Your Key for Getting Online, or How to Get a Cl@ve

Like governments all over the world, Spain has spent considerable time and resources making many of their bureaucratic procedures available online. Using sites like those for the Agencia Tributaria (the Tax Office), the National Administraciones Públicas (for, among many other things, immigration issues, appointments, and procedures), and the Sede electronica for the Comunidad de Madrid, you can make appointments to take care of immigration issues, get help with public services or taxes, and request a variety of other documentation you might find you need.

One site I've found especially helpful is the one that allows you to pay traffic tickets online. I cover how to do this in a separate post.

Regardless of the site, however, one thing you'll find you need on most of them, if you're going to request any personal data or documentation, is a Cl@ve.

In case you don't know, clave means "key" in Spanish. The Spanish government swapped out the "a" in clave for an "@" symbol (called an arroba in Spanish, which is useful to know when giving out your email address), and used this to brand their online identification-verification system. There are actually at least three different setups that accomplish the same thing, but the Cl@ve is the one I was able to get, and so it's the one I've used and the one I know the most about.

Cl@ve is essentially a two-factor authorization system. Once you apply for it, you download an app for your phone and sign in using your NIE (NIE is an acronym for número de identidad de extranjero; it's often referred to as your "foreigner identity card" and is a pre-requisite for almost everything you'd need to do if you're going to stay in Spain for longer than allowed by a tourist visa.) When signing in, you use both your NIE and a "support number", which is printed on both the top right of your NIE card, and in smaller text on the top left, immediately below the "ESP" symbol.

Once you input both of these items and click Obtenir Cl@ve ("Obtain Cl@ve"), the App on your phone should get sent a three-character code. Enter that code in the "PIN" textbox and click Acceder ("Access"), and you'll be validated.

Great. Now, how do I get one?

Right, so that's what we're here to answer. According to the Cl@ve website, you're supposed to be able to request one online. The process is:

1. You go online and submit the request.
2. You wait to receive a letter in the mail (regular mail, or Correos.)
3. Once you receive the "invitation" letter, you go back online and use the code on the letter to register.
4. Once that's all done, you can proceed with downloading the app, signing in, and whatever else it is you want to accomplish with your new Cl@ve.

Now, this worked for my wife. We were able to do the online steps and, about a week later, we received the "invitation" letter in the mail. For me, no such luck, which was a real bummer since all of our visa and residency status was tied to my identity, since my job is what allowed us to get a residency visa in the first place.

In my case, I actually had to go to the Agencia Tributaria (the Spanish Tax Office) to get mine. For whatever reason, the online process wouldn't work. But I was able to make an appointment and get the nice person at the office to help me get set up. So, while perhaps not as convenient online registration, I was able to walk out of the office with my Cl@ve set up and working without having to wait for the invitation letter to show up in the mail.

So there you have it. Whether you go the online route or the in-person one, I highly recommend you dive right in and get yours as soon as possible. It really has opened up a wealth of online possibilities when it comes to getting or updating official documentation.

¡Buena suerte!