How to sign documents with Cl@ve

Cl@ve is the identification system of Spain's public authorities. As well as identifying you, Cl@ve Firma lets you sign in their procedures without having a certificate installed. Here's how it works.

MultiDocs team2 min readUpdated 29 October 2026With official sources

In 30 seconds

  • Cl@ve Firma lets you sign procedures with public authorities using certificates stored in the cloud.
  • You need advanced-level registration in Cl@ve.
  • For private documents (a quote or a consent form) you don't need it.

What Cl@ve Firma is

It's a signing system with certificates stored in the public authorities' cloud. You use it to sign procedures on the official e-government websites that accept it, without having a certificate on your computer.

Official figures

80.7%

of people aged 16 to 74 in Spain dealt with public authorities online in the last year.

Source: INE, 2025
61.9%

booked an appointment with public authorities online in the last year.

Source: INE, 2025

What you need

  • To be registered in Cl@ve at advanced level. Basic registration (by letter or automatic video identification) doesn't let you sign.
  • The Cl@ve app on your phone, to confirm operations.

Advanced registration is obtained at a registration office, with a certificate or DNIe (Spanish electronic ID card), or by video identification reviewed by a public employee. Always check the steps on the official Cl@ve website.

How to sign

  1. Go to the procedure on the e-government website that accepts Cl@ve Firma.
  2. Choose to sign with Cl@ve and confirm the operation in the app.
  3. The website generates the signed document.

What about documents that aren't for public authorities?

Cl@ve is used for public procedures. For a contract with a client, a school consent form or a document for your business, you can sign with a simple electronic signature, which is also valid, with no registration and no apps.

FAQs

Can I sign any PDF with Cl@ve?

Cl@ve Firma is designed for procedures with the public authorities that accept it. To sign a PDF yourself with a certificate, you use AutoFirma.

Can I sign with basic Cl@ve registration?

No, to sign you need advanced-level registration.

Official sources

We checked each source on 29 October 2026. If you spot an out-of-date figure, write to us at info@multidocs.es.

More guides

Signing with a certificateHow to sign a PDF with AutoFirmaSign a PDF with your digital certificate or DNIe.Signing with a certificateHow to sign a document with a digital certificateHow to get one and sign a PDF with it.Signing with a certificateHow to sign a document with the electronic ID cardCard reader, PIN and AutoFirma, step by step.