Are electronic signatures legal in the EU?
Updated
Yes. The eIDAS Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 applies directly in every EU member state, and it says an electronic signature cannot be denied legal effect or admissibility as evidence just because it is electronic. This page is general information, not legal advice, and laws change, so check the current rules for your situation.
Three levels of signature
- Simple (SES): any data attached to a document to sign it, such as a typed name or a click on an agree button
- Advanced (AES): uniquely linked to the signer and able to identify them, under the signer's sole control, and able to detect later changes
- Qualified (QES): an advanced signature created with a qualified device and based on a qualified certificate from a qualified trust service provider
A qualified signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten one and must be recognized in every member state.
Which level do you need?
Many business contracts work with a simple or advanced signature. A qualified signature gives the strongest presumption and may be required or advisable for high-value or regulated documents. National laws of each member state still set formal requirements for some documents, such as notarial deeds, property transfers and family-law matters.
eIDAS was updated by Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, which entered into force on 20 May 2024.
What KamiSign provides
KamiSign provides simple electronic signatures backed by a Certificate of Completion. It is not a qualified trust service provider, so use one if your document needs a qualified signature.
What KamiSign records
Every fully signed KamiSign document comes with a Certificate of Completion listing who signed, when, whether their email was verified, and a SHA-256 fingerprint of the document. You can also ask signers to verify their email before they sign.
Frequently asked questions
Are electronic signatures legal in the EU?
Yes. Under eIDAS an electronic signature cannot be denied legal effect or admissibility as evidence solely because it is electronic.
What is the difference between SES, AES and QES?
They are three levels. A simple signature is the basic form, an advanced signature adds identification and tamper detection, and a qualified signature uses a qualified certificate and device and has the same effect as a handwritten signature.
Is a simple electronic signature valid in the EU?
Yes, it cannot be rejected solely for being electronic, but it does not get the automatic equivalence to handwriting that a qualified signature has.
Do EU countries have their own rules too?
Yes. eIDAS sets the framework, but national law can require specific formalities for certain documents.