ESIGNATURE LEGALITY GUIDE

eSignature Legality in European Union

Electronic Signatures in European Union are legally regulated by the Regulation (EU) on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market (eIDAS Regulation)

COURT-ADMISSIBLE

Yes

GENERAL BUSINESS USE

Yes

E-SIGNATURE LEGAL MODEL

Tiered

General Business Use (Yes)

Whilst 100% legal; there are exceptions for very specific types of transactions. It is still up tthe discretion of the independent user, or governing body, whether they are used or not. As each business needs are different and the agreements themselves may vary. We always advise you tspeak with an authority within your businesses category.

Court-Admissible (Yes)

Each country has its own regulations that determine whether an electronic signature is seen as legal or not. So, as long as your electronic signature adheres tthese, a signature won’t be rejected simply for not being handwritten.

e-Signature Legal Model (Tiered)

European Union model is a tiered one. This means that Qualified Electronic Signatures are seen as a legal type of e-signature. This doesn’t mean that a non-QES e-Signature can’t be submitted in court, but it will need extra evidence tsupport it.

eSignature Legality Summary

eSignatures are admissible in the court of law and the European Union. Electronic signatures and related trust services are regulated by the Regulation (EU) N°910/2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market (eIDAS Regulation). The regulations came into effect in the year 2014 with the central provision of the directive in article 5 which requires electronic signatures tbe regarded as equivalent twritten signatures.

Member States of the European Union shall ensure that advanced electronic signatures provided by a qualified certified authority are created by a secure-signature-creation device and must satisfy:

(a) The legal requirements of a signature concerning data in electronic form in the same manner as a handwritten signature satisfies those requirements concerning paper-based data; and

(b) Are admissible as evidence in legal proceedings

*The information on this site is “AS IS” and for general information purposes only.

emSigner Supports Following Use Cases for Standard Electronic Signatures (SES)

HR documents, such as employment contracts, benefits paperwork and other new employee onboarding processes
Commercial agreements between corporate entities, including NDAs, procurement documents, sales agreements
Consumer agreements, including new retail account opening documents
Real estate documents, including lease agreements for residential and commercial real estate not lasting for a period of more than 20 years

emSigner Works With the Local Trust Service Providers and Supports Following Use Cases for Qualified Electronic Signature (QES)

When a signature is required by law, but the law does not specify the type of signature required, it can only be signed with an advanced electronic signature as defined by ECTA, which is, in practice, equivalent ta QES in Europe.

Use Cases That Are Not Supported or Typically Not Appropriate for Electronic Signatures or Digital Transaction Management Using emSigner

Following are the use cases that are specifically not supported for digital or electronic processes or that includes requirements wherein wet ink or handwritten signatures or formal notarization is required.

Contracts for transfer or sale of immovable property, including sectional titles and mortgage bonds (excluded from ECTA)
All handwritten
- Wills and codicils (excluded from ECTA)
- Wills and codicils (excluded from ECTA)
- Bills of exchange (e.g., cheques) (excluded from ECTA)
- License of intellectual property, IP transfers and employee invention agreements (Patents Act, 1978, the Design Act, 1993, the Trade Marks Act, 1993 and the Copyright Act 1978)

Regulatory Bodies & Certifying Authorities:

Institute	Trusted Service providers	Countries	Website
A-Trust Gesellschaft für Sicherheitssysteme im elektronischen Datenverkehr GmbH	Yes	Austria	https://www.a-trust.at/
PrimeSign GmbH	Yes	Austria	https://www.prime-sign.com/
Datenverkehr GmbH	Yes	Austria	https://www.rtr.at/en
Swisscom IT Services Finance S.E.	Yes	Austria	https://www.swisscom.ch/en/about.html
PrimeSign GmbH	Yes	Austria	http://www.e-monitoring.at/
Belgian Mobile ID SA/NV	Yes	Belgium	https://www.belgianmobileid.be/en
Certipost n.v./s.a.	Yes	Belgium	https://www.certipost.org/
Connect Solutions	Yes	Belgium	https://connectbestsolutionsllc.com/
GlobalSign NV/SA	Yes	Belgium	https://www.globalsign.com/en
Portima s.c.r.l. c.v.b.a.	Yes	Belgium	https://www.portisign.be/nl
QuoVadis Trustlink BVBA	Yes	Belgium	https://www.quovadisglobal.be/
Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication SCRL	Yes	Belgium	https://www.swift.com/
Universign	Yes	Belgium	https://www.universign.com/en/
Zetes S.A./N.V.	Yes	Belgium	https://www.zetes.com/en
BORICA AD	Yes	Bulgaria	https://www.borica.bg/en
Evrotrust Technologies JSC	Yes	Bulgaria	https://www.evrotrust.com/landing/en
InfoNotary PLCS	Yes	Bulgaria	https://www.infonotary.com/site/en/?p=doc_g1_1
Information Services Plc.	Yes	Bulgaria	https://www.is-bg.net/en
System for electronic payments Bulgaria	Yes	Bulgaria	https://www.epay.bg/v3main/front?p=about&lang=en#:~:text=The%20Bulgarian%20electronic%20payment%20system,was%20launched%20in%20October%201999.&text=The%20main%20activity%20of%20EPay,security%20of%20Internet%2Dtransmitted%20information.
AKD d.o.o.	Yes	Croatia	https://www.akd.hr/
First certification authority, a.s.	Yes	>Croatia	https://www.fina.hr/
Zagrebačka banka dioničko drštvo	Yes	Croatia	https://www.zaba.hr/home/o-nama/sustav-certificiranja-zagrebacke-banke
JCC PAYMENT SYSTEMS LTD	Yes	Cyprus	https://www.jcc.com.cy/
First certification authority, a.s.	Yes	>Czech Republic	https://www.first.org/ca/#:~:text=FIRST.Org%20Certification%20Authority&text=For%20this%20purpose%20FIRST.ORG,fingerprint%20information%20and%20revocation%20lists.
National Registers Authority	Yes	Czech Republic	https://censusindia.gov.in/2011-Common/NRIC.html
SEFIRA spol. s r.o.	Yes	Czech Republic	https://www.sefira.cz/en/home/
SEFIRA spol. s r.o.	Yes	Czech Republic	https://www.602.cz/en/
The Czech Post, s.p.	Yes	Czech Republic	https://www.ceskaposta.cz/en/index
eIdentity a.s.	Yes	Czech Republic	https://www.eidentity.cz/
Nets DanID A/S	Yes	Denmark	https://www.nets.eu/
GuardTime O OÜ	Yes	Estnoia	https://guardtime.com/
SK ID Solutions AS	Yes	Estnoia	https://www.skidsolutions.eu/en
Digital and Population Data Services Agency	Yes	Finland	https://dvv.fi/en/digital-and-population-data-services-agency
AR24 QeRDS	Yes	France	https://www.ar24.fr/syndic/la-reglementation-eidas-un-changement-necessaire-de-la-loi-europeenne-explications/
Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés QCert for ESig	Yes	France	https://ants.gouv.fr/
Caisse des dépôts et consignations QCert for ESig	Yes	France	https://cdcarkhineo.com/en/
CLEARBUS QTimestampQeRDS	France	France	https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ClearPass/6.8/PolicyManager/Content/CPPM_UserGuide/Monitoring/accessTracker.html
ChamberSign France QCert for ESigQCert for ESeal	Yes	France	https://www.caissedesdepots.fr/en/you-are-investor
Conseil Supérieur du Notariat QCert for ESigQTimestamp	Yes	France	https://pc.chambersign.fr/en/docs/
Docusign France QCert for ESigQCert for ESealQTimestamp	Yes	France	https://www.notaires.fr/en/notarial-profession/bodies-representing-french-notaries/high-council-notarial-profession
Le Groupe La Poste QTimestampQeRDS	Yes	France	https://www.docusign.com/trust/compliance/public-certificates
TESSI DOCUMENTS SERVICES QeRDS	Yes	France	https://www.groupelaposte.com/en
1&1 De-Mail GmbH	Yes	France	https://www.tessi.eu/
Yousign	Yes	France	https://yousign.com/
e-commerce monitoring GmbH	Yes	Germany	https://de-mail-register.1und1.de/1und1-De-Mail;jsessionid=8E22857C170428A629F72F3AC070F486.sMO4Af1hzu0zpZKnLGt8tMbOdg8?0
Atos Information Technology GmbH	Yes	Germany	https://atos.net/de/deutschland/impressum
Bank-Verlag GmbH	Yes	Germany	https://www.bank-verlag.de/index.php?id=17
Bundesagentur fuer Arbeit	Yes	Germany	https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/en/welcome
Bundesnetzagentur	Yes	Germany	https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/EN/Home/home_node.html
Bundesnetzagentur	Yes	Germany	https://www.bnotk.de/
D-Trust GmbH	Yes	Germany	https://www.bundesdruckerei.de/de/53-support-fuer-behoerden-buerger-unternehmen
DGN Deutsches Gesundheitsnetz Service GmbH	Yes	Germany	https://www.dgn.de/
Deutsche Post AG	Yes	Germany	https://www.dpdhl.com/en.html
Deutsche Telekom AG	Yes	Germany	https://www.telekom.com/en
T-Systems International GmbH	Yes	Germany	https://www.t-systems.com/in/en
exceet Secure Solutions GmbH	Yes	Germany	https://www.exceet-secure-solutions.de/
medisign GmbH	Yes	Germany	https://www.medisign.de/
ADACOM ADVANCED INTERNET APPLICATIONS S.A.	Yes	Greece	https://www.eudir21.com/en/company-detail/668826-adacom-advanced-internet-applications-sa
BYTE Computer S.A.	Yes	Greece	https://www.byte.gr/en/
Greek Universities Network (GUnet)	Yes	Greece	https://www.gunet.gr/en/#:~:text=The%20Greek%20Universities%20Network%20and,Academic%20Institutions%20(25%20Universities).
HELLENIC EXCHANGES – ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE SA	Yes	Greece	https://www.athexgroup.gr/
HELLENIC PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CERTIFICATION AUTHORITY	Yes	Greece	https://pki.ermis.gov.gr/repository_en.html
Digitoll Information Technology and Servicing Ltd.	Yes	Hungary	http://ds.digitoll.co.hu/en/kapcsolat.php
Magyar Telekom Public Limited Company	Yes	Hungary	https://www.telekom.hu/about_us
Microsec Micro Software Engineering &Consulting Private Company Limited by Shares	Yes	Hungary	https://www.microsec.hu/en/microsec
NETLOCK Informatics and Network Privacy services Limited Company	Yes	Hungary	https://www.netlock.hu/USEREN/html/cacrl.html
NISZ National Infocommunications Services Company Limited by Shares	Yes	Hungary	https://nisz.hu/en/about_us
Audkenni ehf.	Yes	Iceland	https://www.audkenni.is/en/
Adobe Systems Software Ireland Ltd.	Yes	Iceland	https://www.adobe.com
TrustPro QTSP Ltd	Yes	Iceland	https://www.trustpro.eu/
Actalis S.p.A.	Yes	Iceland	https://www.actalis.it/products/ssl-certificate.aspx
Aruba Posta Elettronica Certificata S.p.A.	Yes	Italy	https://www.pec.it/chi-siamo.aspx
Azienda Regionale per l’Innovazione e gli Acquisti S.p.A.	Yes	Italy	https://www.ariaspa.it/wps/portal/site/aria
Azienda Zero	Yes	Italy	https://www.azero.veneto.it/
Banca d’Italia	Yes	Italy	https://www.bancaditalia.it/
CEDACRI S.p.A.	Yes	Italy	https://www.cedacri.it/cedacri/en/chi-siamo/cedacri/
Consiglio Nazionale dei Dottori Commercialisti e degli Esperti Contabili	Yes	Italy	https://commercialisti.it/
Consiglio Nazionale del Notariato	Yes	Italy	https://www.notariato.it/
In.Te.S.A. S.p.A.	Yes	Italy	https://www.intesa.it/en/
InfoCert S.p.A.	Yes	Italy	https://infocert.digital/
Intesa Sanpaolo Bank S.p.A.	Yes	Italy	https://group.intesasanpaolo.com/en/about-us
Intesi Group S.p.A.	Yes	Italy	https://www.intesigroup.com/en/
Lottomatica Holding S.r.l.	Yes	Italy	https://www.lottomaticaitalia.it/en/about-us/company/cda
Ministero dell’Interno	Yes	Italy	https://nullaostalavoro.dlci.interno.it/Ministero/Index2
Ministero della Difesa	Yes	Italy	https://www.difesa.it/Pagine/default.aspx
Namirial S.p.A.	Yes	Italy	https://www.namirial.com/en/
Nexi Payments S.p.A.	Yes	Italy	https://www.nexi.it/en.html
Poste Italiane S.p.A.	Yes	Italy	https://www.poste.it/
Register S.p.A.	Yes	Italy	https://www.register.it/?lang=en
Telecom Italia Trust Technologies S.r.l.	Yes	Italy	https://www.trusttechnologies.it/
Zucchetti S.p.A.	Yes	Italy	https://www.zucchetti.com/worldwide/cms/home.html
Latvian State Radio and Television center Latvian State Radio and Television center	Yes	Latvia	https://www.lvrtc.lv/company.html
FLZ-Anstalt	Yes	Latvia	https://www.flz.li/
Office for Communications	Yes	Latvia	https://www.vases.lv/en
Identity Documents Personalisation Centre under the Ministry of the Interior	Yes	Lithuania	https://adic.lrv.lt/en/
State Enterprise Centre of Registers	Yes	Lithuania	https://www.registrucentras.lt/en/
UAB BalTstamp	Yes	Lithuania	https://www.baltstamp.lt/en/
UAB Dokobit	Yes	Lithuania	https://www.dokobit.com/company/contacts
BE INVEST International S.A.	Yes	Lithuania	https://www.editus.lu/en/be-invest-international-sa-strassen-1666705
LuxTrust S.A.	Yes	Luxembourg	https://www.luxtrust.lu/
Malta Electronic Certification Services Ltd	Yes	Malta	https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/Government%20of%20Malta/Ministries%20and%20Entities/Officially%20Appointed%20Bodies/Pages/Companies/Malta-Electronic-.aspx
eWitness Malta Ltd	Yes	Malta	https://www.ewitness.eu/en/contatti/
Aangetekend B.V.	Yes	Netherlands	https://www.e-registeredmail.com/contact/
CIBG	Yes	Netherlands	https://www.cibg.nl/
Cleverbase ID B.V.	Yes	Netherlands	https://cleverbase.com/en/home-2/
Digidentity B.V.	Yes	Netherlands	https://www.digidentity.eu/
KPN B.V.	Yes	Netherlands	https://www.kpn.com/
Ministerie van Defensie	Yes	Netherlands	https://www.defensie.nl/
Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat	Yes	Netherlands	https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ministeries/ministerie-van-infrastructuur-en-waterstaat
QuoVadis Trustlink B.V.	Yes	Netherlands	https://www.quovadisglobal.com/
Bankenes ID-tjeneste AS	Yes	Norway	https://www.bankid.no/en/about-us/
Buypass AS	Yes	Norway	https://www.buypass.com/
Commfides Norge AS	Yes	Norway	https://www.commfides.com/en/
DNB Bank ASA	Yes	Norway	https://www.dnb.no/en
Danske Bank	Yes	Norway	https://danskebank.com/
Eika Gruppen AS	Yes	Norway	https://eika.no/
Nordea Bank Abp filial i Norge	Yes	Norway	https://www.nordea.com/en/about-nordea/contact/norway/
Signicat AS	Yes	Norway	https://www.signicat.com/
SpareBank 1 Utvikling DA	Yes	Norway	https://www.sparebank1.no/nb/bank/om-oss/om-banken/selskapsinformasjon.html
Asseco Data Systems S.A.	Yes	Poland	https://www.assecods.pl/en/
ENIGMA Systemy Ochrony Informacji Sp. z o.o.	Yes	Poland	https://www.enigma.com.pl/en/
EuroCert Sp. z o.o.	Yes	Poland	https://eurocert.pl/
Krajowa Izba Rozliczeniowa S.A.	Yes	Poland	https://www.kir.pl/en/
National Bank of Poland	Yes	Poland	https://www.nbp.pl/homen.aspx?f=/srodeken.htm
Polish Security Printing Works	Yes	Poland	https://www.pwpw.pl/en
ACIN iCloud Solutions, Lda	Yes	Poland	https://www.acin.pt/
AMA – AGÊNCIA PARA A MODERNIZAÇÃO ADMINISTRATIVA I. P.	Yes	Portugal	https://www.ama.gov.pt/
CEGER – Centro de Gestão da Rede Informática do Governo	Yes	Portugal	https://www.ceger.gov.pt/
DigitalSign – Certificadora Digital	Yes	Portugal	https://www.digitalsigncertificadora.com.br/pt
Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado I.P.	Yes	Portugal	https://www.irn.mj.pt/
Swisscom IT Services Finance S.E.	Yes	Portugal	https://multicert.com/
AlfaTrust Certification S.A.	Yes	Romania	http://www.alfatrust.ro/
CENTRUL DE CALCUL SA	Yes	Romania	http://www.centruldecalcul.ro/
CERTSIGN S.A.	Yes	Romania	https://www.certsign.ro/
DigiSign S.A.	Yes	Romania	https://digisign.ro/
Trans Sped SRL	Yes	Romania	https://www.transsped.ro/
Disig, a.s.	Yes	Slovakia	https://www.disig.sk/
First certification authority, a.s.	Yes	Slovakia	https://www.sfera.sk/en/partners/first-certification-authority/
Ministry of Defence Slovak Republic	Yes	Slovakia	https://www.mosr.sk/ministry-of-defence-of-the-slovak-republic/
National Agency for Network and Electronic Services	Yes	Slovakia	https://www.nases.gov.sk/en/national-agency-for-network-and-electronic-services/index.html
National Security Authority	Yes	Slovakia	https://www.cybersecurityintelligence.com/national-security-authority-nbu-4213.html
Viasec, s.r.o.	Yes	Slovakia	https://tw.kompass.com/c/viasec-s-r-o/sk030757/
EIUS d.o.o.	Yes	Slovakia	https://www.eius.si/
HALCOM D.D.	Yes	Slovakia	http://www.halcom.si/en/
Ministrstvo za javno upravo	Yes	Slovakia	https://www.developmentaid.org/#!/donors/view/182179/ministrstvo-za-javno-upravo
Ministry of Defence of Slovenia	Yes	Slovakia	https://www.gov.si/en/state-authorities/ministries/ministry-of-defence/
NLB d.d.	Yes	Slovakia	https://www.nlb.si/en
POŠTA SLOVENIJE d.o.o.	Yes	Slovakia	https://en.posta.si/home
Rekono d.o.o.	Yes	Slovakia	https://www.rekono.si/en/home-2/
Republika Slovenija	Yes	Slovakia	https://www.gov.si/
AC Camerfirma, S.A	Yes	Spain	https://www.camerfirma.com/
PrimeSign GmbH	Yes	Spain	https://www.anf.es/autoridad-de-certificacion/
Austria	Yes	Spain	https://empresite.eleconomista.es/AGENCIA-NOTARIAL-CERTIFICACION.html
Yes	Yes	Spain	https://avancedigital.gob.es/en-us/Servicios/FirmaElectronica/Paginas/SchemeService_es.aspx
BRANDDOCS, S.L.	Yes	Spain	https://branddocs.com/en/
COLEGIO OFICIAL DE REGISTRADORES DE LA PROPIEDAD Y MERCANTILES DE ESPA ESPAÑA	Yes	Spain	https://www.registradores.org/
COLORIURIS, S.L	Yes	Spain	https://www.coloriuris.net/acta-mobile/info/en/avisos-legales/
Consejo General de Colegios Oficiales de Médicos de España (CGCOM)	Yes	Spain	https://www.cgcom.es/
Consejo General de la Abogacía Española	Yes	Spain	http://www.abogacia.es/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/resumenejectuvioingles.pdf
Consorci Administració Oberta de Catalunya – CAOC	Yes	Spain	https://www.aoc.cat/
DIGITEL ON TRUSTED SERVICES S.L.U.	Yes	Spain	https://empresite.eleconomista.es/CREACION-BASES-DATOS-CASTILLA-LEON.html
Datenverkehr GmbH	Yes	Spain	https://www.policia.es/
EDICOM CAPITAL, S.L.	Yes	Spain	https://www.edicomgroup.com/en_ES/info/legal-advisor.html
ESPUBLICO SERVICIOS PARA LA ADMINISTRACIÓN S.A.	Yes	Spain	https://www.espublico.com/
Ecertic Digital Solutions, S.L.	Yes	Spain	https://www.ecertic.com/
Firmaprofesional, S.A.	Yes	Spain	https://www.firmaprofesional.com/
Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre – Real Casa de la Moneda (FNMT-RCM)	Yes	Spain	http://www.fnmt.es/
IVNOSYS SOLUCIONES S.L.	Yes	Spain	https://www.ivnosys.com/en/home-2/
Infraestructuras y Servicios de Telecomunicaciones y Certificación SA	Yes	Spain	http://www.dgtic.gva.es/ca/actualidad/-/asset_publisher/0YobAjUX6lT2/content/id/167695404
LLEIDANETWORKS SERVEIS TELEMATICS, S.A.	Yes	Spain	https://www.lleida.net/en
Logalty Prueba por Interposición, S.L.	Yes	Spain	https://www.logalty.com/en/
Ministerio de Empleo y Seguridad Social	Yes	Spain	http://www.mitramiss.gob.es/
SIGNATURIT SOLUTIONS, S.L.	Yes	Spain	https://www.signaturit.com/en/contact
SIGNE S.A.	Yes	Spain	https://www.signe.es/en/home/
SISTEMAS INFORMATICOS ABIERTOS SOCIEDAD ANONIMA	Yes	Spain	https://empresite.eleconomista.es/SISTEMAS-INFORMATICOS-ABIERTOS.html
Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social UANATACA, S.A	Yes	Spain	http://www.seg-social.es/
UANATACA, S.A	Yes	Spain	https://www.uanataca.com/public/pki/PDS-TSA-EN/
VALIDATED ID, S.L	Yes	Spain	https://www.validatedid.com/
VIAFIRMA, S.L.	Yes	Spain	https://www.viafirma.com/es/
VINTEGRIS S.L.	Yes	Spain	https://www.vintegris.tech/
Ziurtapen eta Zerbitzu Enpresa-Empresa de Certificación y Servicios, Izenpe, S.A	Yes	Spain	https://empresite.eleconomista.es/ZIURTAPEN-ETA-ZERBITZU-ENPRESA-EMPRESA-CERTIFICACION-SERVICIOS-IZENPE.html
TrustWeaver AB	Yes	Sweden	https://www.trustweaver.com/portfolio-items/opentext/
Barclays Bank Plc	Yes	UK	https://home.barclays/
British Telecommunications Plc	Yes	UK	https://www.btplc.com/
Digidentity BV	Yes	UK	https://www.digidentity.eu/
Entrust (Europe) Ltd	Yes	UK	https://www.entrustdatacard.com/
Experian Ltd	Yes	UK	https://www.experian.com/
Health & Social Care Information Centre	Yes	UK	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/health-and-social-care-information-centre
Home Office Technology	Yes	UK	https://hodigital.blog.gov.uk/
Morpho UK Limited	Yes	UK	https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/06195781
Verizon UK Ltd	Yes	UK	https://www.verizon.com/about/careers/locations/reading-uk

“Digital Signature” means a transformation of a message using an asymmetric cryptosystem such that a person having the initial message and the signer’s public key can accurately determine
License of intellectual property, IP transfers and employee invention agreements (Patents Act, 1978, the Design Act, 1993, the Trade Marks Act, 1993 and the Copyright Act 1978)
Bills of exchange (e.g., cheques) (excluded from ECTA)

DISCLAIMER: This information is intended to help you understand the legal framework of electronic signatures. However, eMudhra cannot provide legal advice. The law of electronic signatures is constantly evolving. This guide is not intended as a legal advice and should not serve as a substitute for professional legal advice. You should consult an attorney regarding any specific legal concerns.
eMudhra, and all associates including agents, officers, employees or affiliates, are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary or consequential damages.