Spain has launched phase 2 of its national identity card, enabling users to verify their identity for various services such as voting, banking, in-person age verification, hotel check-ins, car rentals, package collection, and more.
According to a post by La Moncloa—the official website of the president of the government of Spain—the digital National Identity Document (DNI) complements the physical card version and can be downloaded and used on mobile devices via the MiDNI application for free.
On April 1, the country’s Council of Ministers, for the first time, regulated the issuance, management, and development of the DNI in both its physical and digital versions.
The digital ID will be implemented in two phases. Since April 2, mobile users have had access to the MiDNI application. Within a year, both the public and private sectors are required to take the necessary measures to ensure the proper functioning of the DNI.
“After this transitional period of one year, the application will allow citizens to prove their identity to carry out telematic formalities, electronic signatures and other operations over the Internet,” the government’s official website post read.
The goal for the DNI launch is to simplify identity checks and digitize the country’s public services. As of the time of writing, the MiDNI app is the only legally recognized platform for storing the DNI, and users can access their digital ID with either a password or their devices’ built-in biometric authentication.
The MiDNI app, introduced last year, offers three levels of data sharing, all enabled via time-limited QR codes that can be scanned but not duplicated. For added security and privacy, the app is linked to police servers, allowing real-time data verification. Officials also noted that when a physical ID expires, the associated digital ID must be reactivated as advised.
To renew their digital ID, individuals must first go to the Documentation Units of Spain’s National Police, and a dispatcher will help them obtain the registration code to associate with their personal telephone number.
Spain’s race to become more digitized
Besides rolling out its digital ID initiative, Spain has been busy probing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital payments.
In 2023, the country led the charge to create the Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA) to build an AI framework that is inclusive, sustainable, and citizen-centered. According to the official disclosure, AESIA will be responsible for creating a licensing regime for AI developers and for establishing a fee schedule.
In May 2025, Western Europe experienced a series of power cuts, leading authorities to advise tourists from Spain, France, and Portugal to use cash as a backup for digital payments. Tourists were encouraged to convert a small portion of their funds to cash due to widespread disruptions in the digital payment infrastructure.
Watch: Why using transparent ledger for digital identity ensures trust
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