Access to microdata for scientific purposes
in European countries
Access to microdata for scientific purposes in Spain

Contact
Name of the microdata access service
Instituto Nacional de Estadistica - INE (National Statistics Institute)
Postal address
Paseo de la Castellana, 183
28071 – Madrid (Spain)
Website
Access conditions
General conditions
Access to data containing direct identifiers is never granted. Access to data allowing for indirect identification of statistical units may be granted, under some conditions, to researchers employed in a research capacity by an eligible University or other Higher Education or Research Institution.
Conditions for non-resident researchers
Access is allowed only when a recognized research institution signs the request or when an official regulation exists.
Conditions for students
Access is allowed only when a recognized research institution signs the request or when an official regulation exists.
Legal framework
Spanish Statistical Act 1989.
Spanish Act on Protection of Personal Data 1999.
Spanish Regulation on Protection of Personal Data 2007.
How much does it cost?
Prices depend on the number of hours needed for preparation of the file, support at the safe centre or routine execution. Fares are publicly available on INE's website.
How long does it take to obtain data?
The process of obtaining data consists of three steps: submission of the request, assessment of the request and signature of the contract of access and confidentiality undertakings. The whole process normally takes around 3 months.
Information on access
For further details: https://www.ine.es/ss/Satellite?L=en_GB&c=Page&cid=1259953312408&p=1259…
Other
Customised requests: https://www.ine.es/ss/Satellite?L=en_GB&c=Page&cid=1254735550786&p=1254…
Prices: https://boe.es/boe/dias/2024/03/13/pdfs/BOE-A-2024-4955.pdf (in Spanish only)
Spanish Statistical Act 1989: http://www.ine.es/en/normativa/leyes/ley_12_1989_en.pdf
Types of microdata available for Spain
Public Use Files (PUF)
Public use files can be downloaded freely from INE's website. Upon request, some more detailed public use files can be issued, but specific conditions on use must be signed.
Scientific Use Files (SUF)
Researchers have to fill in the request form specifically designed for this kind of use of the data. Once approved, a specific agreement must be signed by research institution; only then can data be sent to the researchers.
Secure Use Files (SecUF)
Researchers have to fill in the request form specifically designed for this kind of use of the data. Once approved, a specific agreement must be signed by research institution. The mode of access depends on the data requested, and includes access through onsite safe centre, or secure remote routine execution.
Access to microdata by type of person
Public Use Files | Scientific Use Files | Secure Use Files | |
---|---|---|---|
Public | Yes | No | No |
Students | Yes | No | No |
PhD students | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Researchers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Foreign researchers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Modes of access by microdata type
Public Use Files | Scientific Use Files | Secure Use Files | |
---|---|---|---|
Online access | No | No | No |
For download | Yes | No | No |
Onsite access | No | No | No |
Remote access | No | Yes | Yes |
Remote execution | No | No | No |
Microdatasets available for Spain
Other access points in Europe
Disclaimer
The pages above provide information on microdata disseminated at the national level by the statistical institutes in the European countries and on microdata disseminated by Eurostat. The pages describe the data and the procedures for requesting access as well as the available types of microdata files (Public Use Files, Scientific Use Files, and Secure Use Files).
This information was initially collected by CASD/GENES for the CIMES database developed for Data without Boundaries project (funded by the 7th Framework Programme, the EU's research funding programme between 2007 and 2013). CIMES stands for Centralising and Integrating Metadata from European Statistics. Various organisations (ADP, CED, CNRS-Réseau Quetelet, FORS, GESIS, RODA, ONS, and UL) contributed to the creation of CIMES by collecting and structuring the metadata for the period of the Data without Boundaries project (2011-2015). In 2021, Eurostat moved the CIMES database to the CROS platform to facilitate updates of countries' information. Eurostat would like to thank all CIMES developers, especially CASD, for sharing the CIMES database and for all efficient collaboration.