itsme® stands out as a key player in the field of qualified electronic signatures in Belgium and growing European countries, appreciated for its reliability, ease of use and user-friendly interface. With nearly 7 million daily users and rapid expansion in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and other European countries, itsme® occupies a key strategic position in the digital transformation of business documents and transactions.

This solution offers full compliance with the most demanding standards in terms of legal security and legality, notably the European eIDAS regulation, which harmonizes electronic signature rules throughout the European Union.

What is itsme®?

itsme® is a complete digital identity and qualified electronic signature solution developed specifically to meet the needs of individuals, businesses and public administrations. It offers four essential services covering the entire lifecycle of secure digital interactions:

The 4 itsme® services for businesses

How does a signature work with itsme®? Step-by-step guide

The itsme® signature process has been designed to combine maximum security with ease of use. Here is the complete procedure for a qualified electronic signature with itsme® :

Step 1: Receipt of invitation to sign

You receive an email inviting you to sign important documents. This email contains a secure, personalized link to initiate the signature procedure. The email usually specifies :

• Name of organization requesting signature
• Type of document to be signed (contract, agreement, form, etc.)
• Possible deadline for signing
• A single, secure link to the signature platform

Step 2: Document access

Clicking on the link in the e-mail takes you to a secure web page displaying the documents to be signed. This page allows you to :

• View all documents in your browser
• Read all terms and conditions carefully
• Download documents for offline consultation if required

Step 3: Mandatory reading and acceptance of conditions

Before you can click on the ‘Sign’ button, you must :

1. Scroll to the very last page to make sure you’ve viewed all the content
2. Check the required box: “I certify that I have read all the documents and agree to the Terms of Use”.

This step ensures that you have read the entire document before committing yourself legally.

Step 4: Send the signature request to itsme®.

After clicking on ‘Continue’, you must :

1. Enter your cell phone number (the one associated with your itsme® account)
2. Click on ‘Continue’ to send a signature request to your itsme® mobile application.

At this point, a notification is instantly sent to your smartphone.

Step 5: Opening the itsme® application

Open theitsme® mobile application on your smartphone. You will immediately see a pending signature request with :

• Name of issuing organization
• The type of document to be signed
• Action required (qualified electronic signature)

Step 6: Confirmation and verification of security icons

To guarantee transaction security and avoid man-in-the-middle attacks:

1. Take a close look at the action displayed on the itsme® mobile application
2. Select ‘Confirm’ to start the signing process
3. A set of colored icons appears simultaneously:
   • In your web browser (on computer or tablet)
   • In your itsme® mobile application
4. Check that the icons displayed in the itsme® mobile application correspond exactly to those visible in your browser.
5. If the icons match, select the orange icon in your browser on your itsme® application.

Step 7: Finalize with your PIN code

To finalize the qualified electronic signature :

1. Enter your 5-digit itsme® code in the mobile application
2. Confirm to create the cryptographic signature

This personal PIN ensures that only you can create signatures with your itsme® digital identity.

Step 8: Signature confirmation

Once these steps have been successfully completed :

• Your browser automatically returns to the document page
• A confirmation message appears, indicating that the signature is complete.
• The document is now legally binding.

Step 9: Receipt of signed documents

Once all required parties have signed the document (if multi-party signature) :

• You will receive an automatic confirmation email
• This email contains a secure download link to the duly signed documents.
• Documents include qualified electronic signatures of all parties with certified time stamps
• You can archive these documents, which have the same legal value as a hand-signed document

e-Signature.eu : Qualified itsme® signatures without subscription

e-Signature.eu natively integrates itsme® Sign, the Qualified Electronic Signature solution that combines practicality, speed, maximum security and 100% compliance with the qualified signature standards defined by the European eIDAS regulation.

e-Signature.eu with itsme® benefits

• No subscription : Pay-as-you-go, according to your real needs
• No installation: fully online solution, accessible from any browser
• Flexible credits: buy your signature credits when you need them, use them when you want
• Guaranteed eIDAS compliance: all signatures created via e-Signature.eu are legally binding throughout the EU
• Multi-signature support: Send a document to several people for sequential or parallel signature
• Intuitive interface: Easy-to-use platform, even for non-technical users

This solution is particularly well suited to the Belgian and European context, where regulations require the use of qualified electronic signatures in certain specific cases defined by law.

Which documents require a qualified electronic signature?

Under the eIDAS regulation, electronic signatures are legally valid for the vast majority of commercial and civil documents. However, Belgian and European legislation specifically requires the use of a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES ) for certain types of document where maximum legal security is essential.

Documents subject to QES in Belgium

Why do these documents require an ESQ?

These document categories share several common characteristics that justify the requirement for a qualified electronic signature:

• Significant financial stakes: Significant financial commitments (loans, salaries, real estate transactions)
• Protecting weaker parties: stronger consumer and employee protection
• Maximum legal certainty: Need for irrefutable proof in the event of litigation
• Strict regulatory compliance: Supervision by public authorities (central banks, labor inspectorate, notary’s office)
• Long-term archiving: mandatory retention for many years (10, 30 or more)
• Undeniable probative value: Non-repudiation guaranteed by QES

Documents for which QES is recommended (but not mandatory)

Although not formally required by law, it is strongly recommended to use a qualified electronic signature for :

• High-value commercial contracts (>€50,000)
• Sensitive confidentiality agreements (NDA)
• Strategic partnership agreements
• Sales of shares
• Commercial leases
• Representative mandates
• International documents requiring cross-border recognition

In these situations, QES offers maximum legal certainty and virtually eliminates any risk of subsequent challenge.

Are itsme® signatures legally binding?

Legal value guaranteed by eIDAS

Absolutely! itsme® signatures are fully legally binding and enjoy maximum protection under European law. Here’s why:

1. Full compliance with eIDAS regulation

itsme® Sign complies with the eIDAS regulation (EU Regulation No. 910/2014), which is directly applicable in all EU member states. This guarantees a legal value equivalent to that of a traditional handwritten signature.

2. Qualified Trusted Service Provider (QTSP)

itsme® works with Qualified Trusted Service Providers supervised by the Belgian and European national authorities. These providers are regularly audited to ensure compliance with the strictest technical and legal standards.

3. Guaranteed non-repudiation

A qualified electronic signature created via itsme® is non-repudiable. This means that :

• The signatory cannot deny having signed the document
• In the event of a dispute, it is up to the party contesting the signature to prove that it is invalid (reversal of the burden of proof).
• Cryptographic mechanisms guarantee signature authenticity and integrity
• Any change to the document after signing is immediately detectable

4. Mandatory cross-border recognition

itsme® signatures are automatically recognized in all 27 EU member states. A document signed in Belgium with itsme® is legally valid in France, Germany, Italy and all other European countries without any additional formalities.

5. Legal equivalence with handwritten signature

According to article 25.2 of the eIDAS regulation: “A qualified electronic signature has a legal effect equivalent to that of a handwritten signature.”

In practical terms, this means that a contract signed with itsme® has exactly the same legal force as a contract signed by hand before a notary.

Key points to remember

• Simple 9-step process: Signing with itsme® combines maximum security with ease of use, thanks to an intuitive guided process accessible via mobile.
• 7 million daily users: itsme® is Belgium’s benchmark solution for digital identity and qualified electronic signatures.
• Legally binding documents: Belgian law requires QES for 8 categories of documents, including employment contracts, credit agreements and authentic instruments.
• Maximum legal value: itsme® signatures are legally binding, non-repudiable and equivalent to a handwritten signature throughout the EU.
• e-Signature.eu without subscription: Access to itsme® qualified signatures with pay-per-use and guaranteed eIDAS compliance.