British tourists visiting Spain will not benefit from a new Guardia Civil service allowing European citizens to report crimes online using their national digital identification.
The service is available to citizens from 23 EU countries whose electronic identity systems are recognised under the European eIDAS regulations. It means eligible tourists and residents can file reports without visiting a Guardia Civil station.
However, because the UK is no longer part of the EU system, British holidaymakers cannot access the platform using a UK passport or British digital credentials.
British residents in Spain can use the online service though, but only if they have an NIE or TIE and a recognised Spanish digital certificate, such as one issued by the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre.
The system covers reports involving minor theft, criminal damage, stolen vehicles, theft from vehicles, fraudulent card payments and other electronic payment scams. Lost or missing documents can also be reported.
The change is particularly relevant to Alicante province, which has one of Spain’s largest British populations and welcomes hundreds of thousands of UK visitors every year. British residents with the correct digital documents will now be able to avoid travelling to a Guardia Civil station for certain routine reports.
Those without a Spanish digital certificate—including most British tourists—will still need to report incidents in person.
Reports submitted online are handled 24 hours a day by the Guardia Civil’s National Office for Online Crime Reports, known as ON-RED. Forms are available in six languages.
During its first year, the service received more than 63,000 requests and processed over 46,000 alleged crimes. Almost 59% concerned online fraud and scams.
The Guardia Civil says the initiative, introduced under its Safe Tourism Plan, will make reporting crimes faster and reduce pressure on local stations. For British residents, however, access depends on having a Spanish digital certificate.
