish territory).

How can one be obtained?

To obtain a digital ID card on your mobile phone, you'll need to download the official Ministry of the Interior app, "MiDNI," to your mobile phone (there's a version for Android and one for iOS). This app is official—it bears the seal of the National Police—and is free. First, you'll need a valid ID card and a mobile phone number. With these two items, you'll be able to download the app. How? You'll need to obtain a registration code, and there are three ways to do so. You can apply online, using an electronic ID card, or through the Ministry of the Interior website. You can also apply in person at a National Police station (you'll need to make an appointment), and finally, you can apply through a National Police Documentation Unit.

This registration code will be sent via SMS to the phone number provided and will be used to link the ID to the app (only one ID per phone number is allowed, so it's not possible for a phone to have more than one ID installed). This code will be used to activate the app.

How will the ID appear?

The digital DNI will be available in three forms: a digital age DNI, a simple DNI, and a full DNI. The first will only display the age and photo and will therefore be used when proof of age is required, such as to enter a leisure establishment for those over eighteen. This is followed by the simple DNI, with more information, and finally, the full DNI, which will display all the information from the physical DNI.

When will it be available?

For the time being, it will be possible to use it for limited purposes. In fact, it should be noted that the digital DNI will only be valid within the Spanish state (including in Spanish embassies and consulates) and cannot be used for travel abroad. Sources from the National Police indicate that they are working with Aena to allow it to be used at Spanish airports, for example, for travel from Barcelona to Seville.

In this first phase, it will primarily be used to verify identity in person. Therefore, it will not be used to verify identity or carry out procedures involving telematic or electronic procedures. In fact, this is not expected to be possible until 2026, when the second phase is expected to begin.

Taking all this into account, for the time being, the digital DNI can be used to verify identity for everyday in-person procedures. This means it can be used to access any public or private space, such as a theater. It can also be used to prove legal age when necessary or to establish any legal relationship, such as signing deeds before a notary or registering as a resident. It will also be used to collect packages from courier services and sign a mortgage loan with a bank, among other procedures.

How will this be verified?

Now, when you want to show your digital ID (they won't be required to ask for it), the other person will need to have the app to verify it. The digital ID will generate a QR code that will allow it to be read using another mobile phone. "It will be like reading a digital menu in a restaurant," police sources explain.

Thus, for example, if you want to show this digital ID to a police officer, they must have the app installed. For this reason, police sources refer to a "transition period." A one-year period has been given (until April 1, 2026) for all public and private agents, from public administrations, such as Social Security offices, to nightclubs, to have the app installed. From that date on, showing your digital ID will be a right as such. In this regard, sources from the National Police explain that a meeting is planned with the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) to explain the app's rollout.

Spain is one of the first countries in the European Union to adopt a system for proving citizens' identity via mobile phone. Police sources suggest that this could be extended to the NIE (National Identity Number) in the future.