How to Renew an ACCV Digital Certificate

Renewing your ACCV Digital Certificate is essential if you want to continue accessing Spanish government and public administration services online without interruption. Like all digital certificates, an ACCV Citizen Certificate has a limited period of validity and will eventually expire. Once it has expired, you may no longer be able to log in to official websites, digitally sign documents or complete many online procedures until you obtain a new certificate.

An ACCV Citizen Certificate is typically valid for three years from the date it is issued. Before it expires, you should check whether you’re eligible to renew it online through your ACCV Personal Area (APSC) or whether you’ll need to verify your identity again at an authorised Registration Point (PRU), such as your local Ayuntamiento. Renewing your certificate before it expires is usually the simplest option and helps avoid unnecessary delays or additional visits to a registration office.

In this guide, we’ll explain when you can renew your ACCV Digital Certificate, the different renewal methods available, and how to generate, download and install your new certificate so you can continue using Spain’s online public services with confidence.

Before You Renew

Unlike applying for your first ACCV Digital Certificate, renewing your certificate may be much quicker.

Whether you can renew online or need to visit an authorised Registration Point depends on your current certificate and how it was last renewed.

According to ACCV, the first renewal after obtaining a Citizen Certificate in person can normally be completed online through your Personal Certification Services Area (APSC), provided the certificate has not yet expired. If the certificate has already expired, or your previous renewal was completed through APSC, you’ll need to renew in person at an authorised Registration Point (PRU).

Check Your Expiry Date

Before doing anything else, check when your certificate expires.

You can do this by:

Opening the certificate in Windows.
Logging into your ACCV Personal Area (APSC).
Checking the expiry reminder email from ACCV.

Don’t leave renewal until the last minute.

Once your certificate expires, you may lose the option to renew online and instead need to verify your identity again at a Registration Point.

Renew Online Through Your APSC

If you’re eligible, renewing online is the quickest option.

Simply:

Visit your ACCV Personal Area (APSC).
Log in using your existing Digital Certificate.
Select Renew Certificate.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Download your new certificate.
Install it on your computer.

Your renewed certificate remains valid for three years.

When You Must Visit a Registration Point

You’ll need to attend an authorised Registration Point (PRU) if:

your certificate has already expired;
you previously renewed online through APSC;
ACCV requires you to verify your identity again.

Many local Ayuntamientos in the Valencian Community act as ACCV Registration Points.

What Happens at the Appointment?

Our renewal was completed at the local Ayuntamiento.

The process was straightforward and took only a few minutes.

The member of staff:

verified our TIE;
confirmed our mobile telephone number;
sent a verification code by SMS;
generated an email containing instructions for downloading the new certificate.

No paperwork was required beyond proving our identity.

Receiving Your Generation Code

After your identity has been confirmed, ACCV sends a 10-character Generation Code by SMS.

This code:

is case-sensitive;
must be entered exactly as received;
remains valid for 15 calendar days.

If it expires, you’ll need to obtain a new code before you can generate your certificate.

Generating Your New Certificate

After returning home:

Open the ACCV generation link provided in the email.
Use a Windows computer (ACCV advises that generation cannot be completed on mobile phones or tablets).
Enter your identification details.
Enter the 10-character Generation Code.
Follow the on-screen instructions.

The certificate will then be generated and downloaded as a .p12 file.

Installing the New Certificate

Once downloaded:

double-click the .p12 file;
follow the Windows Certificate Import Wizard;
enter the export password if requested;
complete the installation.

The certificate can also be imported onto your other personal devices.

Replacing Your Old Certificate

After confirming that the new certificate works correctly, you can remove the expired certificate from your computer.

Keeping only the current certificate helps avoid confusion when logging into government websites.

Creating a Backup

Before making any changes, save the downloaded .p12 file somewhere safe.

Many users keep copies on:

a USB memory stick;
an encrypted external drive;
secure cloud storage.

A backup makes moving to a new computer much easier.

What to Do After Renewal

Once your certificate has been installed, test it by logging into your ACCV Personal Area or another compatible government website.

If everything works correctly, install the certificate on any other devices you regularly use, such as your laptop or smartphone.

Finally, note the new expiry date in your calendar so you receive a reminder well before it expires again.

Final Thoughts

Renewing an ACCV Digital Certificate is generally a straightforward process, especially if you renew before the certificate expires. If you’re eligible, you may be able to renew online through your APSC. Otherwise, a quick visit to an authorised Registration Point such as your local Ayuntamiento will allow your identity to be verified so you can generate a new certificate.

Keeping your certificate up to date means you’ll continue to enjoy secure access to hundreds of Spanish online public services without the need to visit government offices in person.