It is official. It is now possible to use the digital ID card on the cell phone through the free and free miDNI application, as a complement to the physical identity document. With it, citizens can prove their identity in person, although they will have to wait another year to be able to do it on the Internet.
It is the only official application of the Police and it has the necessary legal backing to carry out all the procedures, providing the same uses as the physical document. In this way, it is added to the application already offered by the DGT to carry the driver’s license on the cell phone.
How is the digital ID card activated?
In order to use the digital ID, it is necessary to have a valid ID, its active electronic certificates and a cell phone with which to register and download the App.
Prior registration
The first step is to associate the ID to a cell phone in the modified platform of the National Police Force. We can register through the official website of the miDNI, at any police station using a PAD or at the Documentation Units when renewing the ID.
Download the App
When you open it, you will have to enter the activation data, i.e. the ID number (with letter) and the support number. We will assign a password and select how we want to unlock the App, either by password or biometric mechanisms such as facial image or fingerprint. We will receive an SMS code with a verification code. Once entered, the App will be activated and we will be able to access our digital ID.
What is it for?
The digital ID card is designed to fulfill the same functions that the physical document fulfills in our day-to-day life. Some of the most important ones are:
- To prove identity in person whenever there is a data connection.
- Exercise the right to vote
- Establish any type of legal relationship
- Signing deeds before a Notary
- Carry out face-to-face administrative procedures in Universities and
- Educational Centers.
- Check into a hotel
- Proof of age of majority
- Pick up medication at pharmacies
- Picking up parcels
- Access to entertainment venues such as cinemas, theaters, stadiums, etc;
To check the complete list of situations in which it is possible to use the digital ID, we recommend visiting the miDNI website.
Can it be used to travel abroad?
However, although the digital ID has been extended to a large number of occasions, there are still many scenarios to which its use has not spread. This is the case, for example, of international travel, since it is not possible to present it as an electronic travel document to cross borders or to prove identity in other countries. As for domestic travel, since it has not been specified, reclamador.es recommends consulting each airline, which will determine the documentation allowed for boarding.
On the other hand, it is also not allowed to prove identity through the Internet, in person without a data connection or to carry out telematic authentication and/or electronic signature procedures.
Are digital ID and electronic ID the same thing?
No. The electronic ID contains two digital certificates, one for authentication purposes, i.e., to prove the citizen’s identity; and the other for signature purposes, to sign procedures or documents, replacing the handwritten signature.
What happens if my cell phone is stolen with my ID card inside?
And what happens if, for whatever reason, your cell phone is lost or stolen with your ID inside? In that case you have nothing to worry about. It is all designed to ensure the security and peace of mind of its users, since the miDNI application incorporates several security measures.
First of all, it does not store the ID in our mobile, unlike what is commonly believed. The application does not work like that. What it does is to generate the data of our ID on the screen at the moment we need it through a temporary QR code, which we will access through a password or biometric identification, such as facial recognition. To do this, it makes a connection to the National Police servers to request the citizen’s ID card data, which are returned signed by the security force.
Another of the points that provide security to the new system is the time in which the information will be available. After 60 seconds, it will disappear and it will be necessary to enter the password or biometric factor again. It is important to note that the QR code must be renewed each time it is used.
The information remains protected at all times, as the data is not stored. However, if we want to add extra security, we can decide what level of information we want to appear when using it. That is to say, we will be able to choose between three levels:
- ID Age: Shows that you are of legal age, including the photograph.
- Simple DNI: In addition to the above, it shows the full name of the holder, date of birth, sex and validity of the DNI.
- Complete ID: All the data that appears in the physical document will be shown.
In any case, in case of loss or theft of the cell phone, the National Police recommends to report it as soon as possible as we would do with the physical document.
A major breakthrough in digital identity
Undoubtedly, the digital ID card represents a breakthrough in citizen identification. Although at the moment it has certain limitations of use, especially in the international and online world, the multiple applications it can have in day-to-day life make it a practical, secure and convenient solution.
While the digital ID continues to expand its functionalities, it still has certain limitations in the online environment. In Viafirma we offer complete digital signature and electronic certificate management solutions, compatible with any device and legally valid. If you are looking for a secure and efficient way to identify yourself online, Viafirma is the perfect complement to the digital ID.