Spain’s digital national identity document is now a legally valid substitute for the physical card in face-to-face identification, marking a milestone in the country’s digital ID rollout.
Starting April 2, 2026, any Spanish citizen can present the MiDNI mobile app, the official digital version of the Documento Nacional de Identidad (DNI), for in-person identification across both public and private settings. The Spanish Interior Ministry confirmed the effective date in a statement on April 1, noting that one year has passed since the entry into force of Royal Decree 255/2025, which established the legal framework for the digital DNI.
Under the decree’s transitional provisions, public administrations and private entities were given 12 months to adopt the systems necessary to accept the digital credential. That grace period ends on April 2, making acceptance of the MiDNI app mandatory for organizations that require identity verification.
The app, available on Android and iOS through official app stores and the government portal midni.gob.es, connects to National Police servers and generates digitally signed identity data in real time. The signed data is valid only for a short period, a measure designed to prevent tampering or reuse. Citizens can choose how much personal data to display depending on the context, ranging from a full identity check to a simple age confirmation.
The National Police has conducted public awareness campaigns in cities across Spain, including sessions in Benidorm and other municipalities, to demonstrate how the mobile credential works in practical settings and to prepare frontline staff at businesses and government offices to accept it.
Accepted use cases include government administrative procedures, hotel check-ins, car rentals, ticketed events, pharmacy pickups, notarial proceedings, and select financial transactions. The credential does not yet support online authentication, electronic signatures, or international travel.
Spain launched the MiDNI app in April 2025, initially as a voluntary companion to the physical card. The government subsequently moved to grant the digital DNI full legal parity with the physical document, setting the stage for mandatory acceptance.
The digital credential is currently limited to Spanish nationals. Foreign residents holding an NIE, or Foreigner Identification Number, are not eligible. The Interior Ministry has said it is working on extending eligibility in future phases. The credential is also restricted to domestic use and cannot replace a passport or physical DNI for border crossings.
Sources: Spanish Interior Ministry
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
