Tramilisto

Prepare your documents before uploading them

Most errors when filing a procedure online are about the file: too big, unreadable or in a format the form doesn't accept. This checklist avoids them.

Updated

Compress PDFShrink a PDF to the exact size you need: 100 KB, 200 KB, 1 MB…Merge PDFCombine several PDFs and photos into one PDF, in any order.ID PhotoCrop your photo for a Spanish DNI, passport or TIE and download it to upload or print.

First: what exactly are they asking for

Before preparing anything, check the form for accepted formats, the maximum size per file and the number of files. Each procedure sets its own. Some bodies' limits are listed, with source and date, in the guide to file size limits on Spanish e-offices.

The checklist

  1. Format: PDF unless they ask otherwise. If you have photos, turn them into a PDF; if you have iPhone HEIC photos, convert them to JPG.
  2. Size: compare it with the limit and compress if needed. See how to check a PDF's size.
  3. Readability: open the final file at full size and check that dates, amounts, numbers and stamps can be read.
  4. Orientation and order: no rotated, blank or out-of-order pages. Organize the pages if needed.
  5. One document per file, or all together: follow what the form asks. To combine, merge the PDFs.
  6. File name: clear, with no accents or symbols, for example work-history.pdf.
  7. Signature: if you must sign, check whether a scanned signature is enough or you need an electronic signature; the digital signature page explains the difference.

Photos and ID

If you need the ID card on both sides, you can put it into a PDF at the right size. If you need a digital passport-style photo, use ID photo with the right document.

One last check

Open each file as you'll upload it, not the original. That way you confirm compression or merging left nothing unreadable. Everything these tools do happens in your browser: your files aren't sent to any server.

Frequently asked questions

Which format is best for submitting documents?

PDF, unless the procedure asks for another. Almost all e-offices accept it and it allows several pages in one file.

Can I upload a photo of the document?

Many e-offices accept it, but a clean scan reads better. If they require a certified copy, a photo isn't enough.

What if the form only accepts one file?

Merge all the documents into one PDF and, if it's too big, compress it to the limit the form states.

Tools