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How to suspend an electronic certificate

The suspension renders the certificate ineffective for a specific period of time and under certain conditions.

The possibility of suspending a certificate and the procedure established accordingly depend on the Certification Authority issuing it (consult the website of the Certification Authority).

The FNMT -RCM may suspend the validity of the Representation Certificates for the following reasons:

  • at the request of the legitimate interested party;
  • at the request of a Judicial Authority;
  • because there are well-founded doubts about the existence of the causes for the termination of the validity of the certificates.

Furthermore, the suspension may be enforced in response to an ongoing criminal or administrative investigation or procedure, the conclusion of which may result in the certificate being withdrawn. In these cases, the FNMT -RCM, at the request of the legitimate interested party, will suspend the validity of the certificate for the required period and, after this period has elapsed, will proceed to revoke the certificate unless the FNMT -RCM is requested, in a reliable manner by the legitimate interested party, to reactivate it.

The FNMT will proceed to suspend the certificate provisionally for a period of thirty days, after which the certificate will be extinguished by its direct revocation unless the suspension has been lifted by requesting cancellation of the suspension. (This period of thirty days may be amended dependent on the criminal or administrative procedures).

The National Mint and Stamp Factory ( FNMT ) allows the suspension of certificates. To this end, a certificate may be suspended by the subscriber, the representative or an authorised party with the appropriate authorisation. 

The request for the suspension of representation certificates may be made through the Registration Offices established by the user Entities with which the FNMT -RCM has signed the corresponding agreement.

If, during the suspension of the certificate, it expires or its revocation is requested, the consequences shall be the same as for non-suspended certificates that expire or are revoked.